Media Briefing about Sea Plane Issue

People received a temporary Victory over Sea Plane Issue at Negombo Lagoon

"We need development in our country. But, we do not want to disturb the lives and livelihoods of the lagoon fisher people". So, we need to find an alternative as we want to develop our country too.We promise to stop temporary this sea plane project in Negombo lagoon and the excavations going on at the lagoon. There should be a dialogue between fishermen and Hon. President, to find an alternative." Said Dayasritha Tissera Hon. Deputy Ports and civil aviation minister who attended the meeting with fishermen at Negombo Town Hall today.People were delighted to hear this message from the dep. minister Daysritha, though the other dep, minister Sarath Gunaratne was not happy with this announcement. Even Nimal Lansa, the Provincial Council Tourism minister did not emphasis the project at the meeting though the other deputy minister played a role against the people.

Alliance for Protection of Negombo Lagoon, organized protest staged against the decision taken by the Rajapaksha Government for landing sea plane on Negombo lagoon today. There were thousands of fishermen and women gathered at Negombo Town Hall this afternoon to discuss their issues they face due to implementation of Sea planes at Negombo Lagoon. There are 3500 fishermen directly depend on lagoon for their livelihoods which include 10,000 households from 35 villages around the lagoon. Civil Aviation ministry has proposed sea planes to boom tourism industry in which provide luxury facilities for 2.5 million tourist to be expected by 2015.
As the deputy minister got delayed, the people who were anxiously waited at the Town Hall and started agitations displaying plakards, and voice out slogans demanding to protect the lagoon.

Ranjith Fernando, the chair person of Negombo Lagoon Management Authority very strongly opposed the ongoing excavations at Mada Bokka [Mud Bay], "Mada Bokka is one of the most rich prawn breeding ground. Who ordered to dig this area? In 2006, it was dug because the Navy wanted to use high speed boats for security reasons. Now there is no such threats and need not to disturb and destroy our lagoon any more. We are totally against this destruction and urged strongly to stop this."


People are really disturbed and opposed vehemently against the project. Even catholic priests were not able to control the situation. Dep. Minister Sarath Gunaratne worked up and started blagarded to the gathering and said, "this behaviour is a shame to Negombo.
We came here to discuss the issues related to fishermen. We can not continue this dialogue any more, if the people behave like uncivilized."
However, dep. Minister could not stop the people as they did not want to listen to his roaring voice against them. People did not stop their voice even, the dep. minister Gunaratne openly ordered to Police to find who are behind the shouting.

Some women were also came forward to voice out against their un justices.

Shirani Fernando, a fisher woman leader of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization, very strongly and with tears in her eyes said, "We all are depending on our Lagoon. If our lagoon disturb or destroy that is end of our life. We educate our children through the little income we earn through lagoon. Any body want to destroy our lagoon, first destroy us and do it. We do not want any sea planes to Negombo Lagoon."

There were various fishing gear type fishers attended the meeting. The stake and Net fishery is one of the most traditional and historic fishing type in Negombo lagoon. Joseph Peter, a Stake net fisherman addressing the gathering said, " We are living simply with what we earn from the lagoon. We educated our children from the income. Even, we speak today with the strength we gained from what we earn from lagoon. We need not to go beyond this. Our simple way of life is enough for us. But, please do not put us down with disturbing our mother which is our Lagoon."

Responding to the people's agitations in side of the town hall, the Arch Diocese Vicar General Rev. Patrick Joseph said, we all are human beings. We can solve our problems with discussion. So, no point of voice out and agitate unnecessarily. Let us have a committee appointed and meet Hon.President to solve this sea plane issue. We are always with the fishermen who the majority are catholics."

Rev. Fr.Lester Nonis, the Fisheries Chaplain for Arch Diocese has convened the meeting upon request of Hon.Dep. Minister Dayasritha Tissera, had said that, "I am not in a position to organize a committee to meet Hon.President as people very clearly delivered their message to you all. People say no to Sea Planes at Negombo Lagoon. What else we talk to Hon.President.? You are our representatives and you can deliver this message to President. You all can see the people's voice. They will throw me out too."

As a result of the strong agitations by the people, and strong request to stop the digging the lagoon, Hon.Dep. Minister agreed to stop temporary the project till permanent solution will find after discussion with the President.
People realized this is a temporary victory and need to continue their agitations further till people get a permanent solution.People dispersed with high moral as they were able to halt the project temporary and to continue their agitations vigourously.

