Fisheries Federation backs President

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The National Fisheries Federation (NFF) has unanimously decided to extend its support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential election, General Secretary of NFF Premasiri Perera said.

The decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of the NFF held at the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry last week.

A large number of fisheries society' representatives from Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Puttalam, Matara, Trincomalee, Galle, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Colombo and Kalutara districts and other parts were also present at the meeting.

They recalled the interest shown by President Rajapaksa to improve the industry, the living and economic standards of fisher families under the Mahinda Chinthana Future Vision, according to Fisheries Ministry spokesman Narendra Rajapaksa.

He said that the fisheries community across the country has come forward to show their gratitude to President Rajapaksa for liberating the country from the clutches of LTTE and taking steps to restore fisheries industry in the North and the East.

The executive committee meeting was held under the patronage of the Acting Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and with the participation of Ministry Secretary Dr. Damitha de Soysa.

Minister Gunaratne was also appointed President of the National Fisheries Federation, he said.