Struggle over the Negombo

Lagoon
Report on the Peoples victory against the Negombo lagoon Sea Plane project


Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)

(I)

Struggle over the Negombo Lagoon
An account of the Peoples Victory against the Negombo Lagoon Sea Plane project
Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)
Editor : Hurmen Kumara
Publisher : Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)
10, Malwaa Road, Negombo
Telephone : + 94 31 2239750
Fax number : +94 31 4870658
ISBN number : 978-955-8103-23-4
First print : 30
th
April 2014
Cover page : Mrs. Radhika Gunarathne
Translator : Ms. Ramona Miranda.
Printed by : Akura Printers - Negombo
Publicaon No : 37 of NAFSO
Financial Contribuons : CCFD - France
(II)
All those
who
Contributed
to the Victory of
Sea plane Struggle
till to the end
with
Self Sacrifce
and
Commitment
Offer
(III)
Chief Seales
LETTER TO ALL

Chief Seattle (more correctly known as Seathl) was a Susquamish
chief who lived on the islands of the Puget Sound. As a young worrier,
Chief Seattle was known for his courage, daring and leadership. He gained
control of six of the local tribes and continued the friendly relations with
the local whites that had been established by his father. His now famous
speech was believed to have been given in December, 1854. There are
several versions of his letter; the following was provided by Barefoot Bob.
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Chief Seattles Letter
The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But
how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not
own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?
Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every
sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect.
All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.
We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that
courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The per-
fumed owers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our
brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and
man all belong to the same family.
The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the
blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is
sacred. Each glossy reection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and
memories in the life of my people. The waters murmur is the voice of my fathers
father.
The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and
feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give
any brother.
If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares
its spirit with all the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his
rst breath also received his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit
of life. So if we sell our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where
man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow owers.
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Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is
our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.
This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All
things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web
of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
One thing we know: our God is also your God. The earth is precious to him and
to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.
Your destiny is a mystery to us. What will happen when the buffalo are all slaugh-
tered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the
forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blot-
ted with talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle
be? Gone! And what is to say goodbye to the swift pony and then hunt? The end
of living and the beginning of survival.
When the last red man has vanished with this wilderness, and his memory is only
the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, will these shores and forests still
be here? Will there be any of the spirit of my people left?
We love this earth as a newborn loves its mothers heartbeat. So, if we sell you
our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it, as we have cared for it. Hold in
your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land
for all children, and love it, as God loves us.
As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to
us. It is also precious to you.
One thing we know - there is only one God. No man, be he Red man or White
man, can be apart. We ARE all brothers after all.
[source : internet]

(VI)
(VII)
Struggle over the Negombo Lagoon
An account of the Peoples Victory against the Negombo lagoon sea plane project

Editorial Board
Editor in Chief : Herman Kumara, Convener, NAFSO
Editorial Assistants:
1. Sebasan Vincent Fernando, Sri Vimukthi sheries women organizaon, Negombo
2. Nalaka Rosairo, Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo
3. Francis Priyankara Costa, Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo
4. Pradeep Laksiri Fernando, Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo
5. Ms. Geetha Lakmini Fernando, Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Negombo
6. Ms. Deepa Subashini Kamalanadhan, Sri Vimukthi sheries women organizaon, Negombo
7. Francis Rajan, Praja Abhilasha Network, Negombo.
8. Ms. Melina Kumari Fernando, Sri Vimukthi sheries women organizaon, Negombo
9. Marcus Antony Fernando, Negombo Lagoon Fisher Peoples Organizaon, Negombo
Arcles/Contributors
1. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, Shramabimani Forum, Liyanagemulla, Seeduwa.
2. Fr. Sherad Jayawardene, All Ceylon Fisher Folk trade union, Duwa, Negombo.
3. Fr. Thomas Kocherry, World Forum of Fisher Peoples, Kerala, India
4. Sr. Anne Perea, Holy Family Convent, Katunayake,
5. Ms. Melani Manel Perera, Asia News Network, Kapuwaa, Jaela.
6. Mr. Brito Fernando, Right to Life Organizaon, Katunayake
7. Mr. Sajeewa Chamikara, Environmental Conservaon trust, Wata road, Nugegoda.
8. Mr. Freddy Christo Gamage, Meepura News Paper, Negombo.
9. Mr. Mohommed Ali Sha, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Karachchi, Pakistan.
10. Mr. Sanath Bowmik, Bangladesh Fisher folk Forum, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
11. Mr. Steve Alston, London, UK
Assistance to English edion: Mr. Dulshan Jayarathne, Wennappuwa

(VIII)
Table of contents
(iii) Oer
(iv) Chief Sealie's Leer
(viii) Editroial Board
01. IntroduconHerman Kumara
1.1 Land, water and forests are inalienable rights of people
1.2 Natural resources for food producon and livelihoods
1.3 Conserving natural resources as a step towards prevenon of disasters and
trigger of climate change
02. Rebuilding the Country : Post Tsunami Development Process
2005 2009.................................................................Geetha Lakmini
2.1 The proposed infrastructure development and displacing of people
2.2 Development of Kalpiya Tourisum zone
03. The post war development program from 2009 unl to date
........................................................................................Priyankara Costa
3.1 Developing areas dedicated for tourism
3.2 Developing Mega cies
3.3 Developing express highways connecng Asian High Way Network
3.4 Developing internaonal and domesc airports
3.5 Will the oceans resources be lost to shermen? Declaring Trincomalees Pi-
geon Island as Ocean Reserve
3.6 Sampur : People evieted from their homeland
04. The Negombo Lagoon Sea Plane Project is a major component of the
Overall Tourism Plan...............................................Nalaka Rosairo
4.1 Sea Planes to Negombo through Rebuilding Sri Lanka, Rata Perata and
Mahinda Chinthanaya
4.2 The progress of tourism industry under Mahinda Chinthanaya (2005)
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05. Diary of the Sea Plane struggle of Negombo Lagoon..Herman Kumara
5.1 Militancy of Sea Plane Struggle of Negombo Lagoon.
5.2 Diary of Sea Plane struggle of Negombo Lagoon.
5.3 Legal redress or the strength of people? Peoples Power
5.4 Intervenon of Progressive Catholic Priests
5.5 Talks at Naikande: An aempt to buy over the leaders of SeaPlane Struggle
5.6 Intensicaon of the Sea plane struggle at the Municipal Hall meeng and as the
dawn of a victorious path.
5.7 Decisiveness of lagoon struggle: We saved the mother lagoon at the risk of our
lives
5.8 We resurrect the victorious and decisive stage of the sea plane struggle on the
road
06. Decisive intervenon of sherwomen .............Sebasan Vincent
6.1 Indrani Fernando - Thaladuwa
6.2 Nadishani Lakmini - Kadolkele
6.3 Mary Sriyani - Kadolkele
6.4 Greta Fernando - Munnakkaraya
6.5 Mary Kusuma - Siriwardene Place
6.6 Grace Malda - Kadolkele
6.7 Therese Nirmala - Munnakkara
07. The Decisive Contribuon of the Fisheries Leadership towards the victory
of Lagoon Struggle
7.1 Aruna Roshantha - Pipana
7.2 Nimal Vianney - Seththapaduwa
7.3 Niroshan Fernando - Munnakkara
7.4 Ranjith Fernando - Kepungoda
7.5 Joseph Peter - Pipana North
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08. Memories of the leaders of Sea Plane struggle, Negombo lagoon
8.1 Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen Organizaon Deepa Subashini
8.2 Progressive Clergy Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda
8.3 Intervenon of Nuns Sr. Anne Perera
8.4 Mediaon of Human Rights Organizaons Brito Fernando
8.5 Environmental Organizaons Sajeewa Chamikara
8.5 Contribuons of Media organizaons Freddy Gamage and
Melani Manel Perera
09. Aer the Decisive Victory .............Herman Kumara
9.1 Arrest sher leaders
9.2 Negombo Municipal Council Elecons
9.3 Life threats to sher leaders who involve the SeaPlane Struggle
9.4 Building Lagoon sheries trade union
10. Peoples Struggles in Asia and Peoples Leaderships in those Struggles
10.1 Indian sher peoples struggle- Fr. Thomas Kocherry, India
10.2 Bangladesh Fisher Peoples Struggle- Sanath Bowmik, Bangladesh
10.3 Pakistan Fisherfolk Struggle- Mohommed Ali Sha, Pakistan
11. Globalizaon and new trends in tourism industry - Emphasis on the
necessity towards community based tourism industry ............ Steve
Alston,
12. What is the future of Negombo Lagoon? New threats to the sustenance
of the Negombo Lagoon ....................................Pradeep Laksiri Fernando
13. Few words aer the Victory..........Herman Kumara
Annexes :
1. Some media intervenons on SeaPlane Struggle
2. Map of proposed 45 tourism zones
3. Invitaon Leer to the fomaon of Alliance for protecon of Negombo Lagoon
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(1)
Chapter 1
Introducon:
Why did we decide to publish an account of the Sea Plane Struggle?
This is the historical account of men and women who were engaged in saving the
Negombo lagoon. This places on record the eorts of the local community that saved
the lagoon from the destrucon that was planned in the name of development, and the
support they received from organizaons, religious leaders, media, and professionals.
This is to ensure that future generaons will have an eye witness account of this conict,
and understand the strength and the commitment of those who saved the lagoon.
There were two main causes that movated the people to act. Though defeat is a bastard,
victory has thousands of fathers, and while the real owners of this victory stand aside,
there were many powerful persons who shamelessly tried to claim it. While the leaders
who were willing to lay down their lives to safeguard the lagoon were taken to courts and
harassed, there were others who were threatened by policians and stood aside, but
there were those who tried to use the media to claim that it was to their credit that the
conict was won. Thus the accounts of the people of the lagoon themselves should tell
the story.
Another important factor is the context of this protest. It was a me where people chose
silence over voice. It was a me in which the government chose to exploit and loot the
natural resources under the guise of development using the war victory as a cover. Any
cricism or protest could not be raised and were crushed with threats and inmidaon.
It was in this context that the Sri Vimukthi Women Fisheries Society chose to take up the
path to bale for their rights.
The protest to protect the Negombo lagoon by the shers is evidence of the extent that
people could go to protect their livelihoods upon being faced with threats from develop-
ment projects. This struggle was iniated when majority of cizens in the country were
compelled to be silent prisoners of the victory of the war.

In other words this was not a struggle for jusce in a democrac se ng.

This protest campaign was launched at a me when there was no space for
alternave thinking or perspecves: such ideas were crushed, while some jour-
nalists had to pay the price with their lives and many others faced death threats and ed
the country, and civil society acvists with an alternave opinion were labeled as having a
pro western stance or traitors. It is important to note that this campaign was able to bring
together people with dierent polical a liaons and was an encouragement for the civil
society acvists while it was also taken up as a topic of discussion within polical
party members and leadership. In pu ng this into record we are le to nd answers to
a series of quesons. Today, we are faced with many divisions of opinion about taking
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this struggle forward. It has become di cult for us to come to the discussion table with
government o cials.
How do we bring all the divided pares to one plaorm despite the divisions of opinion?
If, in November 2010, societys negave opinion on NGOs could not be overcome, and we
were divided, the victory we had regarding the Negombo lagoon would have not been
possible.
We have also asked the various people we invited to write, to reect back on the happen-
ings of that me. As a result this record is a collecve eort and it honors the struggle of
all who were engaged in it. If this eort can strengthen the sher folk of this country, then
this will be a record that will strengthen social acon in all of Sri Lankan society.
Our eort in documenng this struggle against the sea plane campaign is to highlight
how such development projects not only deprive peoples livelihoods, but also the impact
they make on the natural environment, depleng natural resources and contribung to
the increase of natural disasters and climate change
By recording this sea plane conict victory, we are aempng to show how through the
means of exploing the ocean, there is the direct impact of losing jobs and livelihoods
as well as an indirect impact on the environment, which can lead to climate change and
disasters.
By recording the support that was received for the welfare of the sher folk, the welfare
of other marginalized groups was also vitalized. But, the real value of this struggle is be-
cause of the context in which it happened. This cannot be considered only as an aempt
to win the demands of a group in a democrac society. The main characterisc of democ-
racy which is the space for argument and dialogue was reduced to the maximum by the
leaders during this me, and every aempt was made to destroy the eorts for dialogue.
It should be noted that the eorts made were in the context where media freedom was
curtailed, where media personnel had been murdered, where another large number have
gone abroad, where many have disappeared, and the law and order of the country were
dragged down, and at a me where the rulers had a two thirds majority; and thus civil
societys aempts at anything were restrained by calling them aempts to divide the
country or support western countries that were supporve of the terrorists, or simply the
conspiracy of the Diaspora.
Another important factor to note is that the victory which was achieved due to the
commitment and the strength of the people was that a decisive factor was that there
were women within this struggle who were involved unl the end, overlooking their own
interests. Therefore, we are convinced that through proper leadership and acvism, any
bale can be won.
This victory has also given an impetus to civil society acvism as a whole. This was dis-
cussed in many circles, and even in some polical discussions. What we are trying to do
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here is to keep alive the memory of this struggle by widely publicizing this so that we can
rebuild the glory of the lagoon and remember those who gave up so much for this cause.
1.1 Land, water and forests are inalienable rights of people
Land, water and forests are inalienable rights of people. This is essenal when the
land available to farmers, marine and water resources available to shers and forest
resources that are needed by indigenous communies are taken over by the government
and such resources are exploited for commercial benets.
The natural resources of this land forests, ora and fauna, belong to the beings who oc-
cupy the land, birds who reign over the skies, sh in water. You are only the sole guardian
of these resources honorable king.
Thus was the rst sermon by Arahat Mahinda thero to King Devanampiyassa. This word
of Arahat Mahinda goes unchallenged and uncontested. If Sri Lanka as a country that
prides itself on trying to uphold Buddhist values deprives people of their right to access
and use natural resources and exploits natural resources for commercial gain, it is not
correct nor is it an acceptable Buddhist pracce.
1.2 Natural resources for food producon and livelihoods
When people who are depend on natural resources do not have access to natural re-
sources it impacts on food producon and access to water, thus leading to nutrional de-
ciencies. It also aects accessing resources such as herbal medicine from forests. Natural
resources are destroyed, hotels are built and land, water and forests resources are sought
for exploraon in the name of new development projects. The foreign currency accessed
from such resources goes into the pockets of those in power and may even mean loss of
life for those who protest against this. Should we allow this to be connued? The greatest
victory in the campaign against the sea plane project was it that it achieved success with-
out any loss of lives.
Exploitaon of natural resources around the Kalpiya islands is a clear example of how
peoples silence could make the looters job an easy one. However, the Negombo lagoon
campaign shows that no eort can suppress a united struggle.
1.3 Conserving natural resources as a step towards prevenon of disasters and
trigger of climate change
Climate change induced disasters;
Disaster risk reducon and natural resource conservaon are topics for discussion across
the globe. Universally it is understood that conserving natural resources is the only way
out for prevenon of natural disasters and climate change induced disasters. Sajeewa
Chamikara who contributed to the campaign against launching the sea plane project has
clearly explained this. The damage it would do to the shing industry has been explained
by the sher folk who were leading the campaign. Destroying of marine life, mangroves,
the river/lagoon bed and changing of the water ow would negavely impact the sheries
industry. It would also negavely aect the life of birds and sh in Muthurajawela.
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Mada bokka, the most resource rich area of the Negombo lagoon had been aempted to
destroy with the SeaPlane project. Fisher People knew this is the area where most producve
lagoon mass. With the proposed Sea Plane project, it was dredged to pave the way to land the
SeaPlanes and to be destroyed the lagoon bed, fauna and ora which is important for their
livelihoods. People realized, if they allow the area to destroy eventually adversely aect
the livelihoods.
Even much before the SeaPlane struggle, coastal communies had learnt the way the
mangroves contribute to the safety of the coastal communies. During the post tsunami
development process, this has been a main dialogue among many circles of disaster risk
reducon groups. At the same me, the importance of Mangrove forests was revealed by
various studies during the past decade. Some of the reports have been revealed that the
level of Carbon xaon by one hectare of mangrove plants is similar to that done by rain
forest.
It is well known fact that the main cause of the global warming is the emission of green
house gasses to the atmosphere. There is a serious debate over the minimizaon of the
green house gasses emission to the environment. At the same me there is a debate over
emission of green house gasses freely, [without reducing level of emissions of their own
countries] through the quota of the countries which are not emi ng the green house
gasses up to the allocated quota level. This is known as Carbon trading. The debate of
REDD and REDD+ [Reducing Emissions from Deforestraon and forest degradaon] at UN
level is one of the way to bypass the responsibility of the developed naons to cut down
their level of emission of green house gasses to the atmosphere and to connue their way
of life.
Professor Mala Amarasinghe had revealed one of her studies at a IUCN held work shop
recently, the Mangrove reserve in Negombo lagoon which is around 13.5 ha of land cover
x carbon around 166.66 Metric tons per year. This is equialant to emission of carbon
from 273 x1000 liters of diesel.
In this context, the future generaons should pay homage to the people those who
engaged in SeaPlane struggle to protect Negombo lagoon, its environment and to reduce
the adverse eects of global warming either knowing or unknowingly. That is because,
Negombo people who engaged in the SeaPlane struggle protect the lagoon and to oer it
to future generaons while pu ng their lives in danger.

