The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees. I raise during the Adjournment the serious issue of “surukku valai” (purse-seine/encircling nets) used by fishermen in Trincomalee District.

¶ 02 Most fishermen in Trincomalee rely on the sea and many use encircling nets. Frequent clashes occur between such fishermen and the Navy; recently, an incident in Kuchchaveli escalated to gunfire.

¶ 03 Two types of encircling nets are used in Trincomalee: one for tuna and a regular encircling net. Under the 1986 Gazette on encircling nets, licences may be issued for nets with mesh size over 3/8 inch (0.375"). Thus, any net with more than 3/8" mesh is legal. However, in the North and East, fishermen using such legal nets are being arrested as if the nets were illegal, while the same nets are used on the coasts of Galle and Matara without apparent enforcement.

¶ 04 Hon. Minister, is there one law for the North and East and another for the South? Can you clarify which encircling nets are permitted and which are prohibited? If the currently seized nets are indeed illegal, will you amend the 1986 Gazette to revise the ‘3/8 inch’ specification? Are steps being taken to standardize enforcement? I seek clear answers, as I raised these matters even during the Budget debate.