Move to stave off environmental impact

By Lalin Fernandopulle

Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said no leaflets were distributed among fishermen regarding the Port City project and added that there were discussions with representatives of fisheries organisations who requested for funds to develop their livelihood. Therefore, in keeping with their request the Ministry has allocated Rs. 500 million to develop the fisheries sector.

However, a convener for the People's Movement against the Port City Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda said, if the Port City Project goes ahead with its enormous sand mining, the reef which is already being severely affected will collapse, resulting in the disappearance of the Thalahena Peruwa area.He said the coastline from Colombo to Hikkaduwa will disappear as a result of the Port City project which is being carried out at the expense of a large number of fisher families whose livelihood would be adversely affected."Over 30,000 active fishermen in Negombo and another 50,000 who depend on the fisheries sector in Negombo alone will be affected by the project that is implemented to fulfill the interest of a few and to gain political mileage", Fr. Iddamalgoda said.

Fishermen at the protest against the Port City project in Colombo last week said Fisheries Ministry officials had distributed leaflets and promised compensation to fishermen in the Dehiwela, Moratuwa area.

Residents in the Dehiwela-Moratuwa area said they too would be adversely affected by the project which will have a serious bearing on coastal and marine life. Fishermen in Chilaw, Moratuwa and Panadura said their livelihood will be at stake if a Port City is built.

The agreement reached between the Sri Lankan government and the Chinese counterpart should be made known to the public who are yet in the dark. Good governance encompasses consultation and people's participation, Fr. Iddamalgoda said.

Tilak Kariyawasam of the People's Movement against the Port City said the recent protest at the Galle Face was successful with the participation of a large number of fishermen, environmentalists and representatives of eco and civil society and religious organisations.

"We received a favourable response from officials of the President's and Prime Ministers offices who were briefed about the environmental catastrophe that would be caused by the project. We will continue our agitation on a major scale, if steps are not taken to halt the project", Kariyawasam said. Eco groups and civil society organisations called for the immediate halt of the project to save the country from a major ecological disaster. They urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to stick to his election pledge that he would stop the project when he comes to power.

"There are several flaws even in the supplementary report on the Environmental Impact Assessment released by the government.

The compensation proposed for fisher families due to the deprivation of livelihood for three years is woefully inadequate. The government has proposed to grant Rs. 5 million as compensation to fishermen who would be deprived of their livelihood for three years.