(Colombo Lankapuvath) More than 5000 fisher families who claim that they will be affected by the Sea Plane Service Project staged a protest in Negombo recently.
According to Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says they will not relocate anybody for tourism purposes.
At the same time the National Convener of the Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo and Secretary, World Forum of Fisher People, Herman Kumara said that Sea planes will affect the maritime life causing noise, pollution and water disturbances. As a result this will affect fishing and their livelihood lost complained Herman Kumara.
The Negombo Lagoon provides direct livelihood for more than 5000 families of 35 villages around it. Meanwhile another 3500 families solely depend indirectly on the lagoon. All are small scale subsistence fishermen.
According to Fisheries Sources the annual income from the lagoon exceeds to more than Rs.150 Million. In the meantime Negombo lagoon together with Muthurajawala Marsh had been declared as an important Ramsar Wetland in Asia.
Muthurajawala is one of the richest areas fro prawns and fish. If the sea plane route will be located it would cause serious damage to the lagoon. This is the biggest fear of the fisherman added Kumara.
But Chairman Godahewa says that the key principles to the development of Sri Lanka is sustainable tourism. Tourism will also generate 500,000 direct and indirect new employment in the next 05 years and almost 6%of the population if the country will benefit out of tourism added the Chairman.
Sea planes are effective modes of transportation worldwide which saves time and fuel. The Sri Lanka’s Ports and Aviation Ministry plans to use 12 inland lakes and waterways including Beira Lake, Victoria Reservoir, Tisawewa and Parakrama Samudraya as destinations. Along with this a service from the Negombo lagoon to various parts of the country has also been planned added the Chairman.
News Source: www.lankapuwath.lk
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