SLN imposes ban on fishing in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 March 2009, 14:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) imposed new restrictions in Jaffna peninsula banning fishing in seas of the islets as well as in Jaffna lagoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, fisheries society sources in Jaffna said. SLN has warned that fishermen attempting to go fishing on these two days will be shot at and their boats confiscated, the sources added.

The above fishing ban has been imposed in areas including Paasaiyoor, Karaiyoor, Kozhumpuththu’rai and Naavaanththu’rai along Jaffna lagoon and in the seas of the islets including areas from Mannaar to Kruikaduvaan on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a week.

‘Jetliner’ ship service that was operated between Trincomalee and Kaangkeasanthu’rai is now being used to transport armed forces personnel on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Manaar to Kurikaduvaan in the islets of Jaffna after SLA occupied areas from Mannaar to Poonakari.

The SLN ban on fishing is strictly imposed in the seas of Jaffna islets between Kurikaduvaan and Kalmunai along Jaffna lagoon.

The new ban on fishing has seriously affected more than 9,000 fisher families depriving their income, fisheries society representatives in Jaffna said.