The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi

¶ 01 We are all in black.

¶ 02 About 7,000 multi-day vessel owners were promised by the President — on grand platforms — diesel at Rs. 150 per litre, removal of the Rs. 50 port cess and the Rs. 50 Treasury levy, and a Rs. 150 per litre subsidy. None of this has materialized. Multi-day owners are in dire straits. The kerosene concession for outboard operators has been cut. Duties on nets, twine, resins, fiberglass repair materials, and engines for both outboard craft and larger boats are high — the President vowed to remove them. Fisherfolk were deceived for votes.

¶ 03 I propose providing diesel to 7,000 multi-day boats at a Rs. 150 per litre concession through the 22 designated harbours, as I proposed last year. It is feasible.

¶ 04 On beach-seine: this foundational fishery is dying due to labour shortages and ageing crews. In Puttalam, North Central and Northern Provinces, setting one seine may take 3–5 hours. Mechanized “winch” systems mounted on tractors have been used for over 13 years to assist the elderly crews — I initiated this as a State Minister. Recently, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) moved to ban even this, alleging harm to shoreline biota. There is no such biota on the wave-washed sandy beach to justify a ban. Do not cripple livelihoods. Do not gazette the proposed ban on January 1. If fishers come to the streets, this will escalate beyond control. Please halt it.

¶ 05 On Ambalangoda light-coarse operations: started 40 years ago with ministry-trained specialists, this fishery moved from generators to battery-powered lighting per instructions. Now that too is being banned. Fishers between Rathgama and Beruwala staged major protests, even eating fish in front of cameras to show their pain. Target species like hurulla and dalla are short-lived and must be harvested during their seasonal runs. With beach-seine curtailed elsewhere, allow this limited light-coarse fishery strictly within the Rathgama–Beruwala coastal strip, where by-catch into seines is negligible. Convene stakeholders and officers, and allow a controlled operation.

¶ 06 On value-added traditional industries: please revive jar (jaadi), dried fish (karawala), and Maldive fish (umbalakada) through Provincial Councils. The main constraint now is salt price and access. Register processors with Puttalam and Hambantota salterns, issue licenses, and provide salt at concessionary rates. Currently processors chase scarce salt, even moving batch-to-batch with fresh catch awaiting curing. Legal registration will also let them transport without fear.

¶ 07 We speak from ground knowledge. When our fish harvest rises, so do export earnings. Support the fishers.

¶ 08 On inland fisheries: under the previous good governance period, with President Maithripala Sirisena’s support, we developed inland aquaculture under Food Promotion — at Sevanapitiya, Kallarawa, Udawalawe, Bangadeniya, Iranamadu and Mannar broodstock and hatchery centres, including prawn broodstock facilities. They exist; just operationalize them. But key staff cadres are vacant — principal executive officers, civil engineers, fish pathologists, extension officers, management accountants, procurement officers, legal officers. Appoint a capable chairman and staff to drive this sector; we are ready to advise.

¶ 09 On safety: 7,000 multi-day boats and 50,000 outboard motor boats go to sea. That’s roughly 142,000 fishers at sea within our EEZ. If a fisher falls ill or has a heart attack, there is no rapid medevac. Navy boats may be 200 nautical miles away. Procure fast medical evacuation boats, at least two, perhaps with Japanese assistance, for emergencies and breakdown recovery. Today, salvaging a disabled boat can cost Rs. 1–1.5 million from private operators, bankrupting owners who invested Rs. 30–40 million.

¶ 10 On the Blue Economy: in 2017, with my advisor, Navy Captain Ayesh Ranawaka, we prepared a comprehensive Blue Economy plan — covering living and non-living resources, fuels, gas, energy, minerals, maritime security, marine tourism and multi-purpose fishing vessels. I have tabled this document and thank the President for allocating Rs. 100 million for ocean resource exploration, aligning with that vision. However, recent ceremonies recognizing multi-day owners were held without inviting us. Owners are terrified today due to mounting costs and risks.

¶ 11 On narcotics smuggling via fishing boats: out of 7,000 multi-day vessels, only a tiny fraction are involved, often due to skippers bribed by smugglers. Owners at home are unaware. When drugs are seized at sea, police rush to the owner’s house, strip their dignity and implicate them. I request the Defence Ministry: detain and question the skipper and crew found with contraband at sea; if evidence shows owner complicity, then proceed. Do not arrest owners by default when seizures occur offshore. A recent Kirinda case shows owners suffering months of loss and stigma before being cleared. Enforce the law rigorously against drugs, but fairly.

¶ 12 Thank you.