Vadamaraadchi fishermen complain of intrusion by Sinhala fishermen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 October 2010, 05:29 GMT]
Fishermen in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupied areas in Vadamaraadchi East in Jaffna peninsula accused the SLA officials for bringing in Sinhala fishermen from South who catch sea cucumber and conch shells in great quantities in the seas of Kudaththanai and Ma’natkaadu where local fishermen are not permitted to fish freely by the SLA. The Sinhala fishermen, numbering from 600 to 800 occupy the houses of local people who are not allowed to resettle in their houses by the SLA authorities, Vadamaraadchi Fishermen Society representatives said.

It is learnt that Sri Lanka Fisheries Ministry has permitted a limited number of Sinhala fishermen to fish using boats and outboard motors to catch sea cucumber and conch shells in Vadamaraadchi seas.

Though only around 120 Sinhala fishermen were permitted SLA authorities have allowed nearly 800 Sinhala fishermen to fish in the seas of Vadamaraachi East.

Millions of rupees worth delicacies of the sea caught are taken to Colombo by the Sinhala fishermen who make millions of rupees selling them to exporters.

The local fishermen already affected by war are furhter robbed of what is rightfully theirs, the representatives said.

In the islets of Jaffna too which are under the total control of Sri Lanka Navy Sinhala fishermen from South are brought in to exploit the sea resources to which local fishermen are denied access.

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