SLA intensifies restrictions on fishing in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 March 2009, 15:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has imposed additional restrictions on fishing in the seas of Jaffna peninsula to facilitate safety of their troops’ transport between Kurikkadduvaan in Pungkudutheevu in the islets of Jaffna and Mannaar, fisheries society representatives in Jaffna said. The existing ban on fishing onTuesdays and Wednesdays in a week has been extended to other days too as transport of troops through the newly opened A9 land route is not feasible enough as anticipated by the SLA, sources in Jaffna said. The additional restrictions on fishing have deprived the fishermen in Jaffna peninsula of their sole livelihood, the sources expressed concern.

SLA has banned the use of out board motors for fishing in the Jaffna lagoon by fisherman from Kurunakar, Paasaiyoor, Kozhumpuththu’rai and Ariyaalai areas the whole of last week.

Besides, the distance the fishermen could go fishing is very much limited.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) which assists the vessel ‘Jetliner’ in the transport of troops between Kurikkadduvaan and Mannaar has forbidden the use of outboard motors in the seas of Paalaitheevu, Kalmunai and Maathavanmunai in the islets seas.

Without outboard motors the fishermen cannot go deep sea fishing in these areas.

Mannaar fishermen too are very much affected by the intensified restrictions on fishing in their seas which have been newly imposed due to the transport of troops, fisheries society sources said.