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Chapter 2
Rebuilding the Country: Post Tsunami Development 2005 2009
Government instuons were unable to o cially x the correct gures for tsunami
death. The Task Force for Rebuilding the Naon [TAFREN] reported that there were 40,000
deaths, 6000 missing and 1 million rendered homeless. The instuon set up to coor-
dinate maers, The Centre for Naonal Operaons said that there were 30,956 deaths,
while the Defense Ministry said it was a lile over 38,000.
Out of these aected were mainly the sher families. The Daily Mirror of 15, January,
2005 reported that 7,500 shermen died, 8,600 went missing and 90,000 were home-
less. It was further stated that 18,500 boats were lost or damaged, 250,000 homes, 312
schools and 72 hospitals were damaged.
The Peoples Alliance that was in power at the me, promised all those who lost homes
Rs. 5,000 per family & then every month Rs. 2,500 per person. Tsunami aid was given only
to those whose livelihoods were directly aected by the tsunami. The shermen who
repaired their boats and sing gear and the people who had jobs did not get tsunami aid.
The sher folk and the sheries cooperaves protested against this and asked that they
be compensated for what they had lost.
On the day of the compleon of 100 days aer the tsunami, the Naonal Fisheries Solidar-
ity Movement (NAFSO) held a poster campaign with wide media coverage and a protest
with peoples parcipaon in the main towns of Ampara, Hambantota, Matara, Galle,
Kalutara, Negombo and Pualam.
Whilst the Negombo protest was held in the Negombo town with the parcipaon of
shermen and women, tsunami displaced people, the then Mayor of Negombo threat-
ened the coordinator and members of the Sri Vimukthi Fisher womens Organizaon
that gave the leadership to the protest. Despite these threats, there was wide support to
this protest by those aected by the tsunami.
At this me, the then President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranayke brought in the cos-
tal buer zone rule, which had a setback area of 100 meters for the Southern and Western
coastline, and 200 meters setback for the North and East coastline, and strictly enforced
this in the name of peoples security. Even the temporary shelters were not allowed to be
within this area. They were promised that they will be relocated in safer areas. However,
it appears that this was an aempt that came too late, and was not genuinely in the in-
terests of the people.
The shermen were opposed to this as they could not get to sea conveniently with their
equipment and thus aected their livelihood. Thus they were opposed to the coastal buf-
fer zone rule. The beach vendors livelihoods were also threatened.
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Dialogue at European Union Parliament on Post tsunami development:
The Convener of NAFSO thus gave a crical report on the 100th day the tsunami,
evaluang all the rebuilding plans for the investors, hoteliers development plans,
which were termed the Second tsunami. As a response to the report of the
commemoraon of the 100th day of the tsunami, the famous author, Naomi Klein who
writes about how the global capitalism act, came to Sri Lanka and aer an evaluaon of
the post tsunami programmes, wrote a book called Disaster Capitalism.
In August, 2005 the Convener of NAFSO, together with the Secretary of the Movement
for Naonal Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) Sarath Fernando, met various
policy makers including MPs and Ministers at the European parliament. The purpose of
the meeng was to explain to them that the main purpose of the tsunami programmed
was to link tsunami vicms to the world market and to transfer the development model
of Europe to Sri Lanka, and this may not always work. When Sarath Fernando used the
example of the railway bringing in the plantaons workers to produce tea, and that
despite the success of the tea industry, these people sll live in poverty; the EU MPs had
no response.
Post tsunami Development plans aiming at tourism development as main strategy In some
areas, the government had long term plans to develop large scale tourism by using the
land that was released by the enforcement of the setback line. Again to commemorate
the 200 day aer the tsunami, the NAFSO launched a protest in Fort in Colombo. At this
protest, the convener and two others were taken into custody by the police and a law suit
was led against them.

Amidst these many protests, President Kumaranatunga through a circular of the Defense
Ministry on I5 December, 2006 asked the police to enforce this coastal buer zone rule
strictly. The following day around 300 sher folk in Hambantota protested against the
pressure exerted by the police asking them to move. They were being pressured to
resele 3 Km away from the coast in a place called Kadjuwae against their wishes.
On the 16 January 2006, the Muslim people of the Hambantota District protested against
the plan by Mahinda Rajapakse to build a new town in Gonnoruwa, where they were to
be relocated. Gonnoruwa is an isolated forest area where wild elephants and other wild
animals roam.
On the 22 January 2006 there were more protests asking for the abolion of the coastal
setback rule, and Mr. Rajapakse who was on his way to talk to the people in his electorate
had to leave the locaon. On the same day there was another protest by the shop owners
in Galle for the same purpose.
NAFSO organized a protest against the expulsion of people from Baladhaksha Mawatha
in Galle, aended by the Galles Fishermens Society. The then Fisheries Ministered Chan-
drasiri Wijesinghe aempted to stop this through threats. His aempts were foiled by the
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Galle Fisheries organizaon with the assistance of the police in the area.
There were also protests regarding not ge ng relief, the highhanded a tude of the lead-
ers and many such reasons. On 13 January, there was a protest by about 1000 people in
Kalmunai against the removal of the debris without a proper plan, or cost eecveness
evaluaon or referring to the views of the local community. The government was unable
to provide even a temporary shelter. The Minister of Housing and Common Amenies,
Ferial Ashra and the Minster of Eastern Infrastructure Development, A. L. M. Athualla,
were chased out of the area by angry protestors.
The Boossa populaon also protested against the lack of and inadequate quanes in
relief assistance. About 300 protested in front of the Ambalangoda DS o ce asking that
they be supplied with rice, sugar, dhal and other essenals.
Though there was not proper system to idenfy the really aected of the tsunami at
all, the TAFREN carried on their task of rebuilding. They started rebuilding the infrastruc-
ture system damaged by the tsunami. In the name of the people who were aected by
the disaster, they started building hotels, highways, beach parks, commercial ports and
airports. For example, the Southern highway and the Colombo Katunayake highway were
started in order to transport sh to Colombo quickly for export, and to give the producer
a chance to increase their prots.
The small industries run by sher women such as shing related home industry, bak
workshops, small bouques, etc., were all damaged by the tsunami. But they did not get
any relief or assistance to rebuild these. The livelihoods of women in places such as Dick-
wella, Nilwella in Matara, Unawatuna, Rajgama, and Dodanduwa in Galle, Hummanaya
and Tangalle in Hambantota, Urugamam, Valigamam in Jana, , Potuwil and Kalmunai in
Ampara, Kallar, Ba caloa, and Kokkali in Trincomalees were lost.
The NAFSO, together with MONLAR, the Savistri Womens Movement, United Federaon
of Labor and Janavabodha Kendraya started a dialogue with TAFREN amidst obstacles with
the aim of having a proper and systemac rebuilding programmed under the Peoples
Planning Commission.[PPC] To provide a base for this discussion and dialogue, the above
menoned organizaons gave a list of alternave suggesons, based on a peoples con-
sultaon carried out by them throughout the country including the north and the east.
Through this operaon, the intenons of the businessmen who parcipated in rebuilding
were obvious as they brought out that developing tourism was the only way to rebuild
these areas. This disaster that saddened not just the country, but the whole world was
exploited by capitalisc aspiraons as Naomi Klein has clearly described this in her pub-
licaon.
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2.1 The proposed infrastructure development and displacing of people
Developing 15 areas dedicated for tourists under the post-tsunami project and area ded-
icated for tourists in Kalpiya

Kalpiya peninsula is located in the north western province in the Pualam district. Kalpi-
ya includes 14 main islands with 31 small islands. The Pualam lagoon is separated from
the Indian Ocean by these islands. The 14 main islands are spread over 1672.67 Hectares.
The Bar coral reef, beaches, slaerns, rich mangrove culvaon and sand dunes are the
rich natural resources of the area. This area is also well known for its turtles and dolphins.
According to the 2009 Census, the populaon of Kalpiya is 64,908. Further, as per FAO
stascs out of this populaon 12,967 are small scale sher folk. Out of this 25% are
women and they depend on the sheries industry for their livelihoods.
According to the Tourism development strategy of 2003, Kalpiya was named as an area
of tourist trade. Accordingly, the President Chandrika Bandaranayke government took a
cabinet decision take over 4133 acres of land.
2.2 The development of Kalpiya tourist area includes the following infrastructure:
6030 units of accommodaon included 5052 hotel rooms in 4, 5 and 6 star hotels. In
addion, 978 units included in 200 coages, 183 chalets, 205 villas, 115 tents, 140
cabanas and 135 houses in water.
Underwater restaurant that can cater to 100 tourists.
Fully equipped 18 golf courts built according to internaonal standards.
Indoor sports stadium
A race course with 18 lanes
A sea plane port
Tennis courts (12).
This proposed project has created unnecessary burdens on peoples lives and the people
are voicing their concerns in a number of ways.
NAFSO is also taking measures to reveal what is happening in Kalpiya through an
internaonal invesgaon [hp://prajaabhilashanetwork.blogspot.com/%5D]
This invesgaon has been able to highlight the underlying reasons for protests by the
sher folk in the area:
Without giving shermen licenses for Terms and Beach Seine (Ma Dal) shing they
are taking steps to give these areas over to the tourist trade.
Disrupng the small scale shers from shing by fencing o from sheries ports.
(9)

Destrucon of mangroves to make entrances for tourist hotels aects the shing in
dustry
Taking steps to take land belonging to the people using force and preparing illegal
deeds to remove the real owners of the land.
The refusals from the hotels that are sent out into the lagoon and the surrounding
aects the environment and the shing industry
The damage that the local people have to face as a result of the natural ow of the
water is disturbed such as oods and other disasters which they did not have to face
before,
Sea erosion that is resulng from illegal barriers put up by the hoteliers to safeguard
the beach surrounding their hotel.
As the priest of the Kalpiya mission provided support to the eorts of the people to face
the situaon, the support of civil society and the support of other Fisheries Sociees were
not necessary.
The right of the people to discuss with the policians and o cials, who so far had
collected complaints of the people, was taken over by the o cial Catholic Church. For
these discussions, only those civil society praconers who obey the church are included.
To date not only are there unfavorable inuences on the livelihoods of the people, but
also on social and cultural fabric. The course of acon that NAFSO and APNL took to face
the struggle over the destrucon to the Negombo Lagoon, by sharing the experiences of
this destrucon and by ge ng the people together to minimize the damage saw no posi-
ve response from the Bishop.
(10)
(11)
Chapter 3
The post war development from 2009 unl to date
The war that lasted for over 25 years and took so many lives ended in May 2009. People
in the country heaved a sigh of relief thinking that there will not be a similar me as such
in the future. People dreamt of a naon that will develop focusing on their needs. It is
important to see what people have to face today.
It is no secret that the Regaining Sri Lanka project launched by the United Naonal Party
government was re launched aer the 2004 Tsunami with change of names and places
and even thereaer was connued by President Mahinda Rajapakshe. Aer the war end-
ed the development projects which were temporarily stopped were restarted and new
development projects too started enabled by loans from foreign countries. Building of
express highways, declaring areas for tourism, developing small, medium and large city
centers were launched as Mahinda Chinthanaya in 2005 and connued as a way forward
plan of Mahinda Chinthanaya in 2010.
Under the guise of taking development to the north and east the Reawakening the east
and Northern spring programmers were launched for the east and north of the country
respecvely. With developing infrastructure a key priority these programmers are target-
ing at making Sri Lanka the Wonders of Asia in 2030. A naonal plan was developed for
this purpose. However, these programmers have not taken into account the most pressing
demands of the people.
Implicaons for wider peace building
The GOSL is pursuing a liberal peace, based on a belief that rapid economic growth and
job creaon - notably through tourism development - will foster development and thus
peace (Basan,2005:29).
The in-coming developer believed that socially and environmentally sensive tourism
can provide the best opportunity for sustainable socio-economic development, and thus
peace building. Pro-development community organizaons need to be empowered to
understand how to be part of and how to derive benets from tourism for the short to
long term.
The exisng tourism enterprise also believed communies would benet from improved
infrastructure, but again warned that big internaonal hotels would limit benets. He felt
a major investment in training is required, along with a commitment from large hotels to
recruit local people. However, as most shing communies are uneducated, it is unclear
if they would benet. Customary land rights will be evoked and they will cry foul in a bid
to receive compensaon. However, he stated grievances would need to be addressed by
government and the requisite resources for relocaon and re-housing made available.
(12)
However, the perceived human rights abuses, lack of consultaon and elism associated
with tourism development amongst civil society respondents and much of the literature
arguably undermine tourisms potenal to help address structural inequalies and land-
based grievances at the root of the conict so vital for building peace (El-Bushra,2006).
Rather, the current model of tourism development is perhaps serving to exacerbate griev-
ances and undermine societal trust.
In May 2011, an esmated 220,000 people remained displaced due to the conict (mostly
Tamils from the Northern Province), while some 366,000 were in diering stages of reset-
tlement (IDMC,2011). Typically, the poorest remain displaced, because they lack the re-
sources to return or have lost entlements to their land (IA,2011). While some such land
may fall within high security zones (IDMC,2011), other land is reportedly being denied to
Tamil returnees so that it can be used for development projects, including power plants,
special economic zones, and tourism, which the presidents crics suspect will do more
to create business opportunies for the governments allies than to improve the econom-
ic condions of the Tamil populaon(SRSG,2010:3).
NAFSO stated that development projects that prevent people from returning home, re-
viving livelihoods or parcipang in development acvies are undermining peace build-
ing and reconciliaon. They weaken trust in the government, create uncertaines and
augment community tensions. Land acquisions for tourism in are part of wider paerns
of displacement and social, economic and cultural alienaon resulng from the govern-
ments liberal development model. It is argued that this is ulmately threatening food
security. For example, since Rajapaksa was elected in 2005, 150,000 acres of farmland
have been reportedly acquired for tourism and other infrastructural development proj-
ects (Fernando.et.al,2010).If people dont feel things are dierent, if people are not
consulted, the mistrust will connue and disaecon may grow. Instead, a consultave
process is needed in order to address the root causes of the conict, including ethnically
discriminatory land policies, and to rebuild the country sustainably.
One civil society respondent agreed that, in developing tourism in the north and east, the
government is not interested in the impact on, or the development needs of, the Tamils.
Main roads are being refurbished while villages and roads remain in a poor condion.
Land is being handed out to Sinhalese business people before IDPs can return. There is
no systemic planning for sustainable development. Indeed, many believe that the gov-
ernment is promong tourism as a means for elite Sinhalese to colonize the Northern
and Eastern Provinces, to the detriment of the Tamil people. Indeed, the MoD recently
opened a hotel in Jana in the north, while Sinhalese Buddhist naonalism purportedly
remains an ideological current that sll dominates within the business community (Bas-
(13)
an,2005:25). Such colonizaon which links to issues of land and Tamil self-determina-
on - was a key root cause of the conict (IA,2006;IFFM,2011;Basan,2005). Thus its per-
ceived connuaon through tourism development carries serious implicaons for peace
building. Addionally, the Transnaonal Government of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil diasporas
self-proclaimed government-in-exile, claims that the Tamil communityis systemacally
denied the polical power required to protect its interests (PRSG-U,2010:3), while some
believe that the Tamil diaspora is capable of bankrolling a renewed separast uprising if
the polical route fails (ibid).


Fig 1 :- Former Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya opens
the newly constructed 31-room ThalSewana Holiday Resort at Kankasanthurai,
Jana, in 2010.
Finally, while some view the governments development eorts as a thinly veiled aempt
at Sinhalisaon (MRG,2011), others argue the lack of investment in the Northern and
Eastern Provinces is itself is a reecon of the discriminatory pracces of the central
government in Colombo (IA,2006:588). This ambiguity demonstrates the complex sensi-
vies shaping the context in which tourism development is planned, again highlighng
the need for due diligence.
(14)
3.1 Developing areas dedicated for tourism
According to the Mahinda Chinthanaya
there will be 45 areas [See annex 2] dedicat-
ed for tourists, and there will be four million
tourists arriving in the island with an ex-
pected income of 8 billion USD income, by
2020
Map no. 1: Planned Tourist Areas 2005
3.2 Developing Metro City Centers Ac-
cording to the Naonal Physical Plan of 2030
prepared by the housing and public ulies
ministry 9 city complexes are expected to be
developed under 5 mega city development
plans.
These 9 cies include Jana, Trincomalees,
Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Bat-
caloa, Ampara, Hambantota and Colombo.
The ve metro city centers proposed will be
in Jana, North Central, East, Hambantota
and the Western Metro. Each of these Metro
areas will be developed taking into account
their unique features.
Map no. 2: Naonal physical plan Policy 2010 2030 project proposals- Proposed
Metro City Centers
(15)
3.3 Developing express highways
According to this map it appears that the Naonal Physical Plan has proposed the develop-
ing of expressways that connect to all parts of the island. Developing this plan further it is
expected to be connected to the Asian internaonal road network (Map No. 3A).

