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Navy increases patrols off Kalpitiya to deter illegal fishing practices
View(s):The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) will increase its patrols in the seas off Kalpitiya to apprehend those using illegal fishing methods, Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi stated. An increase in both day and night patrols in the area would be ffective immediately, he said.
Police arrive to quell clashes between Kalpitiya fishermen. Pic by Padma Kumari Kankanamge
While the Navy does arrest those engaged in illegal fishing, Captain Alavi said the SLN would enhance coordination with the Fisheries Ministry on sharing information related to illegal fishing. This should aid the Navy to be more effective in thwarting such attempts, he added.
The move follows days of tension in the Kalpitiya area between fishermen using illegal fishing methods and those opposed to them. The situation exploded into violence on Friday, leaving several people injured and extensive damage to property.
A subsequent meeting between the opposing groups and Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera failed to resolve the issue.
Fishermen’s associations say they are hoping to continue their appeals for authorities to amend existing laws to ensure that more stringent action can be taken against illegal fishing methods.
Following Friday’s unrest, Police Headquarters yesterday transferred Pradeep Manjula Udumalagala, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kalpitiya Police, to Puttalam. A Chief Inspector has already taken over from him as the Acting OIC.
Meanwhile, several fishermen who blocked the Kalpitiya-Puttalam main road in protest against illegal fishing methods have been noticed to appear in the Puttalam High Court on November 3.
Police are yet to make any arrests in connection with the unrest. Police sources stated several persons linked to the clashes and acts of vandalism have been identified.
However, due to concerns that arresting individuals immediately would rekindle tensions in the area, police would instead submit a report to courts on November 3 with the names of suspects linked to the unrest.
Thereafter, police are hoping to obtain a court order to arrest them all.
Four motorcycles, a small lorry, and four boats moored to the Kalpitiya jetty were set on fire and destroyed during the clashes. A group of persons also hijacked a lorry belonging to a fish vendor and destroyed about 4000 kilos of fish that were inside. The businessman has lodged a complaint with the Kalpitiya police alleging that he had suffered a loss amounting to Rs.1.1 million as a result of the destruction.
Eleven persons were also injured in the clashes. Two of the injured were still being treated at the Kalpitiya Base Hospital last evening.
The situation had returned to normal by yesterday, with transport services operating as usual and people going about their day-to-day lives. However, a unit from the police riot squad continued to be stationed in the area.