As per the request of the combined Fisheries Associations of Chilaw area, Minister Douglas Devananda visited Chilaw Fisheries Office on 2023-05-13, in order to look into the issues of the fishermen in Chilaw area, and took immediate measures to solve 4 issues faced by the fishermen.
Representing the Fishermen’s Associations, the chairman Mr. Roshandu thanked the minister for providing a filling station to the fishermen in this area during the fuel crisis in the country. The chairman further added that they have requested 15 out of 20 fish stalls in the fish market built in the fisheries harbour, to be provided to their fishermen’s association in order to help 15000 fishing families in the area. But without doing this, opting tender process would be a disadvantage to the fishermen and these stalls would be taken by businessmen. The representatives requested the minister to take measures to provide stalls allocated to their association for a monthly rental of 10000 rupees. Responding to their request the minister instructed the relevant officials to take measures to provide stalls for a monthly rental of 10000 rupees. The representatives further requested the minister to renovate Radio Transmission Centre at Chilaw fisheries harbour (which is closed down now) and provide it for their use. Responding to their request, the minister stated that he would take action to complete the renovation within two weeks.
Mr. Anton Fernando, one of the fishermen’s associations, stated that still there are families who have not received compensation for the damages caused by the sinking of X-Press Pearl Vessel and requested to take action to provide relief to them. The minister responded that the fishermen who were directly affected due to the sinking of X-Press Pearl Vessel, have been granted compensation in 4 stages and asked the affected fishermen to submit a report regarding their damages with the approval of the assistant director.
Expressing further views, the representatives stated that the fishermen who come in Indian Trawlers enter into our sea territory and destroy the aquatic resources and requested the minister to take measures to stop this. Responding to the request the minister stated that these encroachments are more frequent in Northern and Eastern Provinces rather than this area. Though he has made diplomatic interferences they were not successful. The minister added that the operations to arrest these encroachers in Northern and Eastern areas are intensified and he would instruct the Navy to carry out the same operations in this area as well. At the same time, the arrested Trawlers will be given to local fishermen and they would be instructed to remove the trawler engines and engage in fishing. During the tour, the minister inspected the new fish market built at the fisheries harbour and later on he visited Vellamankara fisheries harbour and instructed the officials to take action to rectify the shortcomings in the harbour.
