The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe
Welcoming Hon. Nizam Kariapper’s motion, Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe said sea piracy has become a serious threat to deep-sea fishermen in the East, who spend about Rs. 400,000 per trip and are losing fish, nets, and livelihoods to robberies. Referring to recent protests by fishermen from Pottuvil, Kalmunai, Kattankudy, and Valachchenai, he urged the State Minister of Defence and the Minister of Fisheries to act urgently, protect fishermen, prevent tensions, and ensure those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I welcome Hon. Nizam Kariapper’s motion. Sea piracy has become a grave issue in the East. Hon. Minister of Fisheries is present.
¶ 02 Deep-sea fishing families are poor and spend nearly Rs. 400,000 per trip on fuel and supplies. After such investment, pirates rob not only fish but also nets. We have emerged from a 30-year war to a stable situation; such crimes must not be allowed.
¶ 03 Last week, fishermen from Pottuvil, Kalmunai, Kattankudy, and Valachchenai held protests. Their leaders wept that their livelihoods had ended. They allege the law does not permit arresting the real culprits. I urge the State Minister of Defence and the Minister of Fisheries to treat this as urgent. Eastern fishermen are a decisive force who have supported governments. Protect their livelihoods, prevent tensions, arrest those responsible, and bring them before the law.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 5 June 2025 ·No. 1750828922068945 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 5 June 2025. No. 1750828922068945. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/21382