Fishing community in massive protest against Colombo Port City

Women from the fishing community across Sri Lanka’s western coastline gathered in their thousands on Tuesday in a strong protest against the Colombo Port City which is aggravating their livelihoods.

They congregated at the Cardinal Cooray Centre in  Negombo to issue a clear warning to the government that the ambitious project named the Colombo Financial City should be stopped. The protest was led by the Catholic priests and nuns of the area and headed by Rev. Fr Sarath Iddamalgoda, mentor of the People’s Movement Against the Port City.

The protesting fisher-women paraded along the main Chilaw Colombo trunk road chanting slogans against the Port City Project in front of the Negombo Police Superintendent’s Office where a heavy contingent of police were present and the water-canon engines ready to attack protesters, it things went out of control.
Speaking to the Business Times, Fr. Iddamalgoda said that their organization has been silent since October 2016 due to the government trying to drive a wedge between agitating fishermen and others who support the project. 
“Now we are stronger leading the campaign by priests and nuns in front and women fisher folk would be leading and organizing the whole campaign,” Fr. Iddamlgoda said.

Fishermen across the western coast have been raising concerns over the project which they say affects coastline fishing and results in environmental degradation. - (Quintus)