Incorporates 984 Fisheries societies:

First National Fisheries Federation formed

Chamikara WEERASINGHJE

Sri Lanka's first National Fisheries Federation incorporating all the fishermen belonging to fishermen's 984 Fisheries Societies in the country was formed yesterday on the initiative of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna.

Over 500 fishery inspectors, field officers and assistant field officers participated at the workshop held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo yesterday by the Fisheries Ministry and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department , to form the Federation.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Senaratna proposed a pension scheme for fishermen at the workshop.

He said, he is of the view that fishermen should get a pension no less than Rs 7,000. He said, the Ministry will get the Federation's help to introduce a Fishermen' Pension Scheme.

Congratulating the Fisheries Societies and Ministry officials for establishing the Federation Dr. Senaratna said, the Federation's activities should not become restricted to welfare programs and loan schemes to benefit fishermen. The Federation is expected to introduce modern fishing technologies to the fishermen to increase the fish catch as this will be paramount in conformity with the Government 's plans to increase the country's fish production by ten per cent in the next few years, he said.

He said that 160,000 fishermen in the country are expected to increase the country's fish production from present 341,000 metric tonnes to 686,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2013.

The National Federation of Sri Lankan Fishermen is expected to contribute to the country's economic development, he said.

The Federation will undertake tasks such as educating fishermen on technologies such as Vessel Monitoring System(VMS) which the Ministry has initiated action to install before the end of the year.

He said, the Ministry will introduce scholarships schemes to fishermen's children through the Federation.

There will be Fisheries Housing Projects, loan schemes and self employment projects for women. The Federation is expected to identify those who are eligible for these programs, he added.

It was agreed on this occasion to hold the National Fisheries Federation's first summit at the Suganthadasa Stadium in Colombo with the participation of all the fisheries societies island-wide.