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Protected marine parks not spared from blast fishing

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/17

(Mongabay) It was a perfect morning in Pigeon Island National Park in eastern Sri Lanka, where a group of tourists in a boat was taking in the rich marine life in the water around them.

All of a sudden, there was a loud blast close by. As silence settled once again, they saw the fish that had been flitting nimbly about now either floating dead on the surface or struggling to swim. Through the clear water, they could see more dead fish in the seabed.Hans-Georg Kehse, the leader of the tour group, realised they’d just narrowly escaped an explosive meant for catching fish.

“Fish bombs or dynamite fishing has become a common occurrence in and around Pigeon Island National Park, where sounds of such explosions have become frequent,” said Kehse, who operates a dive centre near the park.

He estimated that the recent blast occurred only about 400 metres, or a quarter-mile, from his tour group. Any closer, Kehse said, it could have been a human tragedy, which would have dealt a devastating blow to Sri Lanka’s already beleaguered marine tourism industry.

Dynamite fishing relies on an explosive to kill or stun large numbers of fish. The shockwaves from the underwater blast can kill a fish or rupture its swim bladder, resulting in the fish losing its buoyancy. They then become easy pickings for fishers, who just have to scoop them out of the water. But the practice is indiscriminately killing or injuring all marine creatures in the vicinity and damaging marine habitats such as coral reefs.In a marine park like Pigeon Island, corals constitute the main underwater life support system, and the repeated blasts can shatter the substrate of that coral growth, preventing its recovery, said Arjan Rajasuriya, a leading coral expert in Sri Lanka and former researcher with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

Most of the corals in southern Sri Lanka are already bleached, and those in other areas are threatened. The eastern coast, where Pigeon Island is located, has the highest cover of live corals, but blast fishing poses a serious threat to them, Rajasuriya told Mongabay.Shipwreck sites, which attract large numbers of fish, have also become targets of blast fishing, according to Dharshana Jayawardena of Dive Sri Lanka, a diving tour operator. That’s especially concerning, given that dive tourism is seen as key to helping the tourism industry in Sri Lanka recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis, Jayawardena said.

At the rate at which blast fishing is taking place, including at dive sites, it’s just a matter of time before a tourist gets injured, which would spell the end for Sri Lanka’s dive tourism industry, Jayawardena told Mongabay.

Among the sites where blast fishing is rife is Trincomalee in the country’s east, Galle in the south, and Mannar and Jaffna in the northern Pigeon Island is a particular concern because it’s one of just three marine national parks in Sri Lanka — a purportedly protected area administered by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). A naval camp is located close by, from where the explosions can be clearly heard.

DWC director-general Chandana Sooriyabandara said the department’s officers on the ground work hard to tackle blast fishing whenever possible. Officers stationed near Pigeon Island said they try to go after the perpetrators whenever they hear an explosion, but these activities are so well coordinated that the fishing boats out at sea are quickly tipped off about the approaching patrol boats, allowing them time to flee.

The Sri Lankan Navy has apprehended several fishermen involved in blast fishing in recent years, seizing explosives that include TNT, C4, and gelignite. The latter, a water-based blasting gelatin, has increasingly become the explosive of choice.In 2017, the Navy seized 52 kilograms (115 pounds) of water gel. In the first few months of 2019, they seized 63 kg (139 lbs). Following the April 2019 Easter church bombings, there was a massive crackdown on the circulation of explosives, resulting in a drop in blast fishing during that period.

The distribution of explosives in Sri Lanka is regulated by the Navy. Explosives that end up being used in blast fishing either leak from this distribution chain or are smuggled into the country by sea from neighbouring India. The Navy says it has intensified its patrols of this sea route to crack down on the smuggling of explosives and other contraband.

But even these efforts are being undermined due to the unfolding economic crisis, the worst in Sri Lanka’s history. Acute shortages mean fuel for patrols by the DWC is being rationed. The Navy, meanwhile, is focused on another pressing problem: stopping the flow of desperate Sri Lankans trying to migrate to India.

Coral expert Rajasuriya said it’s impossible to identify the number of people who have access to explosives. The problem of blast fishing has gone from being a conservation issue and is now of national concern, he said. He called for strict vigilance and intelligence gathering, similar to the situation in the wake of the 2019 terrorist bombings, to identify how these explosives are being sourced.

Blast fishing is especially rampant in Mannar, in Sri Lanka’s northern region, according to S.S.M. Peramunagama from the Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture, who has researched destructive fishing activities there. It’s widely thought that blast fishing in Mannar is practised by fishers coming from other regions, but the reality is that it’s the local fishers doing it, Peramunagama said.

