Vadamaradchi fishing ban partially lifted
[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 December 1998, 15:07 GMT]
The army partially lifted the early morning ban on fishing in the seas close to the coast between Polihandy and the Thondamanaaru area in the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna from yesterday. The SLA said that fishing is now permitted between 1 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.
Fishing during the day time in this part of the sea off Jaffna's coast is banned because Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) flights have to approach the Palaly base from this direction. The SLAF fears that the Liberation Tigers could shoot down its aircraft from its vessels in this part of the sea. Fishing close to the coast is, however, permitted in those parts of Vadamaradchi south of Polihandy as the Tigers cannot take on SLAF aircraft climbing down for landing from the sea here. Meanwhile, the SLA decreed yesterday that dry rations for the displaced and poor fishermen in Valvettithurai be distributed at the local army camp instead through village officers in the area. The SLA took the decision following a request made by the Citizen's Committee of Valvettithurai at a meeting yesterday with the army officers of the area. The Committee had urged the army not to distribute the relief supplies through the village officers (Grama Sevakas). Receiving dry rations at the army camp will cause great inconvenience to the poor and the displaced residents said. The action of the Valvettithurai Citizen's Committee has angered many residents who said that they are concerned about the motives that could have prompted the committee to make the request.
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