Madel Fishermen End Protest After Meeting with the President
The group of Madel fishermen who had been staging a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat has decided to call off their demonstration.
This decision was taken following a discussion held this afternoon (13) with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Recently, the government decided to ban the use of mechanical equipment in the Madel fishing industry. Opposing this decision, a group of fishermen had begun a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat on the 5th.
During the discussion, the President questioned the fishermen’s demands and highlighted several key concerns.
He pointed out that Madel fishermen already have access to 889 designated locations to operate their nets. Despite this, they are now demanding permission to use mechanical winches instead of manually pulling the nets from the sea.
The President noted that the use of winches has been criticised in various scientific studies and by reputable organisations that have been granted regulatory authority by the government. These institutions operate under laws specifically designed to protect the marine ecosystem.
He therefore questioned whether it would be sensible to allow a small group of fishermen to bend existing laws.
The President asked:
If one group is allowed to violate environmental regulations, would it not encourage others to make similar demands in the future?
Would this not weaken the legal framework established to protect the ocean and its ecology?
He stressed that laws are created in the public interest and for environmental protection, and cannot be altered to suit the demands of a few individuals at the expense of long-term national and ecological interests.