"We are benefitting from new government's fuel price reduction. But Stop Purse Seine Net Liscences issued" -Says Lucky Xavier, SSF at Kandakuliya

"We, the small scale fishers benefit from the fuel price reduction. We need 100-110 Liter of Kerosene daily due to the gear type we use in our fishing. With the fuel price reduction from 106 LKR to 59 LKR per liter, we can save 47 LKR per liter which is huge amount. This is substantial amount we can feel to our pockets. Now we save around 5000- 5500 LKR per day trip. due to Kerosene price reduction. Some days we go closer to the Indian boarders and then it exceeds the amount of fuel for our engines. Our 25 Hp, OBM engines can not use even a year and it is one of the biggest challenges we face our economy. We are gratitude to the newly elected government as it reduce the fuel prices, specifically the Kerosene price". This is the voice of Lucky Xavier, small scale fisherman who operate his OBM engine and 18' FRP boat at Kandakuliya fishing village.

"The purse seine nets destroy our waters. Our fishing grounds. They destroy coral reefs. They collect all available fish in the sea. Some days we had to come back empty hands. The Light Purse Seine operators use dynamite to control the big schools of fish. They do not care the small fishers livelihood and their income. We need to go back home with empty hands we are loosing our daily expenses too." Added Xavier.

There is enough legal provisions to control the illegal, destructive fishing operations in Sri Lanka. The 28th clause of the Fisheries Management act No.2 of 1996, has clearly stated the legal provisions for how to respond to the illegal, destructive fishing. The Gazette notification of June, 2002 the then DG fisheries Mr. G. Piyasena enforced clear enough the legal provisions against illegal fishing gear types.
"Why Minister issue permits to illegal fishing operations, even due to the force of the priests in Kalpitiya area. If it is illegal, no one can not by pass the law. We are totally against the Catholic church leaders mediation to get the permits to Purse Seine Net owners who are powerful and wealthy people. Why they forget the poor fishermen? They are supporting to powerful, wealthy fish Mudalalis[Investors]. Why the church leaders not think majority small scale fishers in the area.?" added Xavier.
We are totally against this illegal practices. How the minister permit to the illegal fishing?
Antony Fonseka, the chairperson of Baththalangunduwa fisheries society also register his protest against the decisions of the minister,

However, "the SEDEC officials- [Caritas Sri Lanka] also had reportedly supported to the fisher people's views and their agitations surprizingly. While church leaders take the leadership to get the permission to illegal fishing operations, contrary to this SEDEC is taking the side of small scale fishermen is a good sign" as Loyel Peiris, the coordinator of Puttlam District Fisheries Solidarity had shared with me.