Save the Children grants Rs 40 million worth fishing equipment to tsunami victims

Save the Children, Sri Lanka provided boats and outboard motor engines to fisherman in Chilaw and Puttalam worth Rs. 40 million. This is in response to a request made by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MOFA) to assist fishermen who lost their fishing equipment in the tsunami.

Save the Children provided 34 boats and 220 outboard engines. This brings the total number of boats provided by Save the Children in Sri Lanka in its post tsunami livelihoods recovery programme to 570. “We have identified migratory fishermen who live in Chilaw and Puttalam who were fishing in the eastern coast at the time of the tsunami and lost their equipment. Since their place of residence is a non-tsunami affected area they did not receive the support the other affected fishermen did. However, we are happy that we were able to help them and their families with support from Save the Children,” said Neomal Perera Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

A ceremony was held in Mampury in Puttalam to distribute the boats and accessories.