The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the Hon. Nizam Kariapper has brought in a very important Adjournment Motion today.

¶ 02 The Ministry of Defence has taken its responsibility seriously. We very well understand the plight of the fishermen along the Eastern coastal belt, and the complaints and representations made by the Hon. Members of Parliament are well taken.

¶ 03 This Motion is about the theft of fish catch in deep seas and destruction of valuable fishing equipment of our fishermen. As we are aware, over a thousand fishing vessels of various types operate daily along the Eastern coast, particularly around Kalmunai, Valaichchenai and Sainthamaruthu in Batticaloa and Ampara Districts.

¶ 04 The Sri Lanka Navy along with the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and the Sri Lanka Police is actively engaged in efforts to apprehend those involved in illegal fishing activities or theft of fish catch in deep seas. All these efforts are to curb theft of fish catch and to protect the livelihoods of fishermen. I would like to bring to your attention that as part of this ongoing operation, a vessel suspected of engaging in theft of fish catch with two individuals on board was intercepted and arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy in Kaluwanchikudy area on the 02nd of June. They will be produced before court by the police to initiate legal action. So, we are engaged in curbing such illegal and unorthodox activities taking place in deep seas. Our only request is for the fullest cooperation and support from the people and from your end and also for any information you may have, which would be very much helpful to curb those activities and would assist the law enforcement agencies operating there.

¶ 05 Also, the decision of the District Coordinating Committee that you mentioned would be taken into consideration by the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources. Then, you have suggested to reduce the engine power of the boats from 40 horsepower to 25 horsepower. So far, it has not been taken into consideration, but would definitely be taken into consideration.

¶ 06 Also, the Sri Lanka Navy has been deployed along with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and the Sri Lanka Police to monitor and apprehend vessels engaged in theft of our fish catch. Lack of operational harbours nearby — the harbour located south of Trincomalee is about 152 kilometres away from Ampara and Batticaloa and also the fisheries harbour in Oluvil is non-functional — is one reason why the Sri Lanka Navy cannot detect and intercept those vessels.

¶ 07 We must have a strong mechanism for registration of fishermen, fishing gear and vessels, and monitoring of vessel movement and unloading are going to be continued. That is where we must have more information to track and get hold of all those who are involved in those activities. In doing so, designation of landing points, as you have pointed out in the Motion, would allow the law enforcement agencies to marshal fishing boats. So, that is also very important.

¶ 08 I would like to bring to your kind notice the appointment of senior naval officer Captain S.D. Kodikara to coordinate these operations, as you have requested. I will give you further information so that the fishing community could directly contact him when necessary. Apart from him, there are also other contact points established by the Sri Lanka Navy at Vakarai, Valaichchenai, Kalkudah, Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu and Serunuwara, which your people could reach to give information. I table the relevant telephone numbers for your information. Placed in the Library.

¶ 09 As we always say, enforcement of the rule of law is our priority as a responsible Government; enforcement of the law within the Sri Lankan waters will definitely be assured. We will definitely take those encroachers into custody and would not allow any illegal things to happen. The Sri Lanka Navy — they also encounter bad situations in the deep seas — is geared to curb all those unorthodox activities taking place within the Sri Lankan waters and to get hold of those involved in organized criminal activities, we assure.

¶ 10 Thank you, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to reply.