SLA bans fishing in Vadamaraadchi seas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 August 2008, 00:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Navy have refused permission to fishermen in Vadamaraadchi north and east for the fourth consecutive day Wednesday to fish in Vadamaraadchi seas, fisheries society sources in Vadamaraadchi said. SLA has declined to give information on when the fishing ban will be lifted.

Fishermen in the areas from Tho’ndaimaanaa’ru to Katkoava’lam in Point Pedro in Vadamaraachi north, and coastal villages up to Ma’nattkaadu in the east are affected by the sudden and indefinite ban on fishing, sources added.

Prior to the complete ban, fishermen in Vadamaraadchi were subjected to other restrictions. Outboard motors were forbidden, and only catamarans were allowed, fishing was limited to an area 2 km from the shore into the sea, and only day time fishing was allowed.

Also security forces earlier used to impose temporary bans in Vadamaraadchi seas when passenger ships and cargo vessels to Kaangkeasanthurai from Trincomalee use the Vadamaradchi sea lanes, the sources added.