PC Minister confident President will resolve Northern Fishermen’s problems

by P. Krishnaswamy

Northern Province Fisheries, Transport, Commerce and Rural Development Minister Balasubramaniam Deniswaran said that he fervently hopes that the long unresolved livelihood problems of the Northern fishermen and the families rendered destitute would be addressed under the new President who heralds peace and prosperity to the country.

The Minister has formulated a policy framework, to be approved by the provincial administration to provide livelihood assistance to the large number of families that had lost their breadwinners in the long drawn-out conflict and for the 10,000 youth who are undergoing rehabilitation, he said.

Setting up export-oriented projects on prawn farming and certain varieties of fresh water fish, agricultural farms and garment industries will be the main feature of the program, he said.

The PC administration would seek foreign funds, including those from the diaspora and from the central government to implement the program, he said.