Vadamarachi mooring points can be dredged - Maj. Gen. Chandrapala

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 2004, 03:58 GMT]
The Commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Susil Chandrapala told fishermen's organisations on the peninsula's Vadamaradchi coast Thursday that they can dredge and rebuild mooring points for their boats from this month.

Maj. Gen. Susil Chandrapala met fifteen fishermen's societies from the Vdadamradchi coast along with Jaffna fisheries officials led by Mr. S. Joseph.

The representatives of the fisheries societies who met the Sri Lankan security forces commnder urged him to let local fishermen ply their trade with civilian permits issued by Sri Lanka's fisheries ministry.

Representatives of the fisheries societies asked Maj. Gen. Chandrapala that fishermen should be permitted to fish in the seas with passes issued by the ministry of fisheries and aquatic resources. Fishermen in other parts of the island ply their trade with these identification papers. Jaffna fishermen complain that military permits to fish create a lot of problems and friction with the army and restrict their freedom.

The Sri Lankan armed forces commander, however, refused to accept the request. He said the military permits required for fishing would stay.

Representatives of fishermen's societies from the villages of Mayiliddy and Kankesanthurai, which are occupied by the Sri Lankan armed forces, asked Maj. Gen. Chandrapala whether families could begin resettling there.

The officer replied in the negative.