Fisherfolk in Mullaitivu District staged a protest, calling on authorities to take immediate steps to prohibit illegal fishing activities that they say are devastating livelihoods along the coast of the Tamil homeland.
The demonstration began at the Mullaitivu seashore, where participants raised slogans including “The surge in illegal operations is destroying the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen,” and “Ban illegal fishing”.
Protesters then marched in procession to the Mullaitivu District Secretariat, where they submitted a petition outlining their demands to the District Government Agent, A. Umamaheswaran.
Addressing both the protesters and the media, Umamaheswaran acknowledged the central role of fishing to the district’s economy, stating that approximately 20 percent of the district’s population is engaged in the fisheries sector. He noted that Mullaitivu encompasses more than 71 kilometres of coastline, making it one of the key fishing regions in the North-East.
The Government Agent assured the gathering that the demands raised by the fishing community would be conveyed to the Sri Lankan government and expressed confidence that a favourable response would be forthcoming.
The protest reflects growing frustration among Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu, who have repeatedly warned that illegal fishing practices are eroding already fragile coastal livelihoods, exacerbating economic hardship in a region that continues to struggle with the long-term consequences of war and occupation.
