SLA, SLN firing exercises hamper fishing in North

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2003, 00:05 GMT]
Jaffna district fisheries co-operative sources complained Tuesday that firing practices by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) along the coast of northern sea have rendered several areas dangerous for fishermen, sources said.

Fishing close to Kachchai-Thambathodam in Thenmaradchchi where the training camp of the 52-1 Brigade of the SLA is located has come to a standstill due to the firing practice, fisheries sources said.

SLA has put up red flags close to the SLA training camp near Kachchai-Thambathodam banning fishing in lagoon area from Kachchai east to Thanankilappu, fisheries sources said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy soldiers practise firing towards the sea from Valvettithurai to Oori area which is close to Kankesanthurai naval camp. Fishermen from Thondamanaru north upto Valvettithurai in Vadamaradchchi north are reluctant to go fishing through fear, sources said.

The SLN has banned fishing on Saturdays in Karainagar, Oori, Uyilankadu and Kantha Thalvu sea saying that they need one day a week to conduct firing training, security sources said.