Many fisheries associations in Chilaw region met the Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Douglas Devananda on 11.09.2023 and discussed numerous issues affecting the fishermen in their region.
In this discussion, these fishermen pointed out to the Minister that the Chilaw lagoon is being heavily polluted and the fish resources are being destroyed due to the wastewater removed from the shrimp farms located in the Chilaw area and the clinical waste disposed of from the Chilaw hospital. It was further pointed out that even though two months ago, the minister had visited the area and given instructions to the relevant officials to clean the lagoon, it has not yet been implemented.
The minister who presented the facts here stated that the waste that was being disposed of from Chilaw hospital has already been removed and that he has been informed that the clinical waste is not currently disposed of. The fishermen did not agree with the statement made by the minister in this regard and requested him to take the necessary steps to further investigate this issue. The minister stated that the committee appointed by him from the relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Fisheries, has met several times and is implementing certain decisions to take necessary steps in order to clean the lagoon. The minister also stated that necessary steps will be taken to invite the representatives of these fishermen's associations to the next committee meeting.
The fishermen delegation pointed out that the kerosene fuel given to the fishermen by the Chinese government in recent days has not been given to the fishermen in their area and in this regard, the minister announced that in the next two days, the fishermen who did not receive the fuel will be given 150 liters of kerosene fuel along with the first round of fuel, and the fishermen who received the first round of fuel will get 75 liters of fuel each. He stated that there are 29,057 boats that have not been given fuel all over the island and that they would provide fuel to all those boats in the coming days.
It is said that there are 237 shrimp farms in Chilaw region and a committee has been appointed to investigate the situation regarding the disposal of waste water from these farms into the lagoon. The minister said that the said committee has currently observed 218 farms and after observing the rest of the sample, according to the report given to him within 04 days, necessary legal measures will be taken against these farms that are disposing waste water wrongly.
The fishermen asked the minister to take legal action against some fishermen in the area who are illegally laying siege to fish with the large fishing net using the winch system to damage the beach and the minister said that necessary measures will be taken.
The fishermen who stated that the Express Pearl ship had damaged the sea areas of Puttalam district also requested the minister to give them the compensation received from the ship's insurance company. The minister stated that he would take necessary steps in consultation with MIPA and NARA institutions regarding these issues.
Furthermore, the fishermen pointed out that the fishing resources of Chilaw and Kalpitiya Bantalangunduwa areas are being damaged by the Indian bottom trawlers and asked the minister to take necessary measures for this and the ministers informed the fishermen that he would discuss with the president that day itself and take the necessary measures in this regard.
A group of high officials including State Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Piyal Nishantha, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Mrs. Indu Ratnayake, Director General of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department, Mr. Susantha Kahawatta, Directors of NAKDA and NARA participated in this event.