When fish reach the market, it’s difficult to determine whether they were killed by a blast, even for fisheries inspectors. “Another difficulty in enforcing the law is the degree of political interventions that had often [led to] the release of the arrested fishers,” Peramunagama told Mongabay. He also highlighted the personal risk that the blast fishers themselves run, with loss of limbs a very real danger whenever they handle the explosives.

A 2021 review of the existing scientific literature on blast fishing shows it’s a worldwide problem that’s driven by more than just poverty. “Blast fishing is happening in Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe since explosives started [becoming] available relatively freely in the late 19th century,” said lead author Melissa Hampton-Smith of the University of New England, Australia. The study identified particularly destructive practices in parts of Southeast Asia, Tanzania, the Red Sea, and many other areas in Asia.

Though poverty is often cited as the main factor driving fishers to resort to blast fishing, the biggest contributor is the easy access to explosives, Hampton-Smith said. Access to credit and the prospect of increased catches were also identified as bigger drivers than poverty, she added. The review also indicated that blast fishers tend to be wealthier than fishers who don’t practice blast fishing.

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Steps are being taken to provide accommodation facilities for 16,000 university students – Prime Minister

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that accommodation facilities will be provided for 16,000 university students through the new university hostel construction programme, and that steps have also been initiated to formulate a comprehensive policy on university student accommodation.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Wednesday (09 September) in Parliament while responding to questions raised in Parliament.

The Prime Minister stated:

“The University Grants Commission allocated Rs. 376 million in 2025 and Rs. 453 million in 2026 for the renovation of university hostels. The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education allocated Rs. 400 million in 2026 for hostel renovations and Rs. 1,500 million for the construction of new hostels in 2026. All these funds are from domestic allocations. We are implementing these hostel projects without resorting to borrowing. At the same time, allocations have been made through the 2025 and 2026 Budget Estimates for the construction of new hostels under foreign loan financing. These include Rs. 321 million allocated in 2026 for hostels under the Wayamba Urban Development Project, funded through the Saudi Development Loan.

Under the project to establish the Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Rs. 331 million has been allocated under the Saudi Development Loan for the construction of a hostel.

A further Rs. 10.46 million has been allocated for the renovation of hostels under the Wayamba Urban Development Project. Accordingly, Rs. 466 million was allocated for 2025 and Rs. 662.46 million for 2026.

A total of 55 new hostels are scheduled to be constructed during 2025 and 2026 and in the period ahead.

The number of students expected to benefit from these accommodation facilities is 16,000. The University Grants Commission is currently formulating an overall policy on accommodation facilities for students of Sri Lankas state universities. The policy also includes guidelines relating to private student accommodation.

There are instances where university students obtain accommodation in privately operated hostels or rented houses. However, there have been no guidelines governing such accommodation. Until now, there have been no established guidelines regarding charges or minimum standards that should be maintained. We are now in the process of developing guidelines to ensure the safety of students and to prevent them from being subjected to economic exploitation.

The proposed policy is currently being reviewed by the state universities under the purview of the University Grants Commission. The programme will be implemented by the University Grants Commission in direct collaboration with state universities, and there are currently no plans to involve local authorities.

The objective of this policy is to ensure fair, transparent, safe, affordable, accessible and inclusive accommodation facilities for students. In particular, we intend to address the accommodation requirements of university students with disabilities through this programme.

The policy also recognises that students who are unable to obtain university hostel accommodation may obtain accommodation in registered private hostels.

Under the proposed provisions relating to private hostels, minimum standards are expected to be introduced covering accommodation facilities, sanitation, safety, accessibility, affordability and student welfare. The provisions also include arrangements for the fair allocation of accommodation, with particular priority given to students with disabilities; the establishment of a committee to oversee private student hostels; regular inspections; and necessary action against hostels that fail to comply with the required standards. Following consideration of observations and recommendations received from the universities, the draft policy will be revised and subsequently submitted for the process of finalisation.

Of the 55 hostels, priority has been given to universities located away from urban areas. We commenced this project with two hostels at the University of Vavuniya. Accordingly, priority has so far been given to universities such as the University of Vavuniya, the University of Jaffna – Kilinochchi Campus, the South Eastern University, the Uva Wellassa University and the Sabaragamuwa University, where the accommodation issue is particularly acute. Another aspect being considered under the accommodation policy is the limited availability of private accommodation in all parts of the country. Therefore, we are also considering the possibility of constructing additional hostels through a public-private partnership arrangement. For example, the Government could provide land under an agreed arrangement to facilitate the construction of additional accommodation facilities. Discussions are currently being held with the universities regarding this matter”.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated that steps are also being taken to look into hostel facilities and student welfare activities at vocational training centres, as well as at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and the University of Vocational Technology.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

GL / Harshana

Opp. lashes out at Justice Minister for disparaging remarks about CLA

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Joint Opposition yesterday (09) tore into Justice and National Integration Minister Harsha Nanayakkara over some disparaging remarks about the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) in Parliament on Tuesday (08).

