The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. What is the value of the fisheries sector? On one hand, it provides nutrition to our people; on the other, it sustains the livelihoods of a vast community. Yet those who once even imported salt now lecture on fisheries. For 15 years we did not import salt; then it was imported—even as they cried “bankrupt state.”

¶ 02 Come to any fishery harbour with me and listen to fishers. This Government has not fulfilled promises to them. In Negombo, you promised compensation to all affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster. Not a rupee has been paid to fishers in Negombo or in Chilaw and Marawila in Puttalam. Name any Negombo fisher who received compensation; I will yield my time.

¶ 03 Of the roughly 1,800 larger boats in Negombo, only about 800 operate now due to high fuel costs. One needs around Rs. 4 million for fuel for a voyage; when there’s no catch, owners incur massive losses, forcing many into wage labour. That is reality.

¶ 04 On madal operations: people first tied nets manually; then winches were introduced. If you ban winches, provide alternatives; do not collapse an entire livelihood. Meanwhile, how much is actually done against illegal gear used offshore? How many are prosecuted?

¶ 05 Since coming to power, have you visited fishing villages? Come to Negombo, Munnakkara, Duwa, and Kepumgoda; see whether even basic school resources have been provided to fisher families. Fisherfolk today take daily-wage jobs because they cannot operate at sea. The X-Press Pearl caused massive environmental and financial damage. Boat prices, nets, gear, fuel, and ice costs are all high. You promised satellite technology to find fish; if it worked, we’d supply fish to the world. In the end, there was no satellite—only jokes about things falling on offices.

¶ 06 Weather alerts often advise fishers not to go to sea. When that happens, there must be a program to sustain families economically—otherwise, with boats ashore due to weather or environmental conditions, there is no income to feed their children. The Government must create a support mechanism for such periods and uplift education in coastal schools by providing teachers and computers. We, with Hon. Sajith Premadasa, donated computers to some schools; do this across the belt.

¶ 07 On VMS/transponders: previously installed on 58 ft/45 ft boats, there are rumors of installing on small boats as well, causing fear. Consult fishers properly before imposing. The Negombo lagoon is vital both to tourism and fisheries; please implement the lagoon development program.

¶ 08 Thank you.