Lift fishing ban say community leaders

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 05:12 GMT]
"The existing ban on fishing in Jaffna lagoon must be immediately lifted and the fishermen in surrounding areas should be again allowed to fish," said the Commission of Peace and Justice of Jaffna Diocese, in a memorandum submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.

The memorandum signed by the joint secretaries Rev. Father J.B.E Selvarajah and S. Paramanathan further said that giving dry rations cannot adequately compensate for the loss of income suffered by the fishing families.

Other needs such as medical help and education of the children and relatives also have to be fulfilled. The affected families are unable to sustain their livelihood solely with the current levels of assistance given, memo further said.

If discussions have been conducted with organizations associated with fishing industry before the ban, the current predicament of fishermen could have been avoided.

The memo appealed to the Government to initiate discussions with people associated with fishing industry so that affected families in Columbuthurai, Gurunagar, Paasaiyoor and Ariyalai East can recommence fishing.