Map no. 3: Proposed plan for express highways
Policy 2010 2030 project proposals
(16)
Map Number 3A: Sri Lanka connect to Asian High Way network through Tamil Nadu
From the me of Mahinda Chinthanaya Idiri Dekma (WAY FORWARD), the high ranking
o cials gave priority to develop the road network. When developing this road network
the amount of large commissions availed to people involved was a widely discussed top-
ic. According to the Map this road network is spread across the country and there is a
further plan to link with Tamil Nadu and thus the whole of Asia. This makes us recall the
statement made by an EU parliament member about tsunami rebuilding and expressing
willingness of EU to develop express ways as it helps local shermen to send their produce
to internaonal markets.
There seems to be no alternave than foreign loans or taking credit from local banks for
higher interest rates, thus keeping the present and future generaons in debt. Although
by that me the commission from such projects would have gone to into the pockets of
relevant people.
Sri Lanka that has been having a prot oriented market economy through neo liberalism
over the last 35 years records increasing levels of rural poverty, malnutrion, debt per
capita. Displacing and depriving livelihoods of small scale producers, destroying nature
tourism is also doing similar harm that the market economy did for over 35 years to the
country. In this system we cannot expect the upliing of the economic standard of the
local farmers or shermen.
Proposed link to the Asian Highway
(17)
3.4 Developing internaonal and domesc airports
The internaonal airport set up
in Maala has already become
a white elephant. Another in-
ternaonal airport has been
proposed in Hingurakgoda, and
19 other Domesc air ports
have been proposed to be built
by 2030.
All these new developments
were introduced aer the 2009
war victory were not part of
what people had requested.
We have not really understood
where exactly this type of eco-
nomic development should be
placed. What people required
was a free environment where
their basic needs and rights are
met.
Map no. 5: Exisng or planned domesc and internaonal airports
Source: Project proposals naonal 2010 2030 for developing the Naonal Physical
Plan (Housing and Public Ulies ministries naonal physical plan)
The Mahinda Chinthanaya way forward development targets the developing of
domesc and internaonal air ports and sea planes.
Across the island there are instances of acquiring land, forests and beaches by force, using
the military. The present development process has made people fall from the frying pan
to the re. Land that belonged to people, which was their own from generaons and land
that belonged to the government are all being taken unlawfully, somemes making the
required legal provisions available. When people protest against this it is crushed using
the military.
In Valigamam North, in the Jana district north of Sri Lanka people displaced since 1990
are sll in welfare camps and not allowed to sele in their homeland. In this area alone
(18)
6831 acres have been taken over from people by unlawful means.
Further, in Mullikulam in Mannar which has been occupied by the people over
generaons, a naval head quarters has been set up, while in Shastrawela in Panama too
there are measures being taken to provide the infrastructure needed for the tourism
industry.
In Sampur, Trincomalees about 1200 acres of land has been taken over by a coal power
plant set up by India. 14 islands in Kalpiya in Pualam have been given over to local
and foreign companies to develop tourism and the forest reserves in Monaregela and
Somawathieya in Polonnaruwa have been given over for the culvaon of Cavendish
bananas to the DOLE Food Company.
Apart from this without any environment feasibility studies being conducted lagoons such
as Vaharai and Pualam are being given over for prawn farms and hatcheries to investors.
The damage caused in the Pualam lagoon has fallen on deaf ears and the same damage
is being connued again in Ba caloa and Vakarei which will destroy mangroves and the
livelihood of small scale shermen.
Where there is protest in the areas in the island where tourism is being developed and
in many other projects areas, the defense forces are being used to curb peoples unrest.
The most dangerous trend here is that administraon and polics are being taken over by
the defense forces. Militarizaon which was limited only to the north and east have now
spread to the south as well. The most recent is the unfortunate incidents that happened
in Rathupaswela in Weliweriya and Hanwella areas when the people demanded to close
down companies which are catsed to pollute the drinking water. Now people in the South
too have begun to realize how people in the north and east were treated considering the
level of inuence by the military even though there is no war.
This so called development process that is depriving peoples right to live in the north and
south is being jused by a paral media campaign that stop peoples ability to queson.
The provincial council elecons in the north are an example where people are rejecng
such development eorts that keep the country in heavy debt.
Today there are no cizens in this country. The people of the country are just being ruled.
It is a country where a president who increased his powers using the 18th amendment
and even jused the request to withdraw independent commissions. However, it is per-
nent to note that the power of the people is above all such eorts, and the day that the
people realize this and do something about it, there is the potenal to change things. This
was clearly manifested in the protest over the sea plane project in the Negombo lagoon.
(19)
3.5 Will the oceans resources be lost to shermen? Declaring Trincomalees
Pigeon Island as Ocean Reserve
Declaring ocean conservaon areas are undoubtedly of strategic importance. What is ac-
tually behind this move? Is it important to consider if it is only for conservaon of ocean
and marine resources or merely for conservaon or rather for a more long term tourism
promoon ventures which will involve developing infrastructure required for same. We
believe that the Rio Earth summit that was set up to look at the worlds sustainability and
the right of future generaons to live has ignored the above issue.
Twenty years since the Rio Summit on Sustainable Development of 1992 was held in Brazil
world leaders came together again at Rio + 20 to reect on the objecves agreed at Rio
and access to what extent the world had progressed or been diverted from the objecves
idened then. The extent to which the consumerism centered development that we
have adopted can sustain the world is a key point of discussion. Accordingly, taking Green
and Blue Economies as the basis of do not harm environmental systems but that will
help bring equality and help upli quality of life of the world populaon was another
point of discussion. Ocean and marine resources are spread over 71 percent of the earth.
Oceans are like a rich treasure trove of living resources. Oceans can be compared to a
tropical forest as they supply food and minerals from the sea bed. However, unfortunately
due to increasing acidity and temperature in the seas this resource is being destroyed.
In this context it is mely to take steps to conserve ocean and marine resources. But what
is of great importance is to consider how and who is managing, is in control of and is
beneng from such resources.
Today, what is happening is people who were using marine resources to make a livelihood
for generaons, who did minimal harm to the environment are losing the ownership and
right to access this resource. The most recent example is the Trincomalees Pigeon Island
related issue. Today the sher folk who used to go for shing in this area cannot use it
anymore for their livelihood. Even accidentally a sher net reaches oang through water
currents to the island the shermen have to pay a ne. Yet this island is open for tourists
and tourism trade.
This incident clearly shows us that when development eorts are not well thought and
planned out it they can further marginalize the disadvantaged groups but give more con-
trol to policians and businessmen. Therefore, we urge for a more conscious eort to
obtain the voices of disadvantaged groups in development.
(20)
3.6 Sampur: A People evicted from their Home land
Sampur is a tradional Tamil village that abounds in diverse natural resources, and those
who live there consider their village to be blessed by nature. People had lived in Sampur
with freedom and prosperity.
In fact, the colloquial meaning of Sampur is Having full of Resources, with all of the basic
things for a good life. The tradional livelihoods of the people of Sampur have been
shing and agriculture. They provided grain, pulses, sh, milk and rewood to
neighboring communies and to the naonal markets.
Due to one bomb blast at Colombo, people were displaced, and le to Veera Mahanagar.
Aer one month, that village was subjected to shelling. The villagers then moved to
Lankapa nam, their third displacement.
While they were in Lankapa nam, the bridge to that village was destroyed by an aerial
bomb, and 60-70 people were killed. The people then moved on to Vakarai, traveling
on foot and on bicycles. There was no other transport available. The LTTE did not allow
them to travel along the road so at some stages they had to abandon their bicycles and
walk through the jungle. Once they got to Vakarai, they were subjected to more aerial
bombing. Life here was very di cult. The people then tried to leave, again, and move
to Ba coloa. At the Welikanda army camp, some of them were arrested; others were
released.
(21)
By December 2006, the people from Sampur were
living as internally displaced persons (IPDs) in vari-
ous camps in Ba coloa, in Palameenmadu, Sahera,
Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya, Sathurukondan, Kokkuvil,
Palacholai, Navetkerni, Manjalthoduwa, Soukady, Ei-
yenkerney, Alankulam, and Vinayakpuram.
According to the Government Census of 2008, 1940
families lived in Sampur, comprising 7,494 individuals.
All the residents are Tamil; some of them are Hindu,
others belong to the Catholic faith. The villagers of
Sampur have faced displacement several mes be-
cause of the ethnic conict; their nal displacement
was in 2006. Since then, 5000 acres of land was de-
clared to be a High Security Zone (HSZ) and the re-
turn to their homes was prevented. Some families
from Sampur whose homes and property are within
the area designated as an HSZ have connued to live
in temporary and transit shelters, primarily in Kilivet-
ty,Manatchenai, Pa ththidal and Kaaiparichchan,
in close proximity to their original homes, for over 7
years. There are plans to build a coal power plant
with collaboraon from the government of India, and
also some factories in the Sampur area which also
falls into the Special Economic Zone designated by
the local government authories in Trincomalee.
The gravity and illegality of such unethical conduct
is one more example of the undemocrac manner in
which land, which righully belongs to a poor com-
munity of farmers and shers, is illegally transferred
and allocated to a third-party as a government-spon-
sored enterprise. The government allocated the area
for building the coal power plant to Indian authories
under the false pretext that there is no public claim to
the land. No formalies had been followed when the
government acquired the land of the Sampur people.
There was no cost benet analysis of the project, no
assessment of its impact on the well being of the vil-
lagers in Sampur and surrounding areas people and
no assessment of the environmental impact. No ef-
fort was made to invite and conduct public discussion,
or share and disseminate informaon regarding the
land acquision and proposed development of the
area with communies that would be most aected
by these changes.

In August 2009 (just
3 months after
conclusion of the final
offensive) certain local
newspapers reported
that 5000 acres of
land have been
allocated for a coal
power plant. What the
media failed to
disclose was that
more than 500 houses
had to be destroyed
for this purpose
without any prior
notification or consent
from their rightful
owners who at the
time were major food
producers in the area.
This is a clear violation
of property rights!
There is a general
understanding among
people that there is
no credible, valid
reason to violate
existing land laws and
regulations
(22)
In the middle of 2007 the government began to organize a reselement process with-
out consultaon with the villagers. There was some resistance because the villagers were
not condent that it was safe to return.
The people from Sampur were told that
they had to return to Trincomalee District
if they wanted any reselement support.
The government began to pressure them,
including by suspending the issue of food
raons to people who refused to return.
Fig 2: Signing Agreements on Coal Power Plant in Trincomalee between Indian and Sri
Lankan authories on September 2011
What is the present situaon of IDPs of Sampur?
Today, the people of Sampur are displaced. Most of them have lived in 4 transit camps for
displaced from Sampur that are in Kilivey, Pa ththidal, Manatchenai and Kaaparich-
chan for over 6 years, enduring immense hardship, humiliaon and mental depression.
Only a few have moved to live with families elsewhere. GOSL only reseles the part of
IDPs when the pressure comes from UN,other inuence countries. For an example:
Kooniththivu and Navaratnapuram villages were opened to resele before the UN council
General Assembly which held in Feb,2013, and the second example is : during the visit of
UNHRC Navaneetham Pillay from August 26th-31st 2013, GOSL wanted to show that Sam-
pur people were reseled so GOSL opened the other village named Sudakkuda to resele
few families just two days before Navaneetham Pillay arrives.

The people of Sampur who once owned thousands of acres of land have now become
landless, and form part of the displaced communies of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, govern-
ment authories have forcibly grabbed the rich shing and agricultural lands, forests and
living habitat in Sampur, without providing alternave arrangements for its displaced peo-
ple. Now approximately, there are 971 families exist in the above menoned four IDP
camps even the GOSL says that reselement was completed. There are 916 families sll
in four IDP camps namely; Kilive -340F, Pa ththidal-164F, Manatchenai-56F and Kaai-
parichchan-356F. The government is not menoning Kaaiparichchan as an IDP camp.
GOSL is highlighng people of this camp as they are living in their relaves houses even
if the camp exists. Herewith, Nawarathnapuram-130F and Koonithivu- people were reset-
tled in their original places due to the pressure of Internaonal communies on LLRC rec-
ommendaons and now recently reseled Sudakkuda-100F village but reseled without
any basic facilies. India has already acquired the land for the coal power plant and the
Special Economic Zone.
(23)
LLRC Recommendations on
Sampur people
The Lessons Learned and
reconciliations Commission (LLRC)
heard submissions about the
situation of the people of Sampur
during the hearings it held in
Muttur.
In Paragraph 6.59 of its report,
the LLRC mentions the fact that
the High Security Zone had been
reduced to 38 square kilometers
and that 1,272 families were due
to be displaced because of the
Coal Power Plant and the Special
Economic Zone. In Paragraph
6.98, the LLRC report mentions
the need to formalize the
demarcation of HSZs and provide
alternative land or equivalent
compensation to the displaced.
In Paragraph 8.114, the report
points out that 1,600 people are
still living in the transit camp in
Kiliveddy.
In its recommendations, in
Paragraph 9.142, the LLRC
recommends that the HSZ be
subject to review with a view to
releasing more land to the people
while keeping national security
needs in perspective. Once again,
it calls for alternative land and/or
monetary compensation to be
given to those families displaced
by the creation of the HSZ.
A foundaon stone for the Coal power plant was
laid on 6 September 2011 and July 2013 inaugu-
rated the project o cially, while Tamil policians
it is alleged are afraid to take any acon, debate
these injusces in parliament or talk with India
on behalf of the mass of displaced, and silenced
people.
NAFSO and Praja Abhilasha involvement on
Sampur issue.
NAFSO/ Praja Abhilasha (PA) has held a series of
public meengs at the camps for Internally Dis-
placed Persons (IDPs) in Pa thidal, Manatche-
nai ,Kaaiparichchan and Kiliveddy. Building ad-
equate trust between the PA team and the IDPs
living in the camps was, and connues to be, a
challenge. However, through the connuous
and consistent eorts of our team, we have had
some success; for example, some people from
the Sampur IDP community agreed to aend the
Land Conference which was to be held in Colom-
bo on 6th September 2011. Herewith, Sampur
people have taken part in the Peoples Tribunal
which was conducted by PA in Colombo on 30th,
Jan, 2012.
During our preliminary visits to the communies,
we experienced some inial reluctance from the
people, who were hesitant to come forward and
take joint acon against the injusces they face.
However, once they were convinced about our
genuine commitment and highest respect for
the vicmized community of IDPs, they agreed to
work with the Land Coalion of PA/ NAFSO. CSO
are not allowed to work inside these camps as
well as reseled areas but Even now the Fisher-
ies Leaders have been updang their issues via
various ways with the secretariat of PA/NAFSO to
bring to light their issue.
(24)
We need to work together to reach the goal of re-acquiring the land and helping the
community of people re-sele on their own land in Sampur. Although the route to such a
goal is not easy, our coordinang Team at Praja Abhilasha/NAFSO join hands in rm soli-
darity and strength for all of the landless people of Sampur.
(25)
Chapter 4

The Negombo Lagoon Sea Plane Project is a major component
of the Overall Tourism Plan

Fig 3 : Sea Plane Landing
4.1 Sea Planes to Negombo through Rebuilding the Naon, Rata Perata and
Mahinda Chinthanaya
The primary tasks of the P.M Ranil Wickremasinghes government programmed of
Regaining Sri Lanka which came to power in December 2001, were to nd soluons
to end the war that was there for 2 decades and to resurrect the economy which had
slumped, as during this me the country was languishing between War and peace. The
economic experts of the Wickremasinghes government realized the potenal of the tour-
ist industry and came up with a tourist zones concept that would provide special conces-
sions and facilies to investors. Their aim was to increase the per capita income and to
bring down unemployment gures, through developing the tourist industry.
The UNP government had faith in the private sector and as such in their programmed to
develop the tourist eld, a major role was to be played by private sector; and steps were
taken to provide the legal background to do this. However, they could not complete this
as the government did not stay long in power. The then Minister of Tourism was Milinda
Moragoda and he worked hard on developing the industry.
What Milinda Moragoda could not do, the new Minister of Foreign Aairs and Tourism,
late Anura Bandaranayke completed on 18 October 2005. The day the Peoples Alliance
government launched the Mahinda Chinthanaya,
(26)
Mr. Bandaranayke in a media interview said that the Tourism Act which was launched a
few days prior to the interview was the end result of a step taken by Chandrika Banda-
ranayke in 1999. He said it built upon the inial ideas of the Presidenal Task Force that
was set up by her to revitalize the tourist industry.
While this Tourism Development Act amended the 1968 Act no. 14, it totally nullied the
1966 Act no 10 that was there for 40 years. However, as the Chandrika government fell in
1999, they could not carry out the spulaons of the Act, but the UNP government that
came into power in 2001 enforced developing these suggesons further legalizing them.
The Tourist Act No 38 of 2005 came into force in 2007. Although the then Minister of
Tourism, Nandana Gunethilake who joined the PA government from the JVP, did not like
the major role that the private sector was given and talked about amending the Act, the
governments interest went beyond even the UNPs plan.
The PAs elecon campaign always found fault with the policies of the UNP government,
but almost 90% of those policies were carried out by the PA government. The Hambantota
harbor, the Southern secon of the Colombo Port and the Oluvil Fisheries harbor for the
East; the second internaonal airport proposed in Wellawaya (built nally in Maala), the
Southern Highway and the other highways are just some of the achievements that stand
out.
The CBK government in which MR was the prime minister used the tsunami devastaon
as an opportunity to develop the tourist industry and to bring it to its current invasive
tourism development plan. UNPs development plan for tourism was further developed
in the Rata Perata policy of the Chandrika government.
Under the UNPs tourism development programmed the proposed areas for tourism were
Kalutara, Bentota, Beruwela, Nuwara Eliya, Unawatuna, Galle Fort, Hikkaduwa, Negombo
and such places.
With the many rebuilding programmers that were undertaken for the tsunami aected
locaons that were brought in as part of the Rata Perata government proposal under the
leadership of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe and President Chandrika Bandaranaike,
the Arugam Bay and the Kalpiya islands were also added to the list bringing the total
number of demarcated areas to 14.
Even though the UNP had not clearly spelt out that the plan regarding sea plane or Air
Taxis for internal air travel facilies, there were proposals that included the private sector
ge ng two gangana machines and helicopters.
(27)
For the rst me in the recent past, the topic of sea planes became a much debated
topic with the ceasere in 2002. During that me, the chief advisor to the LTTE Dr.
Anton Balasingham, who came to parcipate in the peace talks c ame to Sri Lanka and
went back to the Maldives in a sea plane. This sea plane travel obtained much publicity.
Two years aer that in the aermath of the tsunami, to enable internaonal relief teams
to move around quicker, around four seaplanes were used, especially between Colombo
and the South. Anton Balasingham cra used the Irranamadu Tank and in the South the
Kogalla lagoon was used.
Mahinda Rajapakse who came to power in 2005 November said These trees and leaves
and the earth are yours, yet it is not only yours, so protect it for the future generaons
as well. Yet, the policies of the Mahinda Chinthanaya and Mahinda Chinthanaya way for-
ward, have a whole secon on developing the tourist industry, even though the sea planes
per se were not menoned in it. The rst manifesto hinted at developing an environmen-
tally friendly tourism industry, and that they will take maximum advantage of Sri Lankas
environmental and cultural aracons to develop tourism over the next 5 years.
The Rajapakse governments Mahinda Chinthanaya was more or less a cut & paste of the
Regaining Sri Lanka of the Ranil government under a new name.

By the end of 2005, the demarcated tourist areas increased rapidly from 14 to 45 (Annex-
ure 2). 2005 They expected that in 2010 there will be 1,500,000 [1.5 million] tourists and
the infrastructure was being developed aggressively to accommodate that. Its side eects
are sll being felt by the people. The natural resources such as water and forests were
invaded by the development eorts of the government or set aside for investors.
In order to develop the tourist industry to earn foreign exchange, the transport facilies
were developed to provide easy access to tourist aracons across the country. Part of
this was using the Negombo lagoon as a landing site for internal air transport as it was
close to the Katunayake Internaonal Airport (KIA). It was also hoped that tourists residing
in Negombo would also use this facility.
They said that this would enable thousands of shermen in this area to become prosper-
ous. The government did not think about the social and environmental consequences of
exploing this valuable water resource when it neglected the rights of the local popula-
on to the resources and of developing the shing industry.
(28)
The drama over the Negombo lagoon in 2010 is only the unraveling of the dra that began
to be wrien in 2002. Other dramas are also taking place all over the country, where not
just the rights to water resources, but also to land are being violated.
Despite the popularity on that and the government gained with its victory over the armed
conict, and the use of its henchmen to exploit the resources of people, the rst defeat
was over the Negombo lagoon.
It is no doubt that if Negombo sher populaon did not ght this, they would not have
been able to stop the Negombo lagoon from being the landing place of the most number
of seaplanes. Through their struggle, they safeguarded not just their own livelihoods and
the environment, but also the inheritance of the future generaons as well.

