Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I will inform the Ministry to notify the Hon. Member of the date of presentation of the Bill. I categorically reject his first allegation. The Fisheries Minister does not practice regional favoritism. During his tenure, the largest number of Indian poaching boats have been seized. Regarding banned fishing methods, under the Fisheries Law and Regulations, even amid protests, permissions were not granted when they endangered small fishermen. Those organizations ultimately agreed after discussions with the President. In particular, in Mullaitivu, where banned methods were used, some officials who facilitated them were transferred on the Minister’s intervention. We enforce the law uniformly from Delft to Dondra Head, without regional bias. I will ask the Minister to inform you of the Bill date.