The Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, our subject Minister for Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources is here—a long-time colleague with whom we worked since 2004. I am happy that he handles this portfolio.

¶ 02 Many who brought this Government to power are from fisheries and allied trades; 85–90 percent of them voted for you because they believed this Government would build their future when previous ones did not. The chief factor was the promise to provide diesel and kerosene—the essentials for fishing—at affordable prices. If diesel and kerosene are cheaper, fishermen can make a decent profit from their catch.

¶ 03 Before the election, the President and Ministers said publicly—recorded across channels—that the then Government was “stealing” Rs. 160 per litre of diesel. Today, a litre is Rs. 286. Fishermen expected that Rs. 160 reduction when you came to power. It has been six months—has diesel been reduced? If fuel prices dropped, many problems would be solved, and consumers could afford fish. Now fish prices make people shudder; fishermen price their catch by totaling diesel, food, ice, crew wages, and set the kilo price. Ultimately, the consumer bears the burden. Therefore, fulfill that Rs. 160 promise—reduce diesel, or explain where that Rs. 160 goes.

¶ 04 Second, the Deputy Minister mentioned a Rs. 25 kerosene subsidy for small boats and multi-day vessels. That is fine—continue it. But many have only received it up to November; December, January, and February payments are pending. In Beruwala Harbour in my Kalutara District, fishermen have not received these subsidies for months. Without it, boats are tied up. Please address this urgently.

¶ 05 Do not attack MPs who are also in business; any citizen, including MPs like Dilip Wedaarachchi, has the right to engage in a lawful fishing enterprise—focus on delivery. We are highlighting your own promises. If you fulfill them, you will earn public trust. The President also spoke of modern technology used in India—satellite-based systems that send SMS at 5.00 a.m. indicating where fish schools are. Where is our plan to deploy such technology and send our fishermen actionable information? Implement it quickly.

¶ 06 We do not expect this Government to import fish into an island nation surrounded by sea. Yet fish are being imported—nail (dried smelt), dried sprats, dried ribbon fish, even tinned fish. From the Maldives, tuna is imported and re-labeled here—that is deception. Imports depress prices for local fishermen. Please review these import practices.

¶ 07 Another practical issue: salt for dry-fish makers. A 40 kg sack used to cost Rs. 1,600; now it is Rs. 9,000—and even then it is hard to find. If dry-fish collapses, you will end up importing dry fish too. Also, fishing gear, engines, nets—all have skyrocketed. Please intervene.

¶ 08 On VMS tracking: every eligible boat must have a VMS device. Internationally, a VMS unit can be imported for Rs. 400,000–500,000, but currently only one entity can import VMS to Sri Lanka. Change this. Allow any registered boat owner to import an approved device for his vessel—competition will lower prices.

¶ 09 About small-mesh net fishing seasons: when fish are plentiful, we lack enough cold storage. We end up eating, frying, pickling—then rushing to finish it. Increase cold-chain capacity to preserve gillnet catches during the four high months. Also, fewer people want to mend nets now—consider mechanization support.

¶ 10 Please focus on these ground realities. If you implement the manifesto commitments that uplift fishermen, even we in the Opposition will acknowledge this Government’s good work. If not, I will not hesitate to say you have burdened the fishermen. Thank you.