News
Frontline Socialist Party condemns proposed Fisheries Amendment Bill as threat to public ownership of Lankan waters
Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party, Pubudu Jayagoda, last Wednesday said that the government is poised to introduce new legislation amending the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No 2 of 1996, effectively terminating public ownership of the country’s seas.
Addressing a press conference held at the Center for Society and Religion in Colombo, Jayagoda warned that the proposed changes could undermine the fundamental principle of public ownership, a cornerstone of existing laws governing the seas.
He said that the current legal framework’s core premise establishes the sea surrounding the nation as a resource owned by the people, forming the basis for the regulations stipulated in the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No 2 of 1996.
Jayagoda said that Section 35 of the draft bill grants extensive powers to the Director General of Fisheries to issue licenses. Unlike the previous approach where fishermen were not required to obtain licenses but registered their boats or vessels, the proposed amendment introduces a licensing system with limited quotas to prevent fishermen from surpassing these allocations.
Jayagoda pointed out Section 6(e) of the draft bill, allowing foreigners to acquire fishing licenses, a move unprecedented in the context of Lankan waters. The amendment seeks to segment Lankan waters into zones, leasing these areas to multinational corporations from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and China.
“The Section 8 of the new bill grants the Director General authority to restrict local fishermen from accessing these leased zones,” Jayagoda said adding that the Sections 155 and 144 exempt foreign fishermen from Lankan jurisdiction, unless a bilateral agreement exists, making it challenging for the country to penalize foreign poachers.
Jayagoda said that the amendment bill is a strategic maneuver to commercialize and privatize fishing rights in Lankan waters.
Jayagoda said that the FSP would oppose the proposed legislation and would join other progressive forces against what they perceive as a threat to the people’s rights and interests. He urged the public to unite in thwarting the passage of this bill, emphasizing the imperative need to prevent the potential privatization of the nation’s seas.
Warnakulasuriyage Jude Namal Fernando, Convener of the Fishers Collective, said that they would aunch a campaign involving fishermen from both the North and the South against the draft bill. Fernando demanded the government withdraw the bill and cautioned government officials against seeking votes from villages without addressing this attempt to strip them of centuries-old rights.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the EX- United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC DECISIVE, provided by the United States to SLN, at a ceremony held at the United
States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25. The event was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
The ship formally joined the SLN fleet on 02 December under the pennant number P 628 and the main mast of the ship will fly the National Flag effective from that date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously provided 03 ships to SLN and they are currently patrolling island waters under the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621), ‘Gajabahu’(P 626), and ‘Vijayabahu’ (P 627).
As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s services, Ex-USCGC DECISIVE was transferred as the fourth ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC DECISIVE, a ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’, measures 64m in length, and having endurance of 6000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for a
crew of 100 and is equipped with weapons and machinery.
The ship which was used by the U.S. Coast Guard has rendered exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal activities, including smuggling of narcotics in U.S. waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging
operations that include the conservation of marine resources in the region and the search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilize
this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while ensuring safe and secure seas for all economic affairs.
The formal handing over – taking over ceremony was also distinguished by the presence of the Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Director of Domain & Integration Services U.S. Coast
Guard, James L. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Andrew Byers, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Commanding Officer designate of P 628, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as well as a group of officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in United States and the State Department
of the United State
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs today [5th December] confirms that 486 persons have died and another 341 persons are missing after the devastating weather conditions in the past week.
171,778 persons have been displaced and have taken refuge at 1,231 safety centers established by the government.
Death toll rises to 607, missing persons reduce to 214 at 1800hrs today (5)
Sri Lanka Navy takes delivery of Ex-USCGC DECISIVE
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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