Fisherman drowns to death while fishing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2010, 06:27 GMT]
A twenty-one year old fisherman from Kurunakar in Jaffna drowned to death Thursday while fishing in Jaffna lagoon, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, fishermen living in the coastal villages between Kaangkeasanthu’rai and Kaarainakar complain that Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) continues imposing the ‘pass’ system restricting fishing in their seas and of harassment by SLN soldiers while they are engaged in fishing.

The victim drowned to death was identified as Roy Roxen, 21, a resident of 2nd Cross Street, Kurunakar.

A representative of Chuzhipuram Fisheries society said that they have to show the fishing pass at the SLN sentry points before going for fishing and on returning from fishing.

“There is no positive change in our situation as SLN continues to impose its restriction on fishing in our areas,” the representative said.

“Besides, SLN is disinterested in releasing the fishing jetties located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) which we have been traditionally using,” he added.

He also complained that SLN soldiers frequently chase them from the sea while engaged in fishing.