'Fuel subsidy to be resumed'

by P. Krishnaswamy

Speaking to the Sunday Observer on the fishermen's protest in Negombo over the suspension of fuel subsidy to them, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Sarath Kumara Gunaratne said that the JVP and other anti-government elements are behind the agitation.

An undertaking was given in writing to the organisations representing the fishermen and to the Catholic priests and consequently, all arrangements were finalised to resume the issue of fuel subsidy to the fishermen, the Deputy Minister said.

A large number of fishermen staged a protest on Friday in front of the office of the Regional Director of the Fisheries Corporation in Negombo demanding the resumption of the fuel subsidy. Some of them staged a fast-unto-death protest on the roof of the Corporation building and took recourse to other measures of threat, the reports said.

The anti-government political elements are instigating the fishermen to take resource to protests and other violent activities for their own political mileage, Deputy Minister Gunaratne said, adding that he would talk on any issues relating to the fishermen only with the organisations representing them and the Catholic priests and not with any others.

The monthly issue of the fuel subsidy will be resumed soon or other alternative arrangement with mutual understanding with the fishermen will be offered soon, he said.