SLA reimposes ban on outboard motor fishing in Jaffna lagoon

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 April 2009, 13:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna has reimposed the ban on outboard motor fishing in Jaffna lagoon for an indefinite period from Thursday, according to Fisheries Society sources in Jaffna. Thousands of families on the coast of Jaffna lagoon are affected by the ban which is said to have been reimposed as a security measure for the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) vessels transporting troops from Kurikaaduvaan in Jaffna to Mannaar, the sources added.

SLA had imposed the ban on using outboard motors for fishing in Jaffna lagoon when clashes between it and the Liberation Tigers erupted in the latter part of 2006.

However, SLA had allowed only daytime fishing with boats fitted with outboard motors since its occupation of Poonakari.

Now the ban has been reimposed to facilitate the safe travel of the troops between Jaffna and Mannaar, the sources said.

Only catmarans sailed manualy with oars and fitted with sails are allowed to be used in fishing in Jaffna lagoon.

Fishermen from Kurunakar, Paasaiyoor, Kozhumpuththu’rai and Ariyaalai East are the ones who are most affected by the reimposed ban.

Meanwhile, the ban on fishing in the seas of Vadamaraadchi East, Vadmaraadchi North, the islets of Jaffna and Valikaamam continues to be enforced.