On October 1st 2016, a protest was held by the fishermen, in 8 fishing villages from Kammalthota to Uswetakeiyawa. This protest was organized by the People's Movement against the Port City. Several members of the clergy and number of Civil Society members participated in this event as well.
(scroll down to view the video)
The Fisherman we interviewed, Mr. T.B. Nuwan, made several statements regarding this matter and other hardships they face. He stated that once before the government had come and dredged sand for a project in Muthurajawela, and this had affected them gravely as they lost their jobs for several years, due to the loss of fish eggs.
These fishermen’s main concern is that they will lose their fishing grounds and thus their jobs, due to all of this dredging. Environmentalists have stated, that corals and the reefs which are the fish breeding and feeding grounds, will be disturbed due to sand mining and dumping. It may take a long period of time perhaps 30 years or more to recover, and recovery may not be complete due to climate change. If the marine environment does not return back to normal, how will the fishermen resume their livelihoods and their only source of income.
When questioned about the distances that the fishermen travel on a daily basis, they stated that the maximum distance they travel is 20 Km from the shore. But that distance is also dependant on the season, during the current ‘Walala’ season they only travel about 6 to 7 KM.
T.B. Nuwan also stated that they go through many hardships due to lack of attention from the government towards the fishing community. He stated that in their area they have no place to anchor their boats, or harbour their nets nor do they have any facilities available to carry out maintenance and repairing of their boats, nor has the government given them any sort of financial aid or relief. Yet they have not complained or rivalled against the government. But they will not remain quiet regarding this matter because they believe that their jobs and their futures are in danger.