The Hon. Roshan Akmeemana

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to share my views, especially as a Member representing the Trincomalee District, on the Adjournment Motion presented today by Hon. Ravikaran.

¶ 02 In our recent history, successive governments have abandoned several key sectors. In agriculture, for instance, governments withdrew from paddy purchasing, gave up on storage, and pursued policies that did not prioritize agriculture. We saw the consequences—rice shortages and farmers facing severe hardship. Similarly, the fisheries sector faces the grave problem of prohibited methods of fishing. Although this is not a nationwide issue, it is a critical problem in the coastal belt and has become a major challenge for coastal communities.

¶ 03 To solve a problem, we must first understand it well. Classification alone is not a solution. In the Eastern and Northern Provinces, this is a shared challenge for the fishing communities; it is not limited to one ethnic group. Therefore, the first step is to appreciate that all communities in these regions are affected.

¶ 04 In the Trincomalee District, prohibited methods such as purse seine (surukku) nets, dynamite, and light-based fishing are in operation. All communities’ fishers in our area suffer due to these practices. As a responsible government, we are taking necessary steps. Even while in Opposition, we stood with fishers, voiced opposition to these practices, and proposed solutions. We have worked with fishers to resolve them. However, the problem is complex. When fishers do not receive sufficient state support to sustain their livelihoods, some turn to such practices. These are not always outsiders; in many cases, they are long-time local fishers driven by hardship. We must consider this complexity.

¶ 05 We have already taken several measures. In the Northern Province, to suppress illegal fishing operations, coordinated action is underway involving the Navy, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, and Sri Lanka Police, with a dedicated task force established. As a priority, since dynamite use is prevalent in the North, we have decided to establish a joint Navy/Coast Guard checkpoint near Nandikadal Lagoon and Mullivaikkal landing points to curb dynamite fishing.