By Yohan Perera
The traffic along the Negombo-Katunayake main road was blocked yesterday when the Negombo Lagoon Protection Alliance -- a grouping of fishermen’s associations -- staged a protest over use of the Negombo Lagoon for the sea plane project.
Vehicles coming from Chilaw, Puttalam and Kuliyapitiya were unable to move because of the massive protest.
The protestors charged that the excavation of the Mada Bokka Bay -- one of the richest areas for shrimp will be damaged if the project goes ahead.
“There is no need to disturb or destroy the natural ecosystem of the area,” they said
However United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Gampaha District MP Sudharshini Fernandopulle said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa had informed that he had ordered the Airport and Aviation Ministry to remove all the equipment stationed in the lagoon. According to reports this had been implemented almost immediately.
She said the minister had also told her that the project would be carried out at a different location in a way that did not harm the fishermen or the lagoon fauna.
A discussion is expected to be held between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Negombo fishermen on the proposed sea plane project which is strongly opposed by the fishermen and the villagers living near the Negombo Lagoon.
Alliance convener Herman Kumara said he hoped a date for the talks would be fixed soon and added that the alliance would meet the president in his capacity as the minister in charge of Ports and Aviation.
Ports and Aviation Ministry had planned to start the Sea Plane Project by January next year using two sea planes initially.
News Source: www.dailymirror.lk
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