The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 We thank our Fisheries Minister, because this is the biggest problem there, and the Indian Government can stop it. However much India helps Sri Lanka, if this issue of the northern people is not addressed, we must ask whether it is genuine help. This is a daily problem. People in Mannar told me that to earn what they used to make in one day, now they must go to sea for five days. We therefore use this opportunity to appeal to the Indian and Tamil Nadu Governments to resolve this.

¶ 02 As Hon. Mano Ganesan said, it has been 15 years since the war ended. What does it mean to “help people,” Hon. Presiding Member? It is not merely to distribute relief during a disaster, nor to hand out cash when people face difficulties, but to enable people to live with their own strength. Therefore, we earnestly request action.

¶ 03 Finally, I thank the Minister, the Deputy Minister, and the officials for how they run this Ministry. I have had many discussions with former Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. We too buy fish from the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation’s retail stalls; that fish is good. Please further strengthen the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and expand outlets so people can buy good fish at affordable prices. Thank you very much.