The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak on the Committee Stage for the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and the Ministry of Digital Economy.

¶ 03 Sri Lanka is a resource-rich island, yet we import fish for consumption—a regrettable situation. With a year completed for this Government, we present our views on its second Budget.

¶ 04 I recall with sorrow the tragedy on 26.12.2024 when six students traveling from Nindavur Kashiful Uloom Arabic College towards Sammanturai drowned at the Mavadippalli crossing. I offer prayers and condolences to their families.

¶ 05 On the Oluvil Harbour, which we have raised repeatedly: despite many discussions, we have received no conclusive decision from the Government. Oluvil has significance for both trade and fisheries. We urge development of the fisheries function because over 750 owners of deep-sea vessels from Sainthamaruthu and Kalmunai must shift their boats to Valachchenai or Trincomalee during November–December for safety. If the Oluvil Harbour is rehabilitated, safety could be ensured within 10–15 km of that coast. There are already cold storage facilities at Oluvil to preserve catch. Development would directly benefit over 25,000 people in the region. Please allocate funds accordingly.

¶ 06 Regarding the 2024 floods and rough seas: although assessments were made, one year later affected fishers still have not received basic support or relief. The telecommunications tower at Sainthamaruthu has been non-functional for a long time. Despite repeated promises at the Ampara DCC, nothing has been restored. We have lost lives of deep-sea fishers; search operations require costly deployment of naval air assets. In today’s age of digital economy and Starlink satellite communications, please provide satellite connectivity for fishers—it would cost less than repeated search-and-rescue deployments and save lives.

¶ 07 Small-scale fishers landing at night lack facilities to preserve catch; they are forced to sell at low prices and later buy fish at double or triple for their own meals. Provide basic preservation facilities at Eastern landing sites.

¶ 08 During October–December, rough seas halt small-scale fishing. Please provide relief during these periods. In Kinniya and similar areas, successive governments have promised landing sites for decades without delivery. We urge the present Government to act, not merely promise.