Fig 4 : Proposed Air Taxi Routes: The Map Shows the Negombo lagoon is the center of
the Air Taxi landing site.
(29)
4.2 The progress of tourism industry under Mahinda Chinthanaya (2005)
There are many benets that the tourism industry can provide to the economic de-
velopment of Sri Lanka. However there doesnt seem to be a proper mechanism to engage
both the local natural and human resources systemacally. My intenon is to establish a
sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism industry instead if mere movement of
people.
In order to maximize the use and benets of the cultural and environmental aracons
of the country, I would revise the exisng plans and introduce new plans to bring it within
the next ve years to the highest level possible.
A business plan will be drawn to achieve the target of 1,500,000 tourists by year 2010. The
plan will also focus on the tourist from India, China, Middle East and Russia apart from the
countries where the tourists are already coming in from.
In order to accommodate and increase diversied numbers, hotels and other facilies
such as air and road linkages, infrastructure and other leisure related acvies are being
made available.
Measures will be taken to train the tourist guides who havent obtained a proper training
or come through any assessment process and register them with the Tourist Board.
Measures will be taken to develop the tourism industry in aracve areas such as Ham-
bantota, Kalpiya and Arugambay. Beira Lake and the Dutch Canal will be developed pri-
orizing the needs of tourism industry.
Extracted from Mahinda Chinthanaya, Way Forward and Tourism Industry
Expected arrival of tourists and income
Year Expected number of tourists Expected income ($ billions)
2010 1,500,000 2
2015 2,500,000 5
2020 4,000,000 8

Chart 1 : Expected arrivals of tourists and the Income as indicated in Mahinda
Chinthanaya way forward
(30)
As menoned in Mahinda Chinthanaya, Way Forward , the target is for high end tourists.
A 200 dollar per day spending target for each tourist is expected.
However the process of developing facilies and infrastructure to the tourists is in direct
contradicon to the provision of needs to the general public. A development process that
forgets its communies who have been subjected to disasters cant be sustainable devel-
opment. In addion, lessons learned in the past are not very posive. Being a country
that lost thousands of lives in the uprisings of the North and the South, we are sll not
ready to learn lessons from our history.

(31)
Chapter 5
Diary of the Sea Plane struggle of Negombo Lagoon
5.1 Militancy of Sea Plane Struggle of Negombo Lagoon.
Fig 5: protest infront of Negombo Town Hall on 11 Nov. 2010
Comrade Sebasan Vincent of Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen Organizaon was the rst to
inform us about the introducon of a Sea Plane Project in Negombo and that it will be
launched by November 2010. Comrade Subashini of Sri Vimukthi Organizaon and
Comrade Marcus Anthony Chairman of Negombo Lagoon Fisheries Organizaon
reiterated these at the steering commiee of Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement and
then also joined the struggle under Fisheries Solidarity Movement.
The spirit of the struggle from the very beginning was the militancy of men and
women sher folk. At the start not many were condent of a successful campaign
against a government sponsored project. But the dedicaon and the commitment of men
and women gave momentum to the struggle. If it is not for these dedicated people,
victory would have been an illusion.
(32)
Fig 6: People are agitang at street
Mobilizing the people for the struggle, dealing with the media, win over the Catholic
priests and nuns, arguing with o cials and policians, keeping to an unwavering stance
was a hard and tedious task. The unring eorts of Sebasan Vincent, Deepa Subashini,
Melina Kumari, Indrani Fernando, Nadishani, Nirmala Fernando of Sri Vimukthi
Organizaon and also of Comrade Marcus Anthony of Negombo Lagoon Fisheries
Organizaon, Priyankara Costa, Laksiri Fernando, Francis Rajan of Fisheries Solidarity
Movement were notably visible all throughout the campaign. The organizing acvies of
Aruna Roshantha and Nimal Viyani are also commendable. Their contribuon menoned
in this diary is minimal. Otherwise it would have been solely a story of them meeng
people, and addressing meengs daily in villages and other forums to raise their
awareness. What we want to emphasize here is the collecveness of the campaign, the
dynamics of building a social movement and then a few notes about the people who
contributed selessly to make it a success.
5.2 Diary of Sea Plane struggle of Negombo Lagoon.
08.07.2010
Fr. Lester Nonis, chaplain of Fisheries of Colombo diocese arranged a meeng with
representaves of the Deputy Minister of Fisheries at the Jubilee Hall, Grand Street
church, Negombo. Fr. Nonis explained the hardships shermen will face as result of this
project. About 35 women members of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women organizaon took part
in the discussion.
(33)
09.07.2010
The Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement discussed the Sea Plane Project and
appointed a core commiee. Marcus, Subashini, Laksiri, Priyankara, Geetha and
Herman volunteered to be members of the commiee. Their responsibility was to raise
the awareness on the project of parish priests around the lagoon, and of sher men and
women. It was also decided to design a poster about the project for this purpose.
13.07.2010
A group of about 15 including the acvists from NAFSO, Sri Vimukthi Organizaon,
Meepura News paper met Fr. Lester Nonis at Periyamulla Church. Fr. Lester Nonis
explained that the priests of the parishes around the lagoon should be made aware of
the dangers of the project to win over the shermen of the area for the struggle. If the
government does not heed our demands we can ask the Bishop to peon the president
to shi the project from the Negombo lagoon.
20.08.2010
Awareness programme was conducted at Naonal Fisheries Training Centre for the
leaders of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women and the All Sri Lanka Fisheries Trade Union.
Main item under discussion was the planned air strip[SeaPlane] on the lagoon and how to
counter this move as cizens of the area and the importance of their solidarity in reaching
a soluon for the problem.

Fig 7 : The regional Commiee of Sri Vimukthi Fishers Women organizaon is in progress:
(34)
25.08.2010
Fr. Lester Nonis spoke on the proposed Sea Plane project at Negombo lagoon at the
general meeng of Sri Vimukthi Fisheries women Organizaon. More than 700 sher
women parcipated at the meeng.
To place crosses around the lagoon to symbolize the opposion to the Sea Plane
project, to educate the parish priests around the lagoon about dangers of the project in
an aempt to enlist their support, media campaign to highlight the protests, distribuon
of handbills and posters were the acvies decided at the meeng.
19.10.2010
The October issue of Meepura newspaper was devoted to the Sea Plane issue. Most
important news was the report on the Koraya Commission which suggested banning even
the sailing of boats in the lagoon.
A meeng of all organizaons campaigning against the Sea Plane project was convened at
the Jubilee Hall, Negombo. Conveners of the meeng were Sri Vimukthi Fisheries Women
Organizaon, Fisheries Organizaon of the lagoon area and the Saint Anthony Fisheries
Society a liated to Janavabodaya. (A copy of the invitaon is annexed as No: 3]
More than 150 people including priests from Catholic and Chrisan denominaons
parcipated at the meeng. It was decided to form an organizaon to protect the
Negombo lagoon, and Herman of Fisheries Solidarity Movement and Subashini of Sri
Vimukthi Fisher women Organizaon were selected as the conveners.
24.10.2010
A delegaon including Aruna, Subha, Marcus, Kumari and Herman went to Cardinal
Cooray Centre to meet Fr. Patrick Joseph solicing their support for the struggle. He was
not there at the me delegaon visited the Centre but they handed over a leer to the
Catholic Church seeking the o cial support.
30.10.2010
When the Minister of Fisheries Dr. Rajitha Senarathna came to Negombo to aend a
public meeng a delegaon from Sri Vimukthi Organizaon handed over a leer asking
him to intervene to safeguard the sher men of lagoon area. His response was that there
is no harm to shermen of the area from Sea Plane project and if they feel otherwise they
can meet President and explain it to him.
(35)
31.10.2010
Fig 8 : At the Feast at Kurulukale.
At the annual feast of Saint Judes Church Kurulukele, Seeduwa more than 2000
worshippers listened aenvely to the very moving sermon of Fr. Lester Nonis on the Sea
Plane project. This service was conducted in the presence of Rev Fr. Patrick Joseph and
the people came in 800 boats and 200 theppam and canoes to mark their protests at the
proposed project.
Fr. Lester Nonis quoted from the Bible Master, Master, we are perishing! (Luke 8:24)
at the Sermon of the Feast
Fig 9: A break at the Protest in lagoon
Kumari, Subha, Marcus and few others used this opportunity to voice their opposion to
the project through BBC, Sirasa, Derana, Siyatha and Neth FM which came to cover the
event.
(36)
03.11.2010
Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, Sr. Noel Chrisne, Marcus Fernando, Herman Kumara and 16
other commiee members of Negombo Lagoon Protecon Organizaon went to
Periyamulla church to ask Fr. Lester Nonis to get an appointment with the Bishop to solicit
his support for the struggle.
04.11.2010
At a meeng of the steering commiee of Naonal Fisheries Solidarity, decisions were
taken to raise the awareness of commiee members and write leers to President and
the Minister of Fisheries seeking their intervenon to safeguard the rights of sher men
of lagoon area.
05.11.2010
A delegaon of 7 leaders of shermen went to meet Bishop Malcolm Ranjith seeking
his intervenon in the Sea Plane Struggle of shermen. The delegaon included Melina
Kumari, Marcus Fernando, Aruna Roshantha and Herman Kumara. Nimal Viyani of
Seththapaduwa joined the delegaon for the rst me.
Fig 10: Ministers and Priests at the Negombo Town Hall Meeng on 11 November, 2010

11.11.2010
A meeng was held at the Municipal Council hall, Negombo under the leadership of
Colombo diocese vicar general Fr. Patrick J oseph and number of priests with the
parcipaon of a large crowd including Dayashritha Tissera, Deputy Minister for harbor
and Civil Aviaon and the Deputy Minister for State Resources and Enterprise De-
velopment, Sarath Gunarathna and Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lanza.
(37)
With the delay of arrival of the Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera agitated crowd held a
demonstraon in front of the Municipal hall in spite of heavy rain.

With the late arrival of Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera meeng started. At the
beginning, o cers from the Ministry of Civil Aviaon made a video presentaon
explaining the various benets that may accrue once the Sea Plane Project is
started. Aruna Roshantha, Nimal Viyani, Joseph Peter, Ranjith Fernando and Herman
Kumara spoke on behalf of shermen who make living by shing and by other economics
acvies connected to the lagoon.
Fig 11: Herman Kumara address the meeng at town hall on 11.11.10
The chairperson of Sri Vimukthi Fisher women Organizaon, Shirani Fernando vehement-
ly protested saying that no one assembled here wants the Sea Plane Project. We do not
want the Sea Plane project. We will not allow destroying the lagoon, our only source of
livelihood. The lagoon is our mother. We will never allow anybody to ravage our mother.
Deputy Minister wanted to form a delegaon from shermen to meet President. But
Herman Kumara interrupted saying "we have already put forward everything we have
to tell. The peoples voice is very clear. We do not want Sea Plane in the lagoon. You the
elected representaves of the people should convey our opposion to the President to
get jusce done for the people. "
But the Deputy Minister insisted on a commiee to meet the President. Then Herman
Kumara said that we will agree for a delegaon if the digging now going is suspended ll
a nal soluon is arrived. Otherwise it is useless to meet the President when the damage
is already done

(38)
Then the Deputy Minister agreed to suspend the dredging carrying out in lagoon aer a
brief consultaon with his o cials.
We can say without exaggeraon that it was the turning point of our struggle to save the
lagoon.
12.11.2010
A meeng of the lagoon sher men was organized. It is reported that even though Deputy
Minister Dayashritha Tissera agreed to temporally suspend the dredging in the lagoon,
work was proceeding as usual and a conict arose between the machine operators and
leaders of sher men.
(39)
15.11.2010
Fig 13: Fisher Leaders are at the Press Brieng held at Center for Society and Religion on
the SeaPlane struggle
It was on the Birthday of Bishop Malcolm Ranjith. Leaders of shermen and Sri Vimukthi
Women Associaon presented him with a ower bouquet and requested him to intervene
and make representaon to the president to stop the injusce meted out to shermen
of lagoon area. He replied that he can not intervene in the maer and he is not the
President of the country to stop a project that is already started. Two sea planes were
already brought into the country, he explained. So the government is not going to change
its decision. Best thing is to keep silent on the maer, he advised.
A press brieng was called at the Centre for Society and Religion to explain the new
developments to the country. Ranjith Fernando, Nimal Viyani, Aruna Roshantha, and
Joseph Peter and Melina Kumari conducted the press conference.
16.11.2010
A meeng of the Alliance to Protect the Negombo Lagoon was held and 45 men and
women took part. They discussed about the preparatory work for the campaign to be
launched on 17th.
(40)
Fr. Sherard Jayewardene, Vincent Bulathsinhala, Aorney at Law and Herman Kumara
led the discussion with Senior lawyer J C Weliamuna. Weliamuna explained that it is not
possible to seek sasfactory judgment from courts in case of losses arising as a result of
economic projects implemented by the Government.
Fig 14: Aruna Roshantha, trade union leader, address at the preparatory meeng for
the nal agitaons
A group of the leaders of shermen including Ranjith Fernando, Aruna Roshantha, and
Nimal Viyani visited the shing villages around the lagoon to mobilize their support and
parcipaon for the demonstraon to be held on following day (17th)
Fig 15: Fisher People agitang at Negombo lagoon while praying to God
(41)
17.11.2010
More than 6000 people took part in the demonstraon that started at 7.00 in the morning
at the lagoon and Katunayake juncon. Fishermen gathered in shing boats and women
demonstrated on the banks of the lagoon and on the road.
Fig 16: Military intervened at the agitaons held at Colombo-Pulam high way at
Katunayake juncon
Demonstraons were held at the lagoon and at Colombo - Pualam road for nearly twelve
hours despite the pressure exerted by security forces. Police and the heavily armed securi-
ty forces were posioned everywhere to thwart the demonstrators. Ker jets were own
low above demonstrators making a loud noise. But people knew that this is a tacc to
create fear and panic among the crowd.
Aer pickeng at the lagoon for more than six hours a sudden decision was taken to
leave the lagoon. Main reason for the decision was the telephone message received by Fr.
Sherad Jayawardana through a mobile phone of a naval o cer from the Secretary of the
Defense Ministry.
(42)
People understood that by staying in lagoon is not possible to reach the expected result.
Then they marched up to Katunayake juncon and blocked the road for more than six
hours. At about four in the evening a higher o cer of the navy announced to the crowd
that the dredging operaon had stopped in the lagoon. But the crowd did not move unl
the machinery was removed from the lagoon. They le the Juncon at about 6.00 pm


Fig 17: An aggressive moment of the lagoon struggle on 17th Nov
18.11.2010
A meeng of the representaves of shermen organizaons was called to evaluate the
success of 17th agitaon and to decide on future course of acon. There was a good cov-
erage of the event in the mass media.
19.11.2010
Alliance to Protect the Negombo Lagoon met at NAFSO to discuss the future course of
acon. Following acons were decided at the meeng: to meet parish priests around
the lagoon to enlist their support in case of threats to shermen, to meet the bishop to
inform him of the success of the agitaon against the Sea Plane Project, to coordinate the
struggle of shermen with the struggles of trade unions, to obtain a copy of Gampaha
Development plan to study the implicaons and to keep a record of events of the struggle.
It was also decided to lay three Beach Seine shing nets (Ma-del) in Seththapaduwa area
to raise money to meet the expenses of future acons of the protests. Our target was Rs
200,000 (two lakh rupees).
It was further agreed not to send a delegaon for discussion on invitaons but to parci-
pate in public discussion on the maer.
(43)
It was decided to send a peon to the President with the signature of all organizaons in
Negombo stang that we do not need Sea Planes in Negombo lagoon.
20.11.2010
Sajeewa Chamikara and Ajantha Palihawadana of the Environmental Conservaon Trust
parcipated in preparing a report on the environmental signicance of the lagoon and
Marcus Fernando provided the eld support to them.
21.11.2010
The Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement celebrated the World Fisheries Day at Trin-
comalee and Indrani Fernando reported on the contribuons of Sri Vimukthi Women Or-
ganizaon to the Sea Plane struggle of Negombo lagoon. We will not allow the gov-
ernment or anybody to throw sand to our plate of rice. Negombo lagoon is our lifeline. To
say that the Government is planning to develop the tourist industry neglecng all other
industries is only a swan song.
22.11.2010
Negombo police asked Nimal Viyani to come to the Police staon to inquire into a
complaint against him. Leaders of the campaign informed that they reached the target
of Rs. 200,000 for the Negombo Lagoon Protecon Fund. Ma-del (Net) Fishermen
of Dungalpiya, Rajawella, Seththapaduwa Mahawella and Kepumgoda Punchiwella
contributed this amount from their catch.
23.11.2010
Nimal Viyani and Ranjith Fernando went to Negombo Police staon to face the inquiry
against them. This is in relaon to the SeaPlane struggle held at Negombo lagoon.
24.11.2010
Leaders of the SeaPlane movement were called to naval base at Kurana to discuss the
issues relang to the Sea Plane project. It was reported that all the parcipants and those
who spoke at the discussion were videoed by Navy personnel.
25.11.2010
It was reported that a meeng on Sea Plane issue was convened by policians of the area
at Nai Kanda, Katunayake. Negombo Lagoon Protecon Commiee met at the o ce of
NAFSO to discuss about the future course of the struggle. It was decided to distribute a
hand bill at the night bazaar in Negombo to inform the people about the Sea Plane Proj-
ect.
(44)
27.11.2010
The campaign to inform the people was launched at Negombo, Night bazaar with the par-
cipaon of more than 100 acvists. They distributed 5000 hand bills among the people
in Negombo area.
28.11.2010
Aruna Roshantha and Marcus Anthony were taken into Police custody on charges of an
government acvies and for incing people against the government but were bailed out
in the evening.
02.12.2010
Future parcipaon of NAFSO in the lagoon struggle discussed. It was decided to gather
a large crowd on December 14th when the case against Aruna Roshantha and Marcus
Anthony was taken up at the courts.
03.12.2010
A group of acvists from Negombo including Brito, Subashini, Kumari, Jesudasan and Her-
man went to the parliament to observe the Dr. Jayalath Jayewardenes queson on the
lagoon incident at the adjournment of parliament.