Police set fire to Muslim village and chase away 54 families: Governor’s (Brigadier) order

(Lanka-e-News, Nov04, 2010, 11.10PM) Last 31st Sunday, a group of policemen have arrived at dawn and set fire to a Muslim village Kandalkadu and a Muslim mosque in the Kinniya District and chased away 54 families who were resident there.

The victims say that the police has told them that this suffering was inflicted on the poor villagers by the Governor of the East Brigadier Mohan Jayawickrema.

These unfortunate Muslims are long time residents of Kandalkadu village, and they have registered deeds which they received in 1933 and 1945.There are over 130 families who were displaced due to the war resident in this village and had taken up residence in Kandalkadu. They have gone to their homes after the Trincomalee District Secretary had given written permission to them to stay.

Though these victims have shown their deeds and the letter given to them by the District Secretariat, the police have not heeded any of their pleas. The police had said they have no right to be in those places and questioned how they came into those jungles. After saying that they should obey what they say, the Police have set fire to the houses.

The mosque that was also set fire by the police had been built in 1972, the Kandalkadu residents say. These victims are refugees in the Kinniya Al adhan Vidyalaya.

The Governor, Brigadier Jayawickrema Mohan had arranged for a meeting with these Muslim victims yesterday, he has later postponed it.

A report had been asked from the Kinniya Grama niladhariya. The Grama nildhariya has reported that the victims are resident for a long time ; they have the janasaviya and samurdhi reliefs ; and they are registered even in the electoral registers.

When Lanka e news tried to contact the Governor over the phone regarding this issue, a person answering the call told,Jayawickrema has not come to office today.

When Ranjith Silva’s office was contacted, an officer answering said, the District Secretary had gone to the Kinniya District Secretariat.

The pictures depict the raging fire engulfing the houses; a house that has been completely burnt down; a family which is rendered destitute after the fire waiting with their remaining implements and wares; and the police guarding the place burnt down preventing anybody from entering the area.

A Kalapu Charika was great success

A Kalapu Charika has been organized by the Alliance for Protection of Negombo Lagoon today. There were more than 3000 people gathered at the "Kurulu Kele" St. Jude Thadewus's Church at Seeduwa. The people who joined the lagoon tour displayed placards and registered their protest against the proposed Sea Planes project at Negombo lagoon.


Marcus Fernando, the chairperson of Negombo Lagoon Fisher People's Union at Pitipana said, "If government says they will bring Sea Planes to Negombo lagoon at any cost, we say, we will not allow it to happen at any cost. Politicians should bring Sea Planes on the lives of 3500 lagoon fishermen of Negombo lagoon. Our Lagoon is our mother. We totally depend on the lagoon for our survival. If lagoon face any problem, we won't tolerate at all."


People were registered their anger and protest against the proposed Sea Plane site while gathering at the St. Jude Church.
Fr. Lester Nonis gave very inspiring sermon to unite in faith and work hard till the people win. Needless to say that the way we should work. People and the lagoon are in a stage of danger with destruction. So, the people should come forward. Need to protect the Mud Bay, Coconut pillar bay, Kirala Bay where the most richest prawn breeding and feeding grounds of Lagoon. I am son of a fisherman. I know the importance of Mangroves. Sea weeds, prawns and bio diversity of Negombo Lagoon. We need not to allow any one to destroy our precious resource which is the lagoon, added Fr. Nonis.




"When we meet our Fisheries Minister yesterday, Hon. Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, he said he can not do anything about the sea planes project and go to President and ask for a solution. Why do we need a fisheries minister unless he attend and solve the issues faced by fisher people.? We need to go and talk to our father and not to go to any other person to share our difficulties, fears. But, there is no power for fisheries minster too. It is the power is in the hand of few in the country. This is an issue of democracy. We need not the top to bottom development approach any more.
Subhasinie Kamalaneshan, the coordinator, Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization said after the gathering at the press.


Aruna Roshantha, the president of Eksath Dheewara Sangamaya, Pitipana said "We are concerned about the life and livelihoods of the 10,000 families. More than 3500 fishers alone depend on the Lagoon. Where do we go, if some thing happen adversely to Negombo Lagoon. Who cares? What are the plans for the families who will loose their only livelihood of Lagoon Fishing? We all are concern about it. This should not to be allowed to happen added Aruna at the press briefing.


"There more than 25,000 landless people in Negombo alone. We saw News paper advertisement mentioning that there are land sales. Each purchase will exceed RS. 75,000 and the landless poor become more vulnerable with tourism. We as landless group know the consequences when the tourism come in. We are totally against this situation."
Ramesh Nilanga narrated at the protest today.


We will continue this struggle till we win. It is not only youth & adult come together to prevent them from the displacement with "Sea Grabbing". There should be women also come with children and to come forward to see the progress today. We would see how all of the others come to a work with the determination.

