We want our Fishermen back home soon!

My Colleague Gayan Ambegoda, in the media unit has been posted a video quoting from the Hiru TV. There are 213 fishermen held in Chennai central jail and Tuticorine in Tamil Nadu for more than 3 months now. Most of those fishermen are from Thoduwawa, Negombo, CHilaw, Trincomalee and Kalpitiya areas. Fisher communities around Negombo, Chilaw areas have been fighting in the streets. GOSL is attempting to take time and now they have pushed their leaders from the parallel structures to save the Ministry and the government. BBC London service approached me inquiring some of the information which was seems a kind of planted story. The deputy minister is highly articulated about the arrested fishermen and angry with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyalalitha. This is some what absurd position as the central governments in New Delhi and Colombo should take necessary steps to release the fishermen when they are arrested. The Joint Fisheries Working Group is the structure to accelerate the release of fishermen and send them back home. We, NAFSO wants to get the support from all possible parties to bring the fishermen back home and will facilitate a dialogue with Rev. Bandiwewe Diyasena Thero to mediate and assist us to bring the fishermen as earliest. The News Item appeared in the Hiry TV could be visited through the link below. Herman

We have only God to tell all these! No one else help us for our survival-Says Fishermen at Kudamaduwella beach

Fisher people living in Thoduwawa, Kudamaduwella, Barudalpola, Iranawila villages organized a religious event on 23rd at Kudamaduwella beach ground. This is an extension of the protest they organized at Thoppuwa, Kochchikade on 17th December. The protestors demanded 4 main points and the politicians who approached people promised to make arrangements to meet President the same day. But, this was also another broken promise to the people as those politicians could not keep the promise to meet president. It was only Fisheries minister Rajitha Senarathne met the people and there was no any satisfactory answer for their issues. For the foreign fishing vessels, he had projected the possibility to remove Chinese Vessels from the Sea by end of May only. But, it is with a condition. If President agree to remove vessels he can take the necessary steps and there is no any assurance. For the release of Sri Lankan fishermen who are detained in Indian jails, it is foreign ministry's responsibility and not the fisheries ministry. So, Rajitha Senarathne had put the ball in to the hands of Deputy foreign minister Neomal Perera who was present at the meeting. So, there is no clear answer for any of the issues the fishers raised. Now, people have decided to do all possible attempts to find a solution. Religious activities amidst the Christmas Celebrations are one among others. Around, 800 people gathered at the religious event and the Parish Priest at Kudamaduwella church lead the prayer service. Loyel Peiris, the Coordinator of Puttlam District Solidarity addressed the gathering and expressed the deep concern over the ineffectiveness of the authorities and the necessity to take speedy steps to find solutions for the issues raised by the people. Loyel Peiris mentioned that we need to organize island wide campaign with the participation of Small Scale Fishers, Boat owners, civil society organizations and political groups to protest against the authorities to take speedy actions. After the religious event, NAFSO convener, met the boat owners, some fisher leaders and discussed what would be the next possible steps to push the authorities for effective actions while organizing fisheries organizations island wide. The possible date discussed was the commemoration of Anthony Fernando, the assassinated fisher leader during the Fuel Struggle on 15th February, 2012. Herman

No to Foreign Fishing Vessels in SL waters!

After months education campaign against foreign fishing vessels, Chinese Vessels in particular which are operating in SL EEZ as the BOI approved joint venture fishing operations became successful as hundreds of fishermen came to streets demanding remove Foreign Fishing Vessels out of the SL EEZ.
The boat owners, skippers and crew members came to Streets, at Thoppuwa Junction and protested demanding 4 main demands;
1. Remove Foreign Fishing Vessels from SL EEZ,
2. Not to unload and sell the fish from the fishing vessels which lowering the prices of local fishing vessels operators,
3. Mediate to release immediately, the fishermen who are detained in foreign countries,
4. Implement effective Fuel Subsidiary scheme and remedy the irregularities of existing fuel subsidy scheme.

This protest was some what critical as people were blocked the Puttlam-Colombo road at Thoppuwa bridge and road was blocked more than 2 hours. Police was so patiente and we were suspicious this much of patiente of Police.
The reason was some what clear to some people. Because, the slogans chanted at the protest were aimed at the fisheries minister, Dr. Rajitha Senarathne and not the overall plans of the SL government. Also, some senior ministers like Milroy Fernando, North Western Fisheries Minister Sanath Nishantha and Dayashreetha Tissera were around before the protest began even. And the demand at the blockade of the road was to bring the ministers of the North Western Province to settle.
However, the deputy fisheries minister Sarath Kumara Gunarathne appeared and promised 20 people to meet President for a solution.
So, we think this is well planned protest to attack some of the ministers in the cabinet and make image of one person in the country.