Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking in the Parliament on Tuesday said that the fisher communities in Sri Lanka are facing severe problems due to the increase in the price of kerosene and fuel, and invited the government to come forward to solve those problems immediately.
Regarding the fishermen, the opposition leader spoke in Parliament at length and presented a series of questions to the government on the subject including the fuel subsidy given to the fishermen.
Pointing out that the livelihood of the fishing community has been completely disrupted by the fuel price revision, the opposition leader requested the government to provide immediate solutions to this problem.
“This has resulted in the supply of fish, the most common and cheap source of protein, dwindling at a time the country is also facing issues relating to child malnutrition. Therefore, this has become an issue that affects the whole community and not just the fisher community in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa pointed out that the government’s failure to supply diesel to at least 4,500 multi-day vessels and 25,000 small fishing vessels will only exacerbate the crisis.
“The increase of kerosene from Rs. 87 to Rs. 340 has affected the livelihood of small fishing vessel fishermen. It has become impossible to engage in their trade,” he noted, adding that fish supplies have reduced while cost has also arisen, further burdening the consumers.
Accordingly, Premadasa posed a series of questions to the Government under Standing Order 27(2). Recalling President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s promise in Parliament on 6 July to provide the increased cost of kerosene as a subsidy to fishermen, Premadasa noted that no such relief has been forthcoming. “Will the Government provide this subsidy to the fisher communities and if so, when?” he asked.
Also, the opposition leader questioned whether the government would provide any discount for diesel, engine oil and other inputs needed by the fishermen to engage in their trade and the information about the fishing communities affected by the Express Pearl disaster and the full amount of damages and the process that the government hopes to implement the program.
The opposition leader also questioned the adverse effects faced by people engaged in businesses related to the fishing industry such as ice producers, Freezer truck owners and the current status of the voluntary pension system introduced for fishermen in the country due to the increase in Premadasa fishing imports and the ongoing crisis.
