The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank the Hon. Nizam Kariapper for moving this Adjournment Motion. The livelihoods of our fishermen and our marine resources are being plundered. Illegal fishing activities are taking place very intensively in Mullaitivu District as well. The actions of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources against this are not stringent. Though the Minister of Fisheries has said many times that action will be taken, the situation has not improved. The people are being severely affected.

¶ 02 They are struggling to meet the cost of living, including their children’s education.

¶ 03 Today, we do not know who these illegal actors are or whose influence they are under, but they are looting Mullaitivu’s marine resources. The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has either been unable to control this or has not made serious efforts. The day before yesterday, at Kallappadu in Mullaitivu, the people themselves went to sea saying they would catch those engaged in illegal fishing, and they seized six boats. Thereafter, together with the Department of Fisheries, they were taken to court and appropriate action was taken. At the same time, people were advised that they should not take such actions on their own; action should be taken jointly by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Navy. That is true.

¶ 04 The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources continues to cite a lack of personnel as a reason for its inability to control these activities. I too referred this staffing shortfall in writing to the Hon. Minister in charge, but a solution has not been provided to date. Who suffers? The fishing community does. Not only in Mullaitivu in the North, but also in Kilinochchi, Mannar and the Jaffna sea areas in the North, and in the East as well, illegal fishing is taking place.

¶ 05 Therefore, immediate and appropriate action must be taken. We ask that the people be protected from these illegal operators. We will certainly stand in support of the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources. Hon. Minister, you too have been speaking about this matter for a long time; I think you have lacked sufficient strength. I earnestly request that these theft rings be suppressed and a good solution be provided.