Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said that the President has promised him to solve all the issues faced by the fishing community such as fuel issue, import of fish and the price hike of fishing equipment, as soon as possible. He said the above while attending an event to conduct medical tests, first aid and issuing medical reports to fishermen held at Wellamankara on Friday (26).
The Minister stated that this measure is a great service provided to the fishing community this year and the main issue faced by the fishermen who engaged in deep sea fishing in the past was how to provide treatment to fishermen who become ill suddenly. Most of the fishermen who became ill in the sea died in their vessels and certain fishermen who fell ill suddenly in the sea were to be taken to nearby countries, where they were fishing. On certain occasions, the Navy was involved in bringing them ashore, and a large amount of money was spent on this task. As the only solution to this issue, this welfare programme is implemented and the assistance of 24 hospitals countrywide representing the fisher-folk to carry out this programme could be received successfully in the future.
The Minister also said that the Government and the President have planned to solve the current issues faced by the fisher-folk and expressed thanks to the Fisheries Department, Health Ministry, and the Navy for preparing this programme and to the Heads and the Officials of the institutions that worked to commence this programme promptly. The Minister expressed his condolences on the demise of Sanath Nishantha who was the Fisheries Deputy Minister from this area.
Fisheries State Minister Piyal Nishantha said that with the collapse of the global economy, the fishermen have to undergo a very difficult situation and this special programme is extremely important, and this programme is implemented in 24 hospitals countrywide. The State Minister added that this programme is very important for the fishermen who engage in fishing by multi-day vessels and he hopes to donate first-aid sets to the fishermen since it is very useful to them. First Aid Training certificates were issued to those who have completed first aid training and the medical reports were issued to those who have undergone medical tests at the event. Fisheries Ministry Secretary Nayana Kumari Somarathne, Fisheries Department Director General Susantha Kahawaththa, Health Ministry Non-Communicable Diseases Unit Director Dr. Champika, Medical Force of Sri Lanka Navy Dr. Dinesh Ariyadeva, Fisheries Harbour Corporation MD Sathyananthan and the former Councillor of North-Western Provincial Council Ervin Fernando attended this event.