Sea Tigers aid Amparai fisheries societies development

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 March 2005, 15:52 GMT]
The political divsion of the Sea Tigers Thursday donated eight hundred thousand rupees to the Federation Amparai District Fisheries Co-operative Socieites. The money was handed over to the President of the Federation, Mr. Ilayathamby. Thurairasah, by Ms. Thangeswary Kadiraman, Tamil National Alliance MP for Batticaloa at the political office of the Liberation Tigers in Thirukkovil. "The money is from our leader's special national fund. The donation is for building and strengthening fisheries societies on the southeast coast", said Mr. S. Ilakkiyan, head of the Sea Tigers' political division for Amparai, speaking at the brief function to present the money.

"The Sri Lankan government didn't spend a red cent for the development of fisheries in the Tamil areas of the Amparai district since the cease fire agreement", said Mr. Thurairasah.

There are about twenty four Tamil fishing villages on Sri Lanka's southeast coast. All these were hit by the Tsunami on 26 December 2004. The giant sea waves completely destroyed fisheries in Umiri, Kottukkal, Komari, Thambattai, Kanaka Nahar, Kottukkal and Neelavanai.

"The basic need for rebuilding the lives of fishermen on the southeast coast Tamil areas is to get the fishing community organised", said Mr. Thurairasah.