Most of the fishermen in north and east Sri Lanka have lost their means of livelihood due to war and so for their survival the government has announced loan scheme. As per the announcement they will be provided with loans by the Bank of Ceylon, which has set aside Rs 50 million for the purpose. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne revealed this during his recent visit to the Boat Building Factory in Karainagar.
He told that the bank will initially disburse Rs. 20 million as loans, at 10 percent interest, among 200 fishermen in Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi. They would have to pay back the loans within two years. According to him the Ministry’s next move would be to provide loans to affected fishermen in the East to purchase boats, nets and fishing gear to recommence their trade. When fish from the North and East reach Colombo and other major towns, consumers would be able to get fresh and quality fish at fair prices and that would pave the way for the abolition of the fish monopoly.
Minister Senaratne has informed that in 1986 LTTE had destroyed the Ceynor factory in Karainagar, where fishing trawlers, gear and nets had been manufactured. He added that very soon the Ceynor-Workshop would be commissioned with German assistance.
