MULTI-DAY TRAWLER OWNERS THREATEN STRIKE

Aone-day protest campaign would be held by the fishermen countrywide against fuel increase price, a Trade Union of owners of multi-day trawlers (MDT) said yesterday at a press conference held in Marawila.

The President of the Union Sujith Samantha said that they had drawn the attention of authorities about the fuel price increase but had no response.

“We met the Minister of Fisheries several times in this connection and no positive response from him was forthcoming. It is sad to say that the Minister of Fisheries has not held the public day for the last two months in his Ministry.

“How can we get solutions for our problems in this situation? The export of fish caught by multiday trawlers to the EU countries has increased 44 per cent after to lifting of the ban.

“But this situation has already fallen down. We should not forget that this is our money,” he said.

“The MDTS are a resource to our country. We earn big money for the country. There are two million people earn a living by fishing of using the MDTS.

“The people are badly hit by the increasing fuel prices. Fishermen of using MDTS have reduced the number of time they go out to sea due to the price hike,” he said.

“Due to this situation, some owners are selling their boats for cheap rates.

“The buyers of these boats are using them to provide transport for illegal business such as transporting people to other countries. In the last few days, such illegal immigrants were arrested by the Police.

“We request only one thing. That is to supply fuel for a fair price. We know that the Government is lying to us. Therefore we have decided to hold a protest all over the country in one day.

Secretary of the Union Ruwan Fernando and Assistant Secretary of the Union Tyrone Mendis also expressed his views at the press conference.