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| Monday, 10 January 2005 |
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| Tsunami damage to Fisheries Ministry assets exceed Rs.50 billion by Uditha Kumarasinghe The tsunami tidal wave disaster has caused a monumental damage to assets of the Fisheries Ministry running into over Rs.50 billion while over 5000 fisher families have been displaced as a result of the calamity, Fisheries and Ocean Resources Deputy Minister Nihal Galappaththi told the Daily News yesterday. Nearly 800 multiday boats, 500 day boats and over 18,000 outboard power boats have been completely destroyed in the catastrophe. In addition, a large number of small-scale fishing craft too have been destroyed. All these are registered under the Ministry. Besides this damaged caused to unregistered craft too is enormous, the Deputy Minister said. "However, there is a possibility of resuming fishing industry activities in several fishery harbours in the Southern Province and the Western Province within the next few days. The Beruwala fishery harbour has already commenced operations," he said. The Deputy Minister said of the 12 fishery harbours 10 have been destroyed including Beruwala, Panadura, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Trincomalee.Only the Kalpitiya and Modera harbours were spared. The Fisheries Department and Fisheries Corporation in Hambantota and Ceynor outlet in Hambantota have also been damaged. The tidal wave battering has caused damage to the "Mahiraja" ship and another two ships running into billions of rupees while another ship "Sayura" had overturned.The tsunami has also caused damaged to the NARA institute in Mattakkuliya, he said. The Deputy Minister said the Ministry has already taken several immediate measures to assist the fishermen to recommence their fishing activities and return them to their normal lives. The Government has decided to grant interest free loans to fishermen and repair their boats damaged by the tsunami. Several foreign countries have already pledged their assistance to the Ministry towards its attempts made to normalise the fisheries industry. The Sri Lanka Navy has extended its support to the Ministry to repair these damaged boats. The Ministry will commence repair work on these boats at Tangalle, Kudawella, Kirinda and Kalamatiya fisheries harbours. At present, operational activities at the Tangalle, Kudawella and Kirinda fisheries harbours have ceased due to the destruction caused to the fuel tanks in these harbours. Therefore, the Ministry will send three fuel bowsers to these harbours to provide fuel to fishermen. Fuel will be provided to the affected fishermen on concessionary terms, he said. The Deputy Minister completely rejected the notion that consumption of fish should be avoided following the tsunami disaster. There is no truth to these claims the Minister said requesting the public not to fear eating fish which is in no way contaminated. "This is a complete falsehood created by certain media institutions to mislead the public" he said. |
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