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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In troubled waters by DEEPAL WARNAKULASURIYA Education as defined by many people, serves many purposes. So, don't be
surprised if you hear some defining educations as being able Kokkilai was once a peaceful fishing village. But the situation changed in 1984, when the LTTE attacked the fishing settlement, killing 13 people from Kokkilai and Nayaru and injuring several others. And life has never been the same again. that is, until recently, when a number of fisher families returned to their old village to assume their old livelihood. But, it is not without hardship.
Although Kokkilai is geographically a large area, the residential area has been restricted to three kilometres by the armed forces, due to security reasons. Also famous for its birds, Kokkilai has been accepted as one of the best birds sanctuaries in Asia. More than 135 families, live not in brick and mortar houses but in those seeled with cadjans or palmyra leaves. The only solid buildings in the village are the school and Army Camps. M. Antony Christopher, had come to Kokkilai with his father 40 years ago, at the age of 12. At that time about 25 families had been engaged in fishing. "Although we are separated from the rest of the country by a lagoon, this does not pose a problem. But, we need some basic facilities to engage in our livelihood," he said. He also said that the Army had restricted their fishing schedule to just day-time, preventing them from going on deep sea fishing. However, after the peace process was activated, the time frame of fishing has also been extended from 5.00 am to 6.45 pm. But the fishermen are still not happy, and insist that they should be given the freedom to engage in night fishing. According to Sebastian Dudley Fernando, the Secretary of the Kokkilai Fishing Society, the area demarcated for fishing is very limited. "If we are permitted to fish beyond the limited area, our livelihood would be better", he said. Fishing woes apart, the villagers also face a drinking water problem "The pipe line that we are now using was installed more than 30 years ago and the service is inadequate. Though we have informed the authorities several times, nothing has been done yet", Fernando said. The village also lacks a dispensary. At present a Government doctor comes to the village once a month. But a single visit is not sufficient. The villagers pointed out that their way to a dispensary in Padaviya is by crossing the lagoon and hiring a three wheeler from Tennamaran Jetty to Padaviya, which cost them Rs. 200. Kokkilai also has a primary school with 24 students and 8 teachers. And more often than not, education is limited to learning to write his or her name and adding up the weight of fish. "For almost 50 years, we have been living on this plot of land, but we always live in fear of a terrorists' attack. We have nothing to ask request to make to the government, that is to give us an opportunity to live in peace" Mrs. Irine Silva, one of the mothers in the village told us. She said that whatever takes place, the Tigers (Kotiya) cannot be trusted. The villagers, many of who returned with high hopes are forced into living a hand-to-mouth existence. But, it is not the whole story. Hidden amidst the woes is the fact that the villagers in Kokilai live there for only six months of the year. The other six months, they go back to Negombo where they have permanent houses, and their children go to good schools. According to one villager, "When the sea gets hot here, we go to Negombo and come back later." So, should one be surprised at the fact that there are only 24 students in the Kokkilai School. But, from this springs another question. Why are there only 24 students in this school. Are they not rich enough to cross the lagoon? * * * * * The tour of Kokkilai was organised by the Junior Old Boys Association, Colombo, Mahanama College and the 224 Army Brigade, Galkulama. |
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to write a
name and calculate the weight of fish sold in a day. For it is this
definition that holds true in Kokkilai, a fishing village in the
East-Coast separated from the rest of the country by a lagoon. The
villagers have no ambitions for their children other than training them
for the sea.
