Fishermen protest against restrictions widespread in Sri Lanka

The navy has imposed a ban on using 25 horse power boats for fishing.

Fishermen organisations in Mannar say that the restriction has resulted in ninety percent of the fishermen in Mannar been made jobless.

The deputy minister of fisheries Neomal Perera told Sandeshaya; “We are not allowing forty horse power boats because we have liberated the area only recently.”

All restriction imposed on fishermen in Mannar was relaxed on the 19th June after a visit by the senior advisor to president parliamentarian Basil Rajapksa to the area.

We have to go to Colombo to buy boat engines and we do not have money to buy them, so now we have to leave our jobs Fishermen in Mannar

“Immediately after the removal of restrictions we went fishing and had a good catch, but now we are unable to do so as we cannot use our boats”, fishermen in Mannar told Sandeshaya.

Fishermen in the area unable to buy boat engines less than 25 horse power in Mannar to comply with the restrictions imposed by the Navy, they said.

"We have to go to Colombo to buy boat engines and we do not have money to buy them, so now we have to leave our jobs” said the fishermen.

Minister Neomal Perera said “the government intend to even allow forty horse power boats in time to come".

"If there is any confusion people can contact me at the ministry", he added.