Life jackets for deep sea fishermen in Kalutara

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Life jackets were given to 750 deep sea fishermen in the Kalutara district by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne at a ceremony at the Beruwela Divisional Secretariat Office, Fisheries Ministry Spokesman D.S. Narendra Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Fisheries Minister Dr. Senaratne has instructed all fishermen to wear life jackets when they are in the deep sea.

He said the Minister is confident that the large number of lives lost can be reduced by wearing life jackets. Even when the sea becomes rough due to cyclonic conditions, the lives of fishermen will not be at peril if they wear life jackets.

He said the Minister has instructed the authorities to make wearing life jackets and taking insurance policies compulsory for fishermen, considering the safety and well-being of a large number of families who depend on this industry.

Some fishermen from the South who were caught in cyclones died because they were not wearing life jackets, the spokesman said.

"On the directive of Dr. Senaratne, 1,290 life jackets have been distributed to deep sea fishermen in the district so far. Life jackets are given for each craft except for multi-day fishing vessels. It is mandatory that the owner of the fishing vessel provides life jackets for his fishermen who go to deep sea", he said. Minister Senaratne distributed Rs. 1.8 million worth of fishing gear to fishermen in the district. In addition, three sets of fishing nets worth Rs. 600,000 were given to three fishing vessels.

The Fisheries Department hopes to give life jackets to 30,000 fisherman across the country, Rajapaksa said.