KALAPU CHARIKA [LAGOON TOUR] WILL BE THE FIRST STEP OF FISHER PEOPLE'S TO PROTECT NEGOMBO LAGOON.

Negombo Lagoon is providing direct livelihood for more than 5000 families of 35 villages around the lagoon. There are around another 3500 families depend on the Lagoon indirect livelihoods such as fish vendors, fish collectors, repairing centers, equipments sales centers, etc. All are small scale subsistence fishers and their only way of livelihood is fishing. If some thing adverse thing happen to the Lagoon their livelihood and the way of life will be in danger.


Annual income from the Lagoon exceeds 150 million SLR, according to the fisheries sources.


At the same time Negombo Lagoon together with Muthuraawela Marsh had declared as an important Ramsar Wetland in Asia.
Politicians are proposing Sri Lanka to be Asia's Wonders. Their main aim is to boost tourism industry while neglecting basic rights of the poor and small food producers such as small scale, artisanal fishers, small farmers etc.


Today, the government's main development plan is Mahinda Chinthanaya which is Carbon Copy of Regaining Sri Lanka, which imposed by the 2002 UNP regime.
Also, the same plan continued after 2005, under Mahinda Rajapakse regime. After 2010 victory Mahinda Rajapakse regime has accelerated the tourism master plan which has proposed 14 tourism zones in the country, mainly around the coastal areas.


Under the above program, introduction of Seaplanes to Negombo lagoon, Parakrama Samudra, Thisawewa, Victoria Lake, and Beira Lake will be done with out having any reasonable assessment of the damage. The main concern is to earn foreign currency through the tourists.


The attached documents are giving some important aspects of the Negombo Lagoon Seaplane issue while we need to study the whole plan and consequences in detail.
However, when the people started to register their protest, government has said that they will do this project at any cost.


The concerned people, organizations, progressive church leaders, trade unions are working together and seek assistance from all of the concerned citizens in the country to save the lives and livelihoods of the People, more than 10,000 families around Negombo Lagoon.
However, with the introduction of the Seaplanes to our tanks, farmers will also be in danger and agriculture will also be affected.


As one important step on agitations, fisher people have organized a Lagoon Tour [Kalapu Charika] on 31st October 2010 at 11.00 am to Seeduwa St. Jude Church aiming at show the fisher people's concern on protection of Lagoon and register the protest against introduction of SEA PLANES at Negombo Lagoon.
People will come to St.Jude Church with their lagoon canoes, small boats, Sea canoes, catamarans, from various anchorage point from 35 villages of Negombo lagoon. First all will join the holy mass at the St.Jude church which will be presided by Rev. Fr. Basil Wickramasinghe, the Parish Priest of Seeduwa Parish.
After that, there will be introductory speeches by Rev. Fr. Lester Nonis, and some fisher leaders and social activists.


People will learn what type of impact they face as consequences of the sea plane project with visiting the proposed site.


So the details are as follows;


Date and Time: 31st October 2010 at 11.00 am.


Venue: St.Jude Church, Seeduwa.


How to reach the St.Jude Church.


We invite media journalists to inform in advance[By Friday 29 October] if any one interest to join the Kalapu Charika by lagoon.
We will arrange a boat from Kotalawala Bridge to the St.Jude Church by 10.00 am at Kotalawala Bridge at Negombo.


The Telephone numbers for contacts are given below.


Unless you join the boat ride with us, we would like you to invite you to come directly to the St.Jude church.
If you come by Colombo -Negombo bus [Route Number 240], you need to get down the bus at the Bandarawatta junction at Seeduwa. Then find the St.Jude statue at the top of the road towards the lagoon side. Come along the road towards the lagoon and you will find the venue.


We, as concerned people would like to ask media and all the other trade unions, to join this event to highlight the concerns of the Negombo Lagoon Fisher communities with focusing the attention to the developments issues in and around the lagoon.




You can get more Information on this through following telephone numbers;


Organizers:


Aruna Roshantha - Eksath Dheewara Samithiya, Pitipana- 0777895109
Ramesh Nilanga - Thaladuwa Eksath Dheewara Subasadaka Sangamaya-Kadolkele- Thaladuwa, -0722116868
Niroshan Fernando- Sirikurusa Lagoon Fishermen Union, Munnakkaraya- 0712832924
Marcus Fernando- Negombo United Fisher People's Organization- Pitipana South- 0772836524
Subhashinie Kamalaneshan- Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization- 0775949079
Herman Kumara, Convener, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo- 0773184532