The Convenor of the Opposition grouping, former Law Professor Peiris questioned Minister Nanayakkara’s declaration that the CLA was a private club that granted membership on payments received. Emphasising that the CLA consisted of those in the legal profession in Commonwealth countries, Prof. Peiris told the weekly media briefing at the Flower Road Office of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the views expressed by the organisation couldn’t be discarded under any circumstances.

Prof. Peiris dealt with Nanayakkara’s response to the CLA’S concerns about several issues, including the composition of the five-member panel of judges. “How could Minister Nanayakkara dismiss concerns raised by CLA on the basis of the paid-membership of the organisation?” Prof. Peiris asked. If membership became an issue, the government would have to reconsider Sri Lanka’s UN membership, the ex-External Affairs Minister said, pointing out that the country had to make regular payments to retain membership of other UN agencies, as well.

Prof. Peiris said that indefensible attacks on international organisations could cause irreparable damage to the country. Appreciating the CLA’s report on the Supreme Court proceedings on the 01 and 02 September, Prof. Peiris stressed the importance of what he called total transparency in the judicial process. He said that whatever the outcome of a particular legal process, it couldn’t be done behind the backs of the public.

Referring to legal processes regarding the 6th Amendment and 13th Amendment, in 1983 and 1987, respectively, Prof. Peiris said, on both occasions the then Chief Justices Neville Samarakoon and S. Sharvananda constituted benches consisting of all Supreme Court judges.

But, the incumbent CJ Preethi Padman Surasena, in spite of the majority of petitioners demanding all available 13 justices to hear the case, decided to leave out those on the seniority list from second position to fourth position.

The government got offended because the CLA pointed that out for the whole world to take notice, Prof. Peiris said. The former parliamentarian noted that the CJ hadn’t even give a reason for declining the widespread call to involve all available 13 judges. According to him, there had been instances where CJ’s appointed seven justices to hear a particular case. Prof. Peiris cited the 2018 bench of seven judges that heard the petitions against President Maithripala Sirisena over the dissolution of Parliament and a panel constituted in 2023 to hear the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage that claimed the lives of 270 people.

The issue at hand is that the five-member panel of judges hadn’t been selected on the basis of seniority, Prof. Peiris said, once the SC determination was sent and released through the Speaker, they would meticulously examine that to make their position known to the people. Prof. Peiris said that what they really wanted to know was that if seniority hadn’t been the basis for selection what the criterion was.

News

Sri Lanka reiterates its territory won’t be used against India

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh listening attentively to President Dissanayake (pic courtesy PMD)

The Indian Defence Ministry in a statement issued yesterday (09) quoted President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as having assured visiting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s security interests.

The text of the Indian press release: “Visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on September 09, 2026. The two leaders held substantive discussions on issues covering the entire spectrum of the multi-faceted partnership between the two nations, characterised by traditionally warm relations and mutual trust.

The two sides reaffirmed that as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka would continue to work together for their development and welfare of the people while working jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region. The senior Indian Minister conveyed greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and underlined that the citizens of the two countries share deep friendship based on strong historical & civilisational links and people-to-people exchanges.

Extending a warm welcome to Mr. Singh, President Dissanayake recalled his interactions with PM Modi and reiterated that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for any activities inimical to India’s security interests.

President Dissanayake expressed his gratitude for the relief assistance provided by India as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu during Cyclone Ditwah and the comprehensive rehabilitation package extended by New Delhi to facilitate reconstruction and rehabilitation work across different parts of the island. The powerful Indian Defence Minister emphasised that as a closest friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India considered it not a favour, but a responsibility to provide assistance as the first responder and would continue to do so in the future as well.

Both leaders virtually inaugurated three Bailey Bridges constructed by the Indian Defence Forces. The two sides also exchanged MoUs on upgradation of L70 Guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, and cooperation between National Cadet Corps (NCC) & National Defence Colleges (NDC) of both the countries. The MoU on Upgradation of six L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force falls under a Government of India grant. The upgradation of these air defence guns will significantly strengthen the air defence architecture of critical assets in Sri Lanka. These air defence guns were earlier provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India.

The MoU on academic cooperation between NDC, India and NDC, Sri Lanka will facilitate knowledge sharing which will be a significant step in further strengthening the academic bonds between both the sister institutes. The MoU on NCC cooperation will formalise the NCC youth exchange programme between India and Sri Lanka. This exchange programme provides a valuable opportunity for NCC cadets from multiple countries across the world to come to New Delhi every year and participate in NCC events.”