Fig 18: News arcle on SeaPlane in Diwaina news paper- 23.11.2010
(45)
06.12.2010
Aruna Roshantha parcipated at a meeng at the Trade Union Centre and requested them
to solicit internaonal support for the lagoon struggle.

09.12.2010

Leadership team of the SeaPlane struggle met with a delegaon of trade union leaders in-
cluding Bala Tampoe of CMU, to enlist their support and solidarity for the lagoon struggle.
Trade Unionist Linus Jayathilake organized this meeng.

Fig 19: Acvists of SeaPlane struggle are distribung leaets at Night Bazaar at Negombo
10.12.2010
A meeng was held at the naval base, Kurana among the Management Commiee of
Negombo Lagoon, Navy and representaves from AirLanka. AirLanka representave said
that the Sea Plane Project in the Negombo lagoon will go ahead as planned disregarding
the protests.
11.12.2010
Nimal Viyani, Frs. Sarath Iddamalgoda and Sherad Jayawardene, Leader Aruna Roshantha
and a group discussed about forming a trade union covering the lagoon area.
14.12.2010
When the case against leaders of shermen movement was taken up at the courts, 20
lawyers rose to represent them voluntarily. Court oor overowed with members of Sri
Vimukthi Fisher women Organisason More than 200 of them went to the courts on that
day. Case was postponed to 31st January 2011.
(46)
16.12.2011
Aruna Roshantha and JosephPeter met with the Central Commiee of CMU and they
agreed to support the struggle of shermen. Regional Commiee of Sri Vimukthi Fisheries
Organizaon met at its o ce to discuss the present status of the struggle. A documentary
video produced by the NAFSO was screened at the end of the meeng.
29.12.2010
Nimal Lanza, Minister of Western Provincial Council said at a meeng with shermen
and Catholic priests of area that the Sea Plane Project will shi to Dandugam Oya from
Negombo lagoon.
02.01.2011
When the media asked the Provincial Council Minister whether a decision had taken to
move the Sea Plane Project from Negombo lagoon he replied that "No such decision was
taken."
5.3 Legal redress or the strength of people's Power ?
Cant we get the legal redress to protect Negombo lagoon? This was queson raised by
people when the dredging of the lagoon was carried on regardless of the opposion by
the sher folk of the area. People knew the destrucon of lagoon will economically, so-
cially and environmentally impact not only the shermen around the lagoon but also the
small scale sea going shermen. Apart from that, the economy of the country would also
suer. Therefore shermen believed that the extent of economic and social implicaons
was valid enough reason for seeking the intervenon of the court. Fisher folks also be-
lieved that it was the responsibility of the judicial system to take note of hardships and
heed the voice of people.
Civil acvists, lawyers and polical carders engaged in the debate to restore the rule of
law in the country aware by their own experience the rule of Law and behavior of the judi-
ciary. But the ordinary people of the country, who are not privy to these, sll believe in the
judiciary for jusce. Even the atrocious impeachment moon against 43rd Chief Jusce of
the Supreme Court and the protests launched by lawyers and various civil rights groups
against this move did not shake the belief of ordinary people. Some of them perceived it
as a dispute concerning the lawyers of privileged classes and the judges.
Given this background, the mindset of the struggling sher folk and their leaders in
Negombo lagoon area in the aermath of the end of the war in the North is not di cult
to understand. Therefore at almost all the meengs convened to discuss and formulate
a plan of acon to protect the lagoon and the livelihood of shier folks, most of the
parcipants favored the idea of taking legal steps as the best soluon for the problem.
(47)
Aer a long discussion among the members of the Alliance to Protect the Negom-
bo lagoon a delegaon consisng Fr. Sherad Jayawardane, Vincent Bulathsinhala (lawyer)
and Herman Kumara was appointed to meet Supreme Court lawyer J C Weliamuna
to consult on the legal opons available. The condence we had of the consistent support
and the commitment to the struggle of sher folks amid civil society workers of the area
was the driving force that compelled us to explore whatever means to seek an amenable
soluon. We believed that the judiciary would take note of the jusable demand of the
sher folks who would face enormous di cules if the project went ahead.
Therefore, we went on 16th November for a consultaon with senior lawyer J C Weliamu-
na despite the massive demonstraon planned for the following day.
Mr. Weliamuna advised us to rely on the collecve strength of the people and that legal
acon should be the last resort. If a judgment is given jusfying the Sea Plane Project on
economic benets that they say may accrue, it will become impossible and illegal to take
any protest acon.
This compelled us to think that we cannot isolate the struggle against the Sea Plane proj-
ect from the independence of the judiciary. We have to accept as a self cricism that we
were not able to highlight these facts during the struggle. How we can jusfy the re-elec-
on of the polical group who were bent on implemenng a project in opposion to the
public opinion?
5.4 Intervenon of Catholic Priests

Fig 20 : Progressive priests and nuns at the midst of the struggle at Negombo Lagoon
(48)
I am Fr. Sherad Jayawardene of Duwa. I came on a transfer to Duwa parish in 1997. The
main issue of the area at the me was the dispute about the site of a holy cross in the
Duwa parish. They were more interested in a cross, humans had constructed, rather than
the destrucon of the sea and the lagoon, a creaon of God, on which they depended for
their livelihood.
Therefore we began by trying to convince the people of the area of the threats against
their livelihood due to the damages caused by human acvity. If I remember correct, we
rst started to draw the aenon of the people of the danger that may be caused as a
result of chemicals owing into the lagoon from prawn farms, springing around the la-
goon. In addion they were destroying the age old mangroves around the lagoon area to
clear the land for prawn farms. We along with the people of the area went to the police
staon and complained about the dredging operaon taking place at the lagoon and we
were successful in pu ng a stop to the destrucon. Now there are no prawn farms in the
lagoon area. That is how the Negombo lagoon protests began.
A hotel at the lagoon
The next struggle was to halt the construcon of a hotel in an island in the lagoon. Pro-
tests against the hotel project were based on the damages to the mangrove environment,
interrupons to the shing and also the cultural and ethical consideraons. Even though
the rich businessman had the tle deed to the island, shermen entered and prevented
him proceeding with the construcon, and the shermen started boat services to tour the
lagoon for scenic and educaonal purposes of school children.
Then the owner of the island complained to the police and the police led a case against
the leaders of shermen. When the case was called at the courts almost all the lawyers
at the bar rose for the defense. Lawyer Karunajeewa Gunadasa and Brito Fernando orga-
nized the legal support for the defense. Several priests and the leaders of the sher folk
had to give evidence in the courts. A peon signed by hundreds of shermen saying that
the lagoon and its islands belonged to them. The Court decided the case for the com-
plainant but in reality the shermens protest won. This conrmed the convicon that
the lagoon is the common property of the people of the area. A hymn on the lagoon as
a creaon of God was wrien and became popular. All this provided the strength to the
sher community to go ahead without looking back.
To keep the interest of the people around the lagoon, a number of acvies were launched.
People and their children organized shramadana campaign from me to me to clean the
lagoon under the theme Lagoon is our mother. They collected tons of polythene waste
(49)
and garbage. Sundays became a day not only for mass, but also a day to protect Gods
creaon. Their enthusiasm was such they composed a song of the lagoon extolling the
beauty and the serenity of the lagoon.
They printed an exercise book with the Song of the Lagoon on the cover for school chil-
dren and was sold to school children in the area for a nominal price. Encouraged by this
success they held photographic exhibion depicng scenic beauty and the natural en-
dowments.
When the government launched the Sea Plane Project without warning, it became a de-
ning instance of the lagoon protecon movement.
With the end of the war in the North, the government planned to build hotels and other
infrastructure to aract tourists to get badly needed foreign exchange. The Sea Plane
project was one of the projects planned without consultaon or regard to public opin-
ion. The sea plane project will not only destroy the tranquility of the lagoon but also will
pollute it aecng the livelihood of thousands of the shing community. Apart from the
people who led the earlier two protests, this me the women of the area joined the cam-
paign in their hundreds giving addional strength to the struggle. Because of the publicity
received for inial protests, other sheries organizaons, a large number of civic organi-
zaons and community groups also acvely engaged in the protests and extended their
support in various ways.
Fig 21: The Campaigners of Sea Plane struggle are awaing at lagoon to receive a
posive response
(50)
An unprecedented unity was forged among various groups over this struggle. An Alliance
to Protect Negombo Lagoon was formed as a team to lead the struggle represenng all
these groups and public spirited people. They went from village to village and from house
to house to explain the threat the Sea Plane Project would bring in. Many meengs were
held with the polical leadership and Catholic priests. A turning point in this campaign
was the meeng convened at Negombo Municipal Hall to meet with the polical lead-
ership, the Catholic Church leaders and other dignitaries. The meeng was aended by
thousands of shing community. At this meeng, not only were the lagoon shermen,
the women of the shing community, but also the shermen and representaves of many
other organizaons in that area.
The people who were present quesoned the polical authority and demanded unequiv-
ocal answers. The proposal that was forwarded at the meeng that a delegaon go to
meet the President was rejected outright. What was asked for instead was that if the
polical authority sincerely believed in a soluon acceptable to the people, they should
immediately stop the dredging and look for alternaves. Ulmately, the polical authority
had to promise to stop the work temporally at the lagoon.
But as has happened many a me before, this too turned out to be an empty promise as
dredging connued without stopping. The leaders of the protest monitored the situaon
and decided to organize a mass protest to show opposion to the project.

On the day of the protest, thousands of shermen, sherwomen, civil society organiza-
ons, media and the people around the area irrespecve of their polical a liaons,
went to the dredging site in shing boats and shouted slogans such as We dont want the
SeaPlanes and displayed banners airing their anger. Women in their thousands gathered
at Katunayake Juncon blocking tra c on the Colombo - Pualam road. The protest be-
gan with a hymn about asking for strength to protect creaon.
And all started singing:
You are my light and my salvaon
Whom shall I fear?
You are the fortress of my life
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When my enemies and my foes surround me
my heart will not fear;
though an army besieges me,
even then I will be condent.
(A hymn inspired by Psalm 27)
(51)
The police, army and navy arrived at the scene fully armed. Religious leaders who aend-
ed the protest received threatening telephone calls from the leaders of the armed forces
and unidened sources.
Religious leaders including priests and nuns from Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and other
denominaons joined the protests.
Morning turned to noon. The Chief Naval O cer there received a telephone call from
Secretary to the Defense Ministry and he asked me to talk to the Secretary. The Secretary
wanted me to stop the protests immediately; else he has to order the security personnel
to use force to disperse the crowd. He further said that landing of Sea Planes on the la-
goon is not a new project. It was there even earlier days but during the war it stopped for
security reasons. I conveyed this message to the leaders of the sherman and protesters.
If sea planes were landed here earlier there why are they dredging the lagoon now. Let
the lagoon be as it is. Dont destroy the lagoon, even if you kill us we will not move from
here was their loud and clear response.
The aernoon turned to evening. People were determined to stay unl the machinery
was removed from the lagoon. At the beginning we had planned to stay for few days
and groups of women had volunteered to prepare food for the protesters. But later we
thought it was not advisable to stay any longer disregarding the orders from the top peo-
ple of the government. When we discussed this with the leaders of the protest however,
they vowed not to leave the road without a rm oer to stop dredging.
Then we sent a message to the protesters at the lagoon to come and join the protest at
Katunayake Juncon. With their arrival determinaon and the courage of protesters
grew immensely. At this point a naval o cer informed that the government decided to
stop work at the lagoon. But people said they would not leave unless the machines are
removed.
Few people went back to the work site to see whether they were removing the machines.
The OIC of the site started to remove machines. Now the me was about six in evening.
When they received the message of removal of machines, they dispersed victoriously.
(52)
Fig 22: Melina Kumari, woman acvist of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organizaon lead
the agitaon at Katunayake juncon
When we look back at the recent spate of protests against the State, this was the rst.
Most remarkable is that we ended the protest winning our basic demand but not losing a
single life or with any injury. The sher folk believed that this was because they protested
with Gods protecon.
Subsequent protests such as the protest of Katunayake FTZ workers, the protest against
Kerosene oil price rise and the protest of the people of Rathupaswela for drinking water
claimed several precious lives. Maybe this is because the state is having to face many pro-
tests now, and is using force to stop these.
Do we believe that it was God who protected the people in our protest? Such is the belief
of our mes. Such is the polics of our mes.

5.5 Talks at Naikanda : An aempt to buy over the leaders of shermen
Aer the victory of the Sea Plane Struggle on 17.11.2010 Navy boats announced at ferries
that a meeng of shermen of the lagoon will be held on 24.11.2010 under the chairman-
ship of the Commander of the Navy. O cers of Navy and Air Force, representaves of
Presidenal Security and its media secon and the sea and lagoon shermen parcipated
at the meeng. The meeng was held at the naval base, Katunayake.
The landing of Sea Planes will not harm the lagoon or aect the shing in lagoon in any
way, and the purpose of the meeng is to sound out the views of the people of the area
parcipants of the meeng were told.
(53)

A heated debate ensured between the shermen and the o cers. Fishermen objected to
the project without reserve. Security o cers said the security presence will be conned
to the me of landing of sea planes.
Then they inquired about the problems of the shermen. When the pass system that was
introduced by the navy someme back was in operaon, a loan Rs. Hundred thousand
was given by Peoples Bank with low interest. If the shermen wanted they can restart the
scheme, and could give in their names, the o cers said. But the shermen who were at
the meeng said that they did not need the loan scheme and what they needed were the
protecon of the lagoon. Fishermen stood their ground steadfastly.
At the end o cers said that they will not launch the project without the consent of the
people and will look for an alternate locaon.

5.6 Intensicaon of the Sea plane struggle at the Municipal Hall meeng and
the dawn of a victorious path.
Fig 23: People are agitang at Town Hall ground before the meeng commence
between ministers and people
Fr. Lester Nonis asked Herman Kumara, the convener of the Alliance to Protect the Ne-
gombo lagoon to get 25-30 shermen together for a meeng to be held on 11th Novem-
ber 2010 under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister for Civil Aviaon, Mr. Dayashritha
Tissera. At the me, the Minister for this porolio was Mr. President Mahinda Rajapakse.
At a preliminary discussion on the meeng, the chairman of the trade union for sh-
ermen, Aruna Roshantha, vehemently opposed the idea of a few parcipang and sug-
gested to bring in as many as could t into the meeng hall. On the day of the meeng,
hundreds of people gathered at the municipal hall and got agitated with the delay of
arrival of the Deputy Minister. People came out and demonstrated despite the downpour
displaying banners.
(54)
When the meeng started top policians of the governing party, government o cers and
Catholic priests of Negombo parishes were seated at the stage. Aer a brief address by
the Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera, o cers of Civil Aviaon started talking about the
benets of the Sea Plane Project with a video display. They had to stop the presentaon
with boos and cat calls. Then Mr. Sarath Gunarathna, a powerful local polician got up
and berated the people saying that none can stop the development work plans of the gov-
ernment. He threatened that the police will take stern acons against the people trying
sabotage government policies.

Fig 24: Ranjith Fernando, Chair, Lagoon Management Authority addressed at the
Negombo town hall meeng
Ranjith Fernando stood up defying the threats of the polico and aacked the o cers of
Civil Aviaon Ministry for dredging the lagoon and destroying the mud layer. He demand-
ed to stop the dredging immediately.
The Chairman of Fisheries trade union pointed out that if there is no Sea Plane Project in
lagoon there is any need for the people to picket or demonstrate. Dredging the lagoon will
aect the livelihood not only of those engaged in shing in lagoon but also other sher-
men going out to sea.

The Chairperson of Sri Vimukthi Fishing Womens Organizaon, Shirani Fernando de-
manded to know who will come to the assistance of more than 3500 families living around
the lagoon once their shing ground is destroyed by dredging and sea planes. Depriving
the people of their livelihood is a sure way of destroying these families. Therefore she
implored the authories not to proceed with the Sea Plane Project.
(55)
Then Mr. Sarath Gunarathna replied that as a person who knows the in and out of the
lagoon shing he will never allow destroying the lagoon. He asked the people not to be
misled by false propaganda of interested pares.
Nimal Viyani, a sheries acvist of Seththapaduwa wondered how those people who came
to power with their own votes dared to aack the livelihood of the shermen. Dredging
the lagoon is dredging the heart of the shermen living in area he retorted.
All the shermen and women rose one by one to register their opposion to the project.
Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lanza said that meeng is convened to see whether
it is harming harmfully aects the sherman and if it is so to meet President and seek a
soluon through dialogue.
The majority of shermen in Negombo area are catholic. So the church is concerned
about the wellbeing of them. Even the Bishop asks me oen about the situaon in Ne-
gombo. It is beer to select a delegaon to meet President for a soluon of Sea Plane
controversy. said Fr. Patrick Fernando, the Vicar General of Colombo diocese.
Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera supported the idea of a delegaon to meet President
saying that the development of tourist industry is essenal for the country and the Sea
Plane Project will benet the area and the country.

Then Herman Kumara of NAFSO and also the convener of the Alliance for Protecon of
Negombo Lagoon, pointed out the opinion of shermen gathered here is clear. They do
not want a Sea Plane Project in the lagoon. Their request is to remove the project so as
to engage in their tradional occupaon peacefully. The elected policians should convey
this message to President as elected representaves of people.
But deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera insisted on appoinng a delegaon to meet the
President saying that he has worked with dierent communies on various problems af-
fecng them, but he is not willing to waste his me on unnecessary issues.
Herman Kumara stood again agreeing to a delegaon to meet President with a condion.
If a delegaon is to meet President rst step should be to stop dredging the lagoon unl
a nal decision is taken at such a meeng and in such case a delegaon under Fr. Lester
Nonis can be appointed. All the shing folk gathered approved the idea.
In the end Dayashritha Tissera agreed to stop dredging work aer a brief consultaon
with his o cials and the meeng adjourned without appoinng a delegaon.
(56)
It was the turning point in victorious struggle against Sea Planes. People felt their collec-
ve strength and it gave the momentum for the decisive mass acon on 17th November.
5.7 Decisiveness of lagoon struggle : We saved the mother lagoon at the risk of
our lives
Decisiveness of the struggle
Fisher folk felt that there is no way other than the struggle to win their basic rights. The
promise to halt dredging the lagoon proved to be empty. Dredging connued without
interrupon. On 13th November few shermen went in their shing boats to the dredging
site in an aempt to stop work but were not successful.

