Dr Sudath Gunasekara.

 It has been reported in today’s papers that the Fisheries Minister Devananda said the proposal to grant permits was a measure to reduce the tension between the fishermen on both sides, by preventing bottom trawling taking place off the northern seas. His mandate as the Minister of Fisheries is to develop the Sri Lankan Fisheries industry and look after the interests of Sri Lankan fishermen and not Indian interests and Indian fishermen. As the Minister of Fisheries it is on him to protect the Sri Lankan Fishermen and fisheries resources within the Sri Lankan waters and put an end to this vexed problem od Indians robing Sri Lankan Fisheries resources by force. If he cant do that why should we have a Minister and why should we have a Government at all.

 If he cannot do that then he should resign and allow a person who can look after the Sri Lankan fishing industry and Sri Lankan fishermen, first within Sri Lankan waters without allowing Indians or any other to poach in our waters and thereafter expand the industry to cover the whole Indian Ocean and make Sri Lanka the number one in World Fishing industry.

I hope those northern fishermen who are on strike against the Fisheries Minister’s decision should give this message to the Minister.