Fig 25: Navy boats are patrolling while shermen are in the agitaon in
Negombo lagoon
People knew by past experience that negoaons and pleadings will not work and the
only way to win their rights is to demonstrate their collecve strength and unity of
purpose. Therefore all the organizaons involved in the struggle work without rest to
mobilize the people in the area without any disncon and to liaise with enes sym-
pathized with the struggle. Their sole purpose was to save the lagoon for the benet of
people.
The authories used the maximum force to thwart the people. A large number of
policemen supported by Navy and Army guarded the lagoon displaying their arms and
readiness to use them on slightest provocaon is clearly visible. Kar ghter planes used
in war in the North were own overhead the protesters making thunderous noise in an
aempt to inmidate them.
(57)
We have nothing to lose. We are ready to die here than the long suering deaths that
await us aer the destrucon of the lagoon. We prayed for your safety when you are ght-
ing in the North. Now we are facing your guns here. Now we can understand the suering
of the people of the North.
Sumindha Fernando a lagoon sherman shouted back over the din of ghter planes and
Navy boats.Fisher folk and hundreds of people came to their support and didnt budge.
The womens parcipaon at the demonstraon was remarkable.
Public anger against the polical opportunists
Sea Plane project is not an isolated incident but an integral part of discredited Regaining
Sri Lanka master plan to open up the country for foreign capital now recycled in the garb
of Mahinda Chinthanaya. The people of the area sensed the danger of this project which
was ostensibly for the development of tourist industry and said to benet the people.
Leaders of the protest movement did not want the involvement of the opposion poli-
cians who were eager to make it a short sighted polical issue for their own advantage.
The organizers were extremely careful from the very beginning to make the struggle a
genuine peoples movement relying mainly on the solidarity and the commitment of
sher folk who are dependent on the lagoon for their existence.
But in a curious turn of events, at the Negombo Municipal Council elecon just aer the
Sea Plane struggle, a brother of the provincial council minister who most enthusiascally
supported the project got highest number of preferenal votes.
Does it mean that people couldnt understand or bother about the polical implicaons
of their struggle? It is a very relevant queson to explore.
Challenges to peoples livelihood in the lagoon

Fig 26: Nimal Viyani and Aruna Roshantha are leading the campaign at the lagoon
(58)
It is clear the driving force of the struggle to protect the Negombo lagoon is that it is the
one and only source of livelihood of people around the area. It was noceable at the
me of struggle and even when we review the process aer three years. Nimal Viyani a
prominent acvist expressed his bewilderment at the Municipal hall meeng, "how our
own people whom we voted into power so enthusiascally can turn against us in destroy-
ing the lagoon? " When one of our members went to interview later the chair of Lagoon
Management Authority, he said that even though we were against sea planes we are not
against the government.
In a queson aecng their very existence there are no qualms in risking even the life
itself. But when it comes to vong their behavior is quite dierent.
Their struggle against Sea Plane Project does not reect their polical allegiance. We as
social acvists with a mission for a beer society where rights are respected should study
these social behavioral paerns in depth.

The government resorted to every possible means at its command including the media to
discredit the leaders of the protest movement but people during struggle had full con-
dence on them. They listened and followed them. Their steadfastness is the secret of the
success.
5.8 We resurrect the victorious and decisive stage of the sea plane struggle on
the road
One step back for two steps forward: Changing taccs in shiing the protest from the
lagoon to the road
On November 17th people protested on the banks of the lagoon from 7 in the morning ll
about 2 in the aernoon. Leaders vowed not to leave the lagoon unl dredging machines
are removed. But the protesters got red and it seems that it will go on but nothing hap-
pening.
Meanwhile the message Fr. Sherard Jayewardene received through a mobile phone of an
o cer of security forces was threatening. The Secretary to the Defense ministry told him
to ask the protesters leave the place without delay else he had to order the security forces
to take necessary acons to disperse the crowd. We understood clearly what he meant.
We all had our minds the fear and security of the people. Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop
of Mannar giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliaon Commission cal-
culated using government own stascs that more than 145,000 people were missing at
the end of war. Probably most of them would have been killed in the crossre. When the
same Secretary of the defense Ministry was threatening us, we had to be extra careful.
(59)
We value life. Even though we extend our support for the struggle without precondions
we need not put lives of people in danger in a reckless manner. We had to take a decision.
Freddie Gamage, editor Meepura news Paper said that it is useless to stay any longer in
lagoon and should go to Katunayake juncon to join the protesters there. So we decided
to leave the lagoon and to join the protesters at Katunayake juncon. It proved to be a
crical turn of events which led to the ulmate victory of the protest.
March forward for victory
Womens parcipaon was a striking feature throughout the struggle. Police tried to pre-
vent women gathering there saying only in twos they stand along the pavement of the
road without interrupng the movement of tra c. But women in hundreds entered the
road without heeding the police warning.




Fig 27: Militancy of the Fisherfolk agitang at the Negombo Lagoon
Finally the police had to seek the assistance of the leaders of the protest to keep open one
lane for the tra c. With the pressure building up on security forces and the crowd ge ng
more aggressive a naval o cer in charge of Colombo South informed the leaders of the
protest that the work of Sea Plane Project will stop.
He met with the leaders of protesters near the Katunayake sh market and informed them
that the Navy Commander had sent him to meet the agitators to convey the message
that they had decided to stop work at the lagoon. Leaders represenng the protesters
said that such a declaraon was not su cient to convince the protesters on the road.
They need concrete evidence by removing the dredging equipment from the lagoon. By
the me we received the news of discussions among the polical leadership of the area
about the possibility of abandoning the project. But such promises and well intenoned
declaraons proved empty. People wanted solid evidence and solemn commitments from
the top.
(60)
Message of the all powerful district polical leader and the art of the media
reporng of the victory of people
With the military victory over LTTE, the thinking among the leaders of the ruling circles
was that they can take whatever decisions without consulng people or their represen-
taves and also underesmated the collecve strength of the people. Fisher folks are not
organized in a formal trade union or in any other way to represent their views and inter-
ests forcefully. But they stood up to face a formidable challenge which some argued as an
unwinnable struggle. They deed all odds and won a historic struggle.

There was a powerful message for the all policians of the district. No sooner the news
came to us about the decision to withdraw dredging equipment this polician send a lady
MP of the district to emphasize his part in the decision but she had to beat a hasty retreat
among the boos of protesters.
A secon of the media reported erroneously that the withdrawal message is brought to
protesters by her. These media people wanted to promote her obscuring the unshakable
stand taken by sher folk of the area to protect the lagoon for the people.

Removal of dredging equipment
The role played by sher folks in Negombo to protect their livelihood should be appreciat-
ed without reserve. They forced to roll back the government policy of intransigence. They
risked their lives.
Various civil society organizaons extended their support and advice. But the ownership
of the struggle was with the sher folk. Large numbers of local acvists who had no
prior experience on protest movements rise up, lead and Guide the people at very crucial
moments.
At a meeng held with several civil society organizaons at Centre for Society and
Religion, Colombo, a few days before the nal protests, some warned the governments
capacity to use of force which may result in loss of lives. Therefore, the leaders of the
movement should be extra careful on guiding the protest.
Sudarsana Gunawardana aorney at law, proposed to let the sher folks to carry on their
protests and the civil society organizaons and acvists should not be a shield or buer
zone between government forces and the people.
We need to let Negombo people to meet their war heroes at Nandikadal lagoon at the
Negombo Lagoon.
Finally, Negombo people met their heroes and realized the realies. It was in Air, Water
and Land Negombo people met their heroes at SeaPlane struggle.
In the end, the will of the people triumphed and the government had to withdraw the
dredging equipment in the evening of 17th November.

(61)
Chapter 6
Decisive intervenons of sherwomen
That women carry out an important funcon in societal acon was proved again in the
Negombo lagoon struggle. When all were about to give up, it was the women who came
to the forefront to give leadership to the struggle. Here are some perspecves from such
leaders.

6.1. Maria Lakshmi Indrani Fernando (43 years) Kadolkele,
Sri Vimukthi Womens Fisheries Organizaon (Former Chairperson and present
acon commiee member)
I am a mother of three children. My husband is a small-
scale sherman. The Negombo lagoon boosts the income
of sher families. We can get a harvest of sh every day
from the lagoon which helps to spend for childrens educa-
on and other basic requirements of the family. If a lagoon
as such is destroyed in the name of tourism such develop-
ment should be stopped. When the Negombo lagoon was
on the verge of destrucon from the Sea Plane project it
was the peoples unity that put a stop to this project. People
engaged in this struggle, risked their lives and carried out
many steps to educate the masses.
The people around us who gave us strength, shermen, NGO acvists, fathers of the
Church came under lot of pressure. However, even amidst such situaons we were able
to deliver our objecve. Even shermen had diverse interests and views. Although, they
were exposed to the awareness and seeing the destrucon happening to the lagoon
about 90% of them kept on saying We cannot go against government projects and risk
our lives. However there was a 10% who were with us aer the awareness raising.
Fathers from the Catholic Church and other sects, sisters, NGO acvists and a large num-
ber of women, second to none united; and from a struggle of the people the sea plane
project was brought to a stop. However, this lagoon we reserved aer a long struggle is
again at the verge of destrucon. Businessmen, top government o cials, and even com-
munity in and around the area are contribung to the destrucon by lling the lagoon,
destroying lagoon banks, dumping garbage and waste. If at all any protests is happening,
that is only by NGOs in Negombo. Even people who speak against such acvies have to
face problems. Instutes and o cials who can take appropriate acon or steps regarding
this have become polical henchman. Even for a slight wrong done by a community mem-
ber the o cials will not fail to take necessary acon. Since the rule of law has collapsed,
(62)
such destrucon is allowed to happen. Therefore, as cizens we have to be strong to
cope with this destrucon. Similar to our struggle against the Sea Plane project we have
to again unite to stop the destrucon happening to the lagoon. I want to state that it is
our duty to safeguard for future generaons. The lagoon we have safeguarded for gener-
aons.

6.2 Nadishani Lakmini (30 years) member of Kadolkele Sri Vimukthi Womens
Fisheries Society
This area is named as Kadolkele as there is large canopy of
mangroves spread across this area. Mangroves are an essen-
al part of a lagoon. Mangroves protect my house too.
The Negombo lagoon provides income opportunies to
3,500 and provides nutrion for 15,000 people. The lagoon
with such value is at the verge of destrucon. The Sea Plane
project was one such eort to destroy the lagoon.
I became aware of it during one such pocket meeng orga-
nized by Sri Vimukthi Organizaon.
My family lives o the lagoon and my husband is a small-scale sherman. Having heard
about harassments from the Sri Lanka Navy during the past, I was afraid when I heard
about the Sea Plane project, whether the harassments will start again. When shermen
were not allowed to go shing we understood hunger. About the Sea Plane project I had
the same fears and wondered what will happen. I swore in my mind that this will not hap-
pen. So the rst step for us was to raise awareness and obtain cooperaon from dierent
groups. We inially tried to get the support of Catholic parish priests. This was mainly
because majority in Negombo were Catholics and the close link between sher folk and
the church.
Unfortunately very soon the Catholic priests let us down, they failed to give us any sup-
port. But our trust in God was unshaken and we moved ahead with our work. At that
me all of us casng our dierences aside put up crosses around the lagoon asking God
to protect our lagoon. Through connued prayer we tried to protect our lagoon. Further,
during the Kurulukele church feast me also we prayed to save our lagoon. Aer that we
took St Judes statue around the lagoon asking for protecon from God for our lagoon.
We did all this with a lot of faith. While doing this we urged the government to stop this
iniave which was met with no soluon. At the meeng on the 11th of November we
strongly said we will not allow sea planes to land in the lagoon. Due to our vociferous
protest, the Minster of Civil Aviaon Dayashritha Tissera agreed to temporary stop
landing of sea planes and discusses this issue with the president.
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The shermen who went shing in the lagoon on the following day noced that
construcons were connuing. Since what was promised was not happening we made
all shermen aware and mobilized them to join in the massive protest we had on 17th
November on the Katunayake main road which brought us the much awaited achieve-
ment. Who helped us in this struggle was the Sri Vimukthi Organizaon, Naonal Fisheries
Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), a small group of the clergy and civil society organizaons
(CSOs) in Negombo.
Today, the Negombo lagoon is again facing threats of destrucon and we need to unite
again to safeguard the lagoon for future generaons.
6.3 Mary Sriyani (33 years) Chairperson of Kadolkele Sri Vimukthi Fisheries
organizaon (2010 2011)
I am a mother of two children and my husband is a
sherman. He uses Stake and Net [Kaudel nets] for
shing. Our livelihood depends on Negombo lagoon where
on a monthly basis we can earn about Rs 25, 000 to 30,000.
The Negombo lagoon provides a living to 1500 from
3500 families. Although a few are engaged in protecng this
resource there is a majority that is planning to destroy the
same.
People protested for selecng Madabokka area in the Ne-
gombo lagoon for the Sea Plane project as its a rich breeding ground for shrimp. The
shermen became aware that this rich resource will be destroyed and their livelihoods
were at stake.
The Sri Vimukthi Associaon and NAFSO members helped to spread this awareness. A
forum was formulated at village level to protect the lagoon. We contributed to create
awareness through numerous campaigns to take the Sea Plane project out of the lagoon.
We parcipated in government sponsored awareness programmers and explained the
damage created by the project, despite government o cials connuing in their eorts to
launch this project. We connued our protests and requested to shi the locaon of the
project.
We kept the mayor and the opposion informed. The previous mayor expressed his
unwillingness to support us and even from the opposion only two members supported
us. The others supported the government project including the Bishop. At this moment I
felt it was the same as what Ponus Pilot did by washing his hands when Jesus Christ was
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judged. The Bishop too washed his hands o without helping the sheries community. Yet
we did not stop our struggle.
The Sri Vimukthi Fisheries Society, NAFSO, All Island Fisheries Trade Union, clergy from the
church and other civil society members from Negombo were our strength. Despite the
pressure we felt we connued our struggle and we achieved victory.
The Lagoon that was rescued is facing lot of harm today due to destrucon of mangroves
and lagoon banks. Today no one is coming forward therefore we need to unite again to
stop the destrucon and I am prepared to come forward and lead the struggle once again.
6.4 Greta Fernando (51 years) Munnakkaraya village, former chairperson Sri
Vimukthi Fisheries Associaon.
I am Greta Fernando. I live in Munnakkaraya village. I have
been living and experiencing the lagoon as part of my life since
childhood as I come from a sher family. We depend for our
daily bread from the lagoon.
Today this resource handed down to us by generaons is faced
with many threats. The economy of 3500 families who de-
pend on this lagoon had collapsed.
But our struggle defeated the sea plane project. Although we
were able to stop the sea plane project, today there is destrucon happening to the la-
goon again.
The mangroves and lagoon banks are destroyed and industrial waste is dumped in to the
lagoon. These measures need to be stopped. Lets unite and wake the shery community
to protect this resource.
6.5 Mary Kusuma, (41 years) Siriwardene Place, Former Treasurer (2011 2012)
Sri Vimukthi Womens Fisheries Organizaon.
I am a mother of three children and my husband is a sh-
erman in both sea and the lagoon. My eldest son is also
engaged in shing in the lagoon. The Negombo lagoon
strengthened our economy and earlier we could fetch about
Rs 35,000 from shing in the lagoon. However, today unfor-
tunately there are hardly any shrimps in the lagoon.
There are many who are contribung to the destrucon
of the lagoon. A huge damage is being done by destroying
mangroves and lagoon banks, islands and dumping of indus-
trial waste.
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Although uning with everyone and as a member of Sri Vimukthi Womens Fisheries
Organizaon we won our SeaPlane struggle, now hardly anyone speaks about the damage
being done. Although we are not receiving any support from the government I must say
with my family I will commit to safeguard this lagoon.
6.6 Grace Malda (54 years) Commiee member of Sri Vimukthi Fisher women
Organizaon from Kadolkele,
I am from Kadolkele and my husband is a small scale sher-
man. Negombo lagoon adds beauty to Negombo and I believe
am fortunate to get an opportunity to live near the lagoon.
This lagoon helped the shermen to strengthen their liveli-
hoods and they were able to harvest sh and shrimp from the
lagoon.
In the name of development the government tried to introduce many projects to destroy
the lagoon and the Sea Plane project was one such.
We proved that we were not gullible and disagreed to the government proposals to set
up the Sea Plane project. On the 17th of November 2010 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. we were
all lying and blocking the Negombo main road and managed to stop the Sea Plane project.
The lagoon we protected with our unity is again on the verge of destrucon.
Again we need to unite to safeguard the lagoon and am ready as a woman to face any
challenge in this struggle.
6.7 Therese Nirmala (48 years), commiee member of Sri Vimukthi Fisher wom-
en Organizaon Munnakkaraya
Munnakkaraya is an island surrounded by the lagoon. When
talking about Munnakkaraya I remember how the tsunami
did not aect this island. It was the lagoon that protected
us from the tsunami.
In 2010 it was in this context that the Sea Plane project was
introduced as a measure to improve tourism. I who was
unaware about the danger posed by this project was made
aware about the damage that could cause to the lagoon by
Sri Vimukthi Fisheries Organizaon.
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Then I joined hands with Sri Vimukthi for the struggle against the Sea Plane project. The
support we expected from the clergy and many others we did not receive and it was Sri
Vimukthi Organizaon and NAFSO who were the strength to us.
We launched our struggle on the 17th of November 2010 and we faced the challenges.
Those who were with us in this struggle from the Catholic Church, NGOs and shermen
received numerous threats and pressure.
This lagoon we protected at that me is again facing number of threats. Filling the lagoon,
construcon of hotels etc. has threatened the livelihoods of the lagoon shermen. In or-
der to minimize the damage we need to unite once again I believe. Protecng the lagoon
is safeguarding the lives of 3500 families and 15000 people. Therefore, I declare that I am
ready to give my fullest support to safeguard the lagoon.

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Chapter 7
The Decisive Contribuon of the Fisheries Leadership towards the Lagoon
Struggle
In the past, since there were so many divisions within the shing communies, others
were able to exploit the resources of the shing community, and those holding high o ce
in the country and in the sheries sector were able to successfully implement harmful
projects. Through the proposed Sea Plane project the enre shing community including
the sherwomen, shing development communies, and all acve NGOs in the sheries
led, through their ability to work together were able to save the Negombo lagoon from
destrucon. While nong the courage and dedicaon of the leadership taken by the sh-
ermen in this process, we hope to put on record their contribuon. This is done not only
for the Negombo lagoon, but also for the overall problems of shing communies.
Some sheries leaders could not withstand polical pressure and were not willing to work
together. The queson to be asked is should we be divide and destroyed or succeed unit-
ed? The decision is yours. Unless we learn from our past, we have no future.
7.1 Aruna Roshantha (aged 43), President, St. Marys Fisheries Associaon,
Pipanne Parish, and President, All Island Fisher folk Trade Union,
The Negombo lagoon is an important lagoon in Asia with a
very high producvity. The shermen who sh in the high seas
use the prawn caught in the lagoon as bait. I am a small scale
sherman talking about the relief that the lagoon provides
to the shermen. I am a father of three and our family is sus-
tained by the lagoon and the sea. I can thus talk about the
harm done to the lagoon. I represent the sheries sociees
stated above, and am frequently involved in represenng the
shermens issues and in protecng our resources.
We live in an age where the lagoon and the sea have been
brought to the brink of destrucon. While development process harms the lagoon and
sea, the daily waste disposals of factories, hotels, hospitals and residents are directed
towards this lagoon. While on the one hand the new shing methods have reduced the
shing stock, on the other the chemicals put into the main canal are harmful to the plant
life. This puts the shing community into di culty, and I wonder if this is done purposely
to exclude the shing community. Most of this destrucon happens with government or
polical involvement. Hence the o cial in charge of this sector remain silent.
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One such was the seaplane project. Although the country needs to develop it should not
do at the expense of the natural resources. Before environmental damage was possible,
with the collecve strength of the people we were able to stop it.
Negombo has a high populaon of Catholics. Thus the people always try to go forward as
a congregaon. Thus with the sea plane struggle also they went forward as a congrega-
onal collecve. With this, NGOs joined us and with me we were able to go forward as
one, but with me the Catholic Church lost its enthusiasm for this struggle. The reason for
this, as I see it, is the dierent pressures that were put on them. When we saw the enthu-
siasm of the priest waning, we went to meet the head of the Church. The Bishop we met
told us not to get in the way of the development of the country, and since the sea planes
were already brought in, it was di cult to oppose it. We Catholics were le helpless by
such treatment, which connues to date.
Because we were vigilant about the sea plane issue, we were able to oppose it. The gov-
ernment has undertaken in recent mes, development projects in coastal areas which
threatens the livelihoods of the shing community. We suggest that the people living in
these areas are consulted before such projects get underway. However, the government
oen goes ahead with projects without pu ng people in the centre. Thus, we were vigi-
lant about this and le no room for the project to go ahead.
Finally we asked the government to nd an alternave place for this project. We suggest-
ed Kindigoda and Airport Gardens, Katunayake as possible alternaves. Yet they ignored
this and wanted to carry on, and threatened those who opposed it, while pu ng pressure
on the priests as well. Yet we were able to stop it.
During those days we could not live in freedom. While we distribung leaets, they took
me and Marcus Anthony into custody. It was through such struggle that we saved our la-
goon. NAFSO and Sri Vimukthi Fisher Womens Organizaon and independent lay people
gave us unsnted support in this regard. It is need to deal with the current issue in the
lagoon, the people needs to get together as we did with the sea plane struggle. I pledge
my support to this cause.
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7.2 Ranjith Nimal Vianney Rodrigo (aged 45), Secretary, Sethapaduwa Fisheries
Union and Commiee member, Lagoon Management Authority
The best lagoon in South Asia is Negombo lagoon. The two
corners of the lagoon are connected to the sea and every eight
hours the de comes in and thus shing is possible throughout
the year. It is our duty to protect it. However some shermen
were reluctant to come forward to protect it and polical forc-
es took advantage of this. If shermen are given leadership
they will come forward.
The sea plane struggle was an example. This project was pro-
posed during the SAARC meeng, and there was pressure brought on by forbidding sh-
ing as well as cu ng the nets of sherman by the navy. As I could not watch this, I went
forward and met with a lot of problems. As commiee members we have to step forward.
When I stepped forward we had no proper organized community feeling and thus the
community did not respect our opinions. Mada Booka was to be the main spot for the
seaplanes landing. If this place was destroyed, it would have been equivalent to our live-
lihoods being destroyed. Thus, although we tried to rally support, most were afraid, as
opposing a strong government could be life threatening.
At this me we met the President of All Ceylon Fisherfolk trade union for discussions and
we started a campaign to make people aware of this impending threat. We were asked by
the leaders of the community not to oppose the government, but we went ahead.
We then met NAFSO and got help from them, discussing with them at length. With ge ng
a good understanding, we started awareness programmers in the communies and got
peoples support for this. We also had discussions with Catholic priests and government
o cials.
I have been shermen since a child. And have been serving as a society member for a long
me. I got threatening phone calls from policians, but despite that I went ahead in the
struggle. Some people tried to get me out of my posion in the society. Others too faced
this sort of threat.
NAFSO, Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomens Society and All Ceylon sher folk trade union, helped
us a lot in the struggle. Other civil organizaons helped us. Nimal Lanza of the govern-
ment also helped us towards the end.
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We saved the lagoon from one struggle despite many threats from many sources, but
today we are face other threats such as boats with advanced technologies, internaonal
boat building companies, hotels and highways which are destroying mangroves and caus-
ing erosion. We need to do something about preserving our lagoon against these threats.
7.3 Niroshan Nilantha (aged 30), Siriwardene Pedesa, Munakkara
Fishing in the Negombo lagoon can be a good source of income
and can earn between Rs 25,000 to 35,000 a month. Yet this has
changed due to the sea plane crisis. We worked relessly to-
wards this cause together with others. Through this cooperaon
we were able to rally the support of 35 villages around the la-
goon.
The Church helped to begin with, but it is and that they suc-
cumbed to polical pressure and gave up helping. What could
have been pinched o with a nail had to be cut o with an axe
because of the weakness of the church leaders. Although people gave up on us, we didnt
waver in our cause.
However, a big problem was nding the money to feed our families. Somehow I was able
to connue with the struggle without even shing up to as long as three months. We got
no support from any polical facon, the government didnt, the opposion made a false
show of support.
Today we can reap no benets from our eorts as there are new threats have come to
be. As a result I have had to look to other forms of employments such as casual labor, but
these are not sasfying. It is di cult to stand by and watch the destrucon of a lagoon
that has been protected by my family over the years. The regulatory system should be
taking care of this but it needs to be acvated to funcon properly.
7.4 Ranjith Fernando (aged 58) Seththapaduwa, Chairman of the Negombo
Lagoon Management Authority
My belief is that Negombo lagoon is the best lagoon of South
Asia. When compared with other lagoons Negombo lagoon
provides a great service to shermen. This lagoon provided
a livelihood all 365 days and many generaons survived from
this lagoon. I started shing in the lagoon in 1978 and from
then to date I am popularly known as a care taker of the
lagoon.
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I provide lot of service as the chairman of the lagoon management authority and Seth-
thapaduwa sheries commiee and serving in this capacity has helped me to gain lot of
experience. I have studied in Malaysia for 6 months to learn about lagoons in 1987. I have
learnt a lot about the Negombo lagoon. This lagoon does not have a legal framework.
As a result, lling the lagoon, construcon around the lagoon and destroying banks around
the lagoon happen. These kinds of destrucons are caused by leading gures in the coun-
try and nobody steps forward to protest against such destrucon.
Even our lagoon management authority cannot protest about this due to the pressure
created for people who spoke against such acvies. Further there is no designated per-
son to look into such maers pertaining to the lagoon.
Although as the lagoon management commiee we made a complaint against the de-
strucons caused but the o cials keep on shiing the responsibilies from one person
to the other saying that it does not come under their mandate. Who a sherman is has
not been properly dened. If we connue like this we will not have this lagoon in future.
Therefore as a rst step we must have a legal framework and for that the authority lies
with the Ministry of sheries, coastal conservaon department, forest conservaon de-
partment and lagoon management authority. We went on an observaon tour around the
lagoon. During this me we saw the layer of moss and other aqua plants damaged.
A study has been done with the support of the marine engineering secon of the Univer-
sity of Moratuwa and according to the ndings there had been a change in the chemical
composion in the lagoon water. We assumed that it was caused by the waste dumped
into the lagoon by the surrounding leather factories. When the sea plane landing project
was about to be introduced I realized the destrucon that could happen to the lagoon.
A study was done about the lagoon in 1999 and the study tour that was part of the lagoon
the last locaon that was observed was Mada bokka. Professor Sumana who joined the
study team from Japan stated that Mada bokka is the most crically important locaon
in terms of ecological balance and upse ng of it can impact the whole lagoon. This report
is available with Naonal Aquac Resources Authority (NARA).
I was aware the destrucon that could be caused by the sea plane project to the lagoon
and therefore I protested. Even when the commander for the north visited Seththapadu-
wa I explained to him not to do this project in Mada bokka area. In all seven discussions
we had with government o cials we protested against the sea plane project. However
since the o cials did not listen to people and connued the project the sher community
took to the streets. We had the protests in a fair manner. Therefore they had to shi the
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project to an alternave locaon. It was the civil society, clergy, church and members
from other faiths and Member of Parliament Mr. Nimal Lanza who supported us in the
campaign. It was the unity of the people that helped to safeguard and save the lagoon
at that me.
However, dierent types of acvies in the name of development are posing a threat
to shermen who heavily depend on the lagoon for their livelihoods. Filling the lagoon,
destroying the banks of the lagoon, construcon of hotels, boat trips and entertainment
for tourists are all contributory factors for the destrucon of the lagoon. Therefore it is
me to engage in negoaons or conduct an invesgaon to bring this condion to a
halt. Again we might have to resort to the same method we used for the campaign against
the sea plane project. As a result my life will be in great danger but I am ready for any
commitment.
7.5 Joseph Peter (aged 57), Pipane North, President, Negombo Lagoon Fisher
Peoples Trade Union
For some years I have been using the oang nets, and am a
humble sherman who does shing to keep my family alive.
Therefore when our lagoon is under threat I give much aen-
on to save it.
As today too it is under threat, there is hardly any sh or
prawns in the lagoon, instead just weeds.
From the day the seaplane came, we were able to ght in a
united way and defeat the project. But among these were
the sherman who worked with us to achieve their own pri-
vate aspiraons. The seaplane landing was harmful in dierent ways; it killed the food the
sh ate and the mangroves. Many have had to give up their shing livelihood because of
this project. The project killed the rich diversity of Mada Bokka. In the struggle to save the
lagoon, I met Herman Kumara from NAFSO and the rest of the commiee, who were a
great help to us. We created a special commiee to deal with this struggle.
On November 11 meeng in the Town Hall, they said they will stop the project, but this
did not happen. So November 17, we protested again on the Negombo main road. We
were successful.
I thank NAFSO for their support.
The strength we got that day was an apolical type of strength. Aer the victory, people
stopped coming for meengs and the Lagoon Commiee disbanded. This is a pity as new
threats and other things do not have a proper arena to get taken up at.
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Chapter 8
Memories of the Civil Society leaders of Sea Plane struggle
8.1 Womens contribuons to the victory of Sea Plane struggle
We save our mother Lagoon from destrucon
Subashinie Kamalanathan, Coordinator, Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen Organizaon
With the ending of thirty years of war, the development process re-started in the country
and there is an improvement in the tourist industry. We are aware that the country needs
development. If development does not benet the people then it is not real development.
The government in 2010 aempted to launch the Sea Plane landing project undermining
the interests of lagoon shermen. The proposed project in Negombo lagoon just in front
of Katunayake Internaonal Airport is a clear violaon of the rights of shermen and of
the environmental sustenance of the lagoon.
There are 35 villages around the lagoon and more than 3500 people are engaged in sh-
ing in the lagoon. Dredging the lagoon for Sea Plane landing strip endangers the breeding
places of sh, prawns and crabs. Clearing of natural mangrove forest of the area aects
fauna.
A meeng of sherwomen was called on 8th July 2010 at the Jubilee hall, Grand Street
Church, Negombo to explain the dangers of the project. It was organized by Fr. Lester No-
nis of Colombo diocese. We solicited the support of the Sri Vimukthi Fishing Organizaon
to stand up for the shing community in view of injusces that may arise.
Sri Vimukthi Organizaon coordinang with its parent organizaon Naonal Fisheries
Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) appointed a commiee on 10th July, 2010.
At a me when the civil organizaons and the trade union leadership hesitated to lead
the acon, the shing women with the cooperaon of NAFSO started work. They
campaigned among sher folks, Catholic priests and other civil and shermen orga-
nizaons to raise their awareness on the issue. They mobilized the people of the area
through distribung hand bills, posters and signature collecon campaigns. The lagoon is
already aected by various acvies.
The women got together and placed crosses around the lagoon and prayed for its
protecon. We went from house to house and talked with shermen about the need to
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protect the lagoon for their livelihood. But all were not convinced about the cause the
women were ghng for. They ridiculed them saying, You cannot challenge the
government which is as strong as the Sigiriya rock. If the government has taken a decision,
nobody can change it. They will do it regardless of the protests. These women are mad.
The Sri Vimukthi Women handed over a peon to Dr. Rajitha Senarathna, Minister of
Fisheries when he aended the conference of shermen held at the Pipana South Co-
operave Hall on October 30th 2010. He declared that It cannot be changed. No damage
of importance will cause. Only a concrete strip will be laid.
On the following day, October 31st 2010 the annual feast of St. Jude Church of Kurulukele,
Seeduwa was held. Fr. Lester asked all the people of the area to aend the feast with their
shing equipment to pray for the protecon of the lagoon. A protest was held near the
Kotelawela Bridge, Negombo and at the church.
Later a meeng of shermen was called at the Town Hall, Negombo under the leadership
of Deputy Minister Dayashritha Tissera. Women called out slogans of protest against the
Sea Plane Project at the meeng. The shermen had great hopes for a soluon of their
problem at the birthday celebraon of Bishop Ranjith Malcolm on 15th November 2010.
They oered a ower bouquet him with a message pleading his intervenon on the mat-
ter. However, I am not the President to change a decision of the government. Two sea
planes have already been brought from Canada, he replied.
People understood that the leaders they trust will not come to their rescue and to protect
their livelihood and their dependents, so they have to take to the road and ght for the
sake of their children.
On November 17th 2010, we launched a decisive agitaon for the rights of shing people.
Fishermen came in their shing catamarans and boats for the protest. Women gathered
on the banks of the lagoon for their support. Since their protest was largely ignored, all of
them, even children and pregnant mothers moved to the Colombo - Pualam main road.
The road was blocked and people in their thousands protested throughout the day. Then
by evening, a message came from authories promising to remove machinery from the
lagoon and the protesters le the place victoriously.
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8.2 Progressive Clergy
No Sea Planes at Negombo lagoon: People protests.
Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, Shramabimani Forum, Liyanegemulla, Seeduwa
The Sea Plane project is not a sudden decision. The need to change Negombo from a
shing centre to a tourist resort was rst mooted with the introducon of open economic
policies in 1977 by the J R Jayawardane government. The Re-gaining Sri Lanka economic
plan of 2002 envisaged giving prominence to tourism all over the country.
The grand plan to convert the whole country into a tourist paradise is now presented in
a new form in Mahinda Chinthanaya. It is clearly depicted in the Naonal Physical Plan
published by the Physical Planning Department of the Ministry of Construcon, Engineer-
ing Services, Housing and Common Amenies of Mr. Wimal Weerawansa. Therefore the
Sea Plane Project is acceptable to both powerful polical pares of the country. (This is
explained in detail in another Chapter.)

Development Culture
Under the prevailing polical culture all the decisions relang to development are taken
from the top. The decision about the Sea Plane Project was taken at the highest polical
level. People were never consulted in the process. The shing community contributes to
the overall nutrion of the whole country, but maybe they thought that it is not important
to discuss the project with them.
The development process should be democrac. Otherwise development is not human
development. Rulers should understand that the development without the consultaon
of people is not meaningful. If the Sea Plane Project, formulated without peoples par-
cipaon is implemented, the livelihood of nearly 3500 sher people would have been
aected adversely.
Stages of lagoon struggle
Whenever the Catholic shermen face a problem, they naturally look up to the parish
priest for soluons. They made their shepherds aware of the grave situaon awaing
them, and the shing community of the area had hope that the priests will intervene on
their behalf, even at a late stage.
Awareness raising of the community was a special task. A large number of discussions
were held to educate the community about the dangers of the project. Community lead-
ers asked the support of several organizaons in this task.

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Most of the organizaons of the shing community approached for help had their own
work programmers and agendas. Their opinions also diered on various maers. Nor was
there consensus on everything. But they were compelled to take a common stand on this
problem. NAFSO, the All Ceylon Fisher Folk Trade Union, Chrisan priests, nuns and other
clergy were the organizaons and individuals approached for assistance.
There are several points the shing community realized during the process:
They understood that if the lagoon which was the source of livelihood for generaons
of the community is not preserved, their existence along with their families is in real
danger. They regarded the lagoon as their mother.
They believe that it is an inherent right to sh in the lagoon which the government
cannot take away from them forcibly.
The community decided that it is hopeless to rely on policians. They came to realize
that they have to depend on their own strength and the unity of purpose to achieve
results in the struggle.
Since their own elected representaves are bent on denying their livelihood they have
to build on a strong peoples collecve militant movement to counter the schemes of
policians.
To prevent sea planes from landing at the lagoon they had to mobilize the community
to wage a mass struggle.
Abandoning the usual pracce of running to the opposion camp to escape the pres-
sure from the government, people decided to stand on their own without the support
of polical pares.
This was a novel experience for the people. The objecons shown towards some rep-
resentaves of the opposion who visited the lagoon may be the understanding of
the people that the project was rst mooted by the same party when it was in power.
The fact that all are in one trade and follow the same faith contributed to uning the
community. Leaders of the shing community held meengs at the village level to
educate people on the harms of the project.
All these groups joined together to form strong umbrella organizaon, Alliance for Pro-
tecon of Negombo Lagoon. Their commitment was clearly evident on the day of the
protest. They vowed not to leave the protest unl their demands were met.
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Representaves of the people acvely parcipated in many discussions with au-
thories. But these were fruitless. The authories tried to break the unity of people
through various promises and false informaon. But people steadfastly stood their
ground unl they reached the goal.
The navy tried to inmidate protesters. Then they conveyed a threatening message
from the Secretary of the Defense Ministry to Fr. Sherad Jayawardene. Protesters,
representaves of organizaons who came to support and the clergy resolved not to
budge.
Intervenons
The leadership of women was clearly visible throughout the campaign. During the aware-
ness raising campaigns, demonstraons and the shoung slogans, the Sri Vimukthi group
was always in the forefront. Clergy acvists played a special role. They parcipated in
organizing small groups and in calling and addressing meengs at village level. The clergy
took the struggle of poor as their mission and as a call for them.
The Book of Exodus says that the hope given by all powerful God is to relieve the op-
pressed from oppression and give them a prosperous life. I have indeed seen the misery
of my people ... I have heard them crying out and I am concerned about their suering.
(Exodus 3/7-10)
Gods people are those who are called upon to establish Gods Kingdom on earth where
under a new sky and a new earth, a society that will ensure jusce and righteousness for
the oppressed will be created.
They become partners of Christs mission through this parcipaon. Luke explains this
mission thus:
The clergy and priests should witness this by taking part in the struggle. They should take
them to the land of prosperity living with people like Moses. All of humanity should take
a lesson from this journey, taken place years ago.
There were number of obstacles on this journey. When the slaves went with Moses the
forces of Pharaoh followed them. Some of them gave up the journey on the way. It was a
challenge. Some people abandoned Moses saying slavery is beer than this journey.
This experience is seen even today. Frustraon is common. There may be moments where
one cannot have hope. In this journey some may abandon the liberaon path and would
like to worship instead the Calf made of Gold.
(78)
The clergy should live with people and expose the modern Pharaoh. According to the
current pope, Pope Francis (I) people should engage in polics. They should encourage
the weak; and make them strong, poinng towards the land of prosperity; be shepherds
to the ock; make them have hope.
This project is based on economic development aimed at making prot inherent to the
global capitalism. The Sea Plane Project was designed to ensure a stream of prots for a
few, while undermining the livelihood of thousands of shermen. They wanted to appro-
priate the sea, lagoon and land which are the sources of sustenance for the majority and
thereby inhering them hunger and malnourishment. In this case clergy clearly under-
stood that the Sea Plane Project is a Golden Calf.
They thought that to defend the oppressor investor was to betray the faith and its teach-
ing. The clergy sided with the people. People understood those who did not join them and
who le them on the way.
The victory
The government has now completely abandoned the Sea Plane project. But they did not
give up the economic development aimed at prot. Therefore projects aimed at destroy-
ing the livelihood and the environment are taking place all over Sri Lanka. They are pu ng
up tourists hotels damaging rainforests. This is happening at Kalpiya islands. Aempts
to take over the Negombo lagoon by various interested pares with government support
are visible.
Powerful people occupy even the islands in the lagoon for tourist projects. People com-
plain that the sh harvest from the lagoon is dwindling. But the Fisheries Department or
the Coastal Conservaon Department is doing nothing to understand the causes for this.
The policians are branding the people who are opposing the loong of public assets as
Tiger terrorists of South, dollar vultures, agents of Tamil Diaspora and various other de-
basing terms. They indulge in character assassinaons. The common man should under-
stand they are resorng to these taccs merely to camouage their own traitorous acts.
Lessons to be learnt
There are number of lessons to be learnt from this struggle.
People who stood steadfast to save the lagoon are lying dormant today. Why is this inac-
on? It is important to understand this. For such inquiry it is important to involve all the
pares engaged in the protests. Through this study we can idenfy the future challenges
that may crop up. But sadly we are already behind schedule in that.

(79)
The two main polical pares have become stooges of major local and foreign capitalists.
The Sea Plane project was rst mooted by UNP when they were in power. Their elecon
defeat and the intensicaon of the war put the project into hold. But when the struggle
against the project spread, the UNP tried to support the people, by exposing their double
standards. Therefore, people should be able to see through their schemes.
Loong of peoples assets and handing them over to businessmen is happening even to-
day. It is the standard pracce of policians. They hoard immense wealth as part of the
process. Their patriosm or the governance is the facilitaon of the loong of public prop-
erty for themselves or helping others to do it for them.
It is the responsibility of the masses to oppose this process and protect public property.
Community leaders and mass organizaons should organize the vicms of this so called
development process to regain their rights.
Priority is the educang of the communies and small groups throughout the country and
networking them into a mass organizaon. The task may be easier if we can idenfy the
groups that will assist.
8.3 Intervenon of Nuns
The Government of Sri Lanka put on hold the Sea Plane Project at Negombo la-
goon in the face of s resistance from the Negombo people.
Sr. Anne Perera, Holy Family Convent, Katunayake
In November 2010 shermen around Negombo lagoon and their dependents numbering
about 15,000 were under great stress. In addion to the creeping tourist industry, people
found to their horror that massive dredging equipments were brought into the lagoon
in the Katunayake area. Fishermen were warned not engage in shing near these
machineries. Most of the entrances to the lagoon were blocked. People around the area
couldnt engage in shing.
Later a delegaon of shermen including the leaders of Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen orga-
nizaon met with Bishop Malcolm Ranjith on his birthday and asked him to intervene on
their behalf, as the majority of the people faced with this problem are Catholic. His reply
dampened their hopes. I am not the president of the country to stop the Sea Plane proj-
ect, he said. Yet they were not disheartened. They were determined to build strong unity
among themselves to seek a soluon for the problem aecng their livelihood.
The nuns of the Katunayake Holy Family Convent decided to support the struggle of sh-
ermen to safeguard their only livelihood. We believe the call of religious life is to oppose
the injusces and to sacrice our own life for struggling shermen.
(80)
It should be noted here that NAFSO, the leadership of Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen organiza-
on, a group on Chrisan solidarity and Right to life all extended their fullest cooperaon
to the struggling sher folk.

On 17th November 2010 from 7.00 in the morning shermen and women from
surrounding villages gathered near Katunayake. Men came in their shing cras. Women
and nuns walked along the banks of the lagoon and start protesng along the Colombo
- Pualam main road. A group of nuns including Sr. Deepa Fernando and myself had the
fortune to take part in the protest. I regarded it as a historical moment to be able to get
into a small boat and sail with shermen in solidarity. It immensely encouraged me to see
a large number of priests and sisters of Chrisan clergy coming to the lagoon in support
of the struggle.
More than 1500 boats and catamarans surrounded the dredging machine from a safe
distance and engaged in the protest. Their demand was to remove the machine from the
lagoon as promised by Minister Dayashritha Tissera on 11th November 2010. Leaders of
the shermen, priests and nuns were in three boats. Fr. Terrence Fernando who was in
charge of human rights acvies in Colombo Diocese was in the boat leading the protests.
By about 9.00 in morning we were all praying and singing begging God to answer our
prayers and release the lagoon for shing. We were prevented from reaching the dredg-
ing machine by armed navy personnel. Protesters shouted to remove the dredging ma-
chine from the lagoon and we pledged not to leave unl our demands are met. Navy
personnel who were in fast boats maneuvered threateningly but protesters did not move.
Even by noon nothing happened.
Meanwhile the sherwomen and the members of Sri Vimukthi Fisher organizaon and
the nuns connued their protests along Colombo - Pualam main road despite threats of
aacks by security personnel. They pledged not to leave the road unless their demands
were met.
But it seemed that nally authories were ready to listen to our demands. Rumors oated
that there is a move to withdraw the dredging machines from the lagoon.
Villagers of Katunayaka with the help of students of the area distributed lunch packets and
refreshments throughout the day. By about 6.00pm in the evening the dredging machine
moved away from the lagoon and the people ended their struggle victoriously.
We are convinced that people power can triumph over any hurdle.
(81)
8.4 Human Rights Organizaons
We appreciate the Sea Plane Struggle of the people. Lets direct the future struggles
of shermen correctly.- Brito Fernando, Chairperson, Right to Life Human Rights
Organizaon, Katunayake and convener, Plaorm for Freedom.
The Sea Plane struggle is the rst instance where the an people acvies of the regime
met with defeat aer the war victory. A government that boasted of defeang the most
dangerous terrorist movement of the world and vowed not to change its policies under
pressure had to concede defeat at the hand of shermen.
There are number of factors that contributed for this unique victory.

A large number of mass organizaons including NAFSO, All Ceylon Fishermen Trade Union,
Kithusara, Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women organizaon and Janavabodaya took the lead in ed-
ucang the people of the area. The iniave taken by a group of women to mobilize the
women especially contributed greatly to the success.
At the public meeng held at Negombo town hall, with the government policians of Ne-
gombo they proposed the idea of a delegaon to meet president. But people adamantly
refused the idea and proposed in turn that as representaves of people they should meet
the president and put before him the peoples grievances. If people agreed to go in a del-
egaon, things would have been more di cult for the shermen.
When the security chiefs threatened to open re on people who disobeyed their orders
to move, protesters didnt care a bit. They showed that life without their livelihood is not
worth living.
Police rst tried to disperse the crowd to clear the Colombo - Pualam road. Failing that,
they asked the protesters to leave open one path for the tra c. We also thought that this
was a jusable demand not to inconvenience the general public. But deant men and
women barged into the road completely blocking tra c movement. Actually it was this
deance that forced the authories to take an early and favorable decision.
Aermath of the struggle is not encouraging. We were not able to hold together the var-
ious forces that joined the struggle. We could not sustain this unity in the protest against
oil price hike. Some leaders of the Sea Plane struggle joined the government rank in sub-
sequent elecons completely forge ng the an people nature of the governing party.
Some others who played a leading role in the struggle joined the rst Sea Plane trip that
took o from Dandugam Oya. But the commitment, dedicaon, determinaon and inter-
venons displayed during the Sea Plane struggle is truly an inspiraon for all who have to
encounter similar situaons. Whatever the shortcomings of the struggle it is a historical
incident that displayed the collecve strength of the people.
(82)
8.5 Environmental Organizaons
Landing of Sea Planes is devastang the shermen of the lagoon
Sajeewa Chamikara, Execuve Director, Environmental Conservaon Trust, Nugegoda
The government planned to use Negombo lagoon to land sea planes to promote the tour-
ist industry with scant regard for the rights of shermen and exisng environment laws
of the country. As the rst stage in this project, dredging started at Southeast part of the
lagoon. Dredging had to stop on 17 November 2010 under s resistance of men and
women of the area. Yet the plan and other operaons are not abandoned. Building acv-
ies are afoot in front of the Katunayake internaonal airport.
The planned air strip is 2 Km. in length and 100 M. in width with the depth of 3.5 M.
A distance about one Kilometer was dredged to make way for the air strip and mud and
sand heaped on the banks. It covers an area of nearly ve acres. The spread of sand and
mud damaged the mangrove environment. The dredging and clearing of mangrove forest
was done by the Department of Harbor and Civil Aviaon without the approval of Environ-
mental authories. It seems that nobody takes note of the economic and environment
damage of the illegal dredging.
The lagoon covers an area of about 3164 Ha and there are 35 villages around it. More than
3500 are engaged in shing in the lagoon. There are another 1500 engaged in related oc-
cupaons. In all nearly 15,000 depended on the lagoon for their livelihood. Fishing cra in
the lagoon consist of 500 theppam, 1000 catamarans, 100 small boats and 75 large boats.
There are 10 major shing methods and nearly 25 are tradional methods.
Main produce are prawns and sh. Prawn variees include karandu issa (Penaeus mono-
don) kururtu issa (Penaeus semisulcatus) dandu issa (Macrobegium rosenbergi) mallissa
(Metapenaeus dobsoni). Crabs variees include sinakkali (Portunus pelagicus) and kadol
kakulu (Scylaserata). The main sh catch includes the balaya (Lujanu sargenimaculatus)
and moda (Lates calcarifer) There is a high demand for these sh variees from tourist
hotels. The other major sh variees found in the lagoon are godaya (Liza spp.) wekkaya
(Chanos chanos) paraw (Atule mate) ranna (Lutjanus fulviamma) anguluwa (Arius spp.)
and muralla (Hemiramphus spp.). The specic feature of the lagoon is that shing can be
done throughout the year. It is esmated that 150 Kg of sh can be harvested per hectare
per annum. Thus the total value of the catch per year is nearly Rs. 100 million which in no
way can be compensated by the Sea Plane project.
(83)
Eects of Sea Plane landing on the livelihood of shermen
Dredging has damaged the plankton which is the main source of food for sh, prawn and
crabs. Dumping of sand and mud along the banks of the lagoon destroyed the breeding
places of marine life. Dumping of mud and sand in the lagoon to make mounds aect the
ow of water during changing des which seriously aects the rhythmic nature of water
ow. Natural breeding of prawns is greatly aected due to these uneven des. Dredging
was carried out mainly in the natural habitat of the prawn variety known as Madabokka.
Fishermen of Wellaweediya, Mahaweediya, Pipaneweediya and Duwa are tradionally
engaged in prawn shing in these areas using kau Dal. [Stake and Net]
Further, the Department of Harbor and Civil Aviaon warned the shermen not to carry
out shing during the landing and taking o of sea planes which will certainly restrict the
working hours resulng in low earnings. The prawn catch of this area is used as bait for
deep sea shing. If the supply of bait is restricted, deep sea shing would also suer.
Dredging a distance of two kilometers and declaring the surrounding areas as high secu-
rity zone would undoubtedly aect the movement of shermen. There are hundreds of
shermen in Katunayake north and south solely dependent on this part of lagoon for their
livelihood. Any restricon on this part of the lagoon will reduce their earning capacity
which is a disaster for poor sher folk who even in normal mes ill aord to have three
meals a day.
Turbulence that may be caused as a result of sea plane movement will endanger the
breeding places of sh and will also aect the life cycles of other organisms in the lagoon.
People fear that endangering the breeding places will lead to the exncon of sh and
prawns in the lagoon which will deprive the livelihood of thousands of sher folks.
Impact on the bird diversity on Negombo lagoon
It is recorded that in Negombo lagoon and the nearby Muthurajawela marshy land are
home to nearly 125 species of birds. Of these 40 are migratory. Of the birds habituang
the wetlands Whisked Terns are the largest group of birds. Risk of hi ng these birds in
landing or taking o sea planes is very great. Now at the nearby internaonal air port they
employed shooters to shoot down birds ying at this direcon. If shoong started in the
lagoon the birds will be exterminated.
The Negombo Sea Plane project is not an isolated incident. It is a component of a mas-
sive tourist development project. Plans are afoot to build a 400 room hotel at Talahena
with the backing of a government polician. A new jey is under construcon near the
(84)
Muhandiram Bridge on Hamilton Canal. There is a possibility of banning the movement of
shing boats on Hamilton Canal to make room for tourist boats. All these will aect not
only the shing industry which contributes to the livelihood of people but also a cheap
source of nutrional food.
The Sea Plane project iniated by the Air Force with the approval of the Department of
Harbour and Civil Aviaon is violang environmental laws.
Violaon of environmental laws
Under the Environment law as amended by act no.47 of 1980 and published in the govern-
ment gazee no. 772/22 of 24th July 1993 an Environmental impact assessment should
be completed before construcng an air strip. In dredging the lagoon for sea plane landing
no such study has been undertaken and the Central Environment Authority did not take
legal acon on illegal construcon.
Challenging the Negombo lagoon management area
There is a legal system in place to regularize the shing acvies in Negombo lagoon. But
authories do not take cognizance of these legal provisions in planning development ac-
vies. They openly violate the human rights and the rights of shermen.
Under the secons 28 and 29 of act No.02 of 1996 published in the gazee no. 1038/16
of 30th July 1998 Negombo lagoon is declared as the rst lagoon management area in
Sri Lanka. Under the secon 31 of the above menoned act and published in the gazee
no 1108/4 of 30th November 1990 the Fisheries management authority is established.
In the gazee nocaon no. 1415/22 of 18/10/2005 the boundaries of the lagoon are
declared.
All these legal provisions are meant not only to conserve the lagoon but also to ensure the
livelihood of future generaons. It is saddening to note that the Ministry of Harbor and
Civil Aviaon undertook the sea plane project discarding all these concerns.
Development plans should not jeopardize the livelihood of the community depending
on natural resources. Yet the Sea Plane Project threatens the sustainability of the natural
resource and the very existence of the community of the area. The development of the
tourist industry should not be at the expense of other avenues of income for the peo-
ple. It should be made compulsory to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study before
launching of any development project. Decisions taken at polical expediency is more
harmful to people and the environment.
(85)
8.6.1 Lagoon struggle through the eyes of journalists.
It is a victory. Truly a peoples victory!
Melani Manel Perera, Journalist, Asia News, Jaela.
Being the true owners of the struggle they gave meaning to words truth, jusce and com-
mitment. They were the symbols of determinaon and courage. This is an extraordinary
victory in recent history. Striking feature of this victory is the contribuons made by wom-
en at every stage.
It is an honor to be associated as a journalist with the heroic struggle of shermen and
women. Negombo lagoon is extending an area of 3464 Ha. and Muthurajawela wetland
covering an area of 3068 Ha.
I covered the story of the struggle from the beginning to the end only because of the
support extended by sher community. There were a few shermen organizaons and na-
onal organizaons to guide and direct the struggle from the very beginning. The Catholic
Church was with shermen at the beginning but later they distanced themselves from the
struggle. But some other Catholic priests and nuns extended their unwavering support
from the beginning to the end.
According the editorial published in Sinhala newspaper of Catholic Church few weeks aer
the successful ending of Sea Plane struggle, it was a devil dance to exorcise the demons
from the lagoon. People came from various parts of country are the kaadis [Witch Doc-
tors] who expelled the evil spirits from the lagoon. There were fathers and nuns sensive
to the problems of the people. There were none Catholic priests and laity who were the
acvists ghng for human rights. There were opposion policians. There were youth
and children who understood hunger and insecurity.
At the start of the Sea Plane struggle Fr. Lester Nonis who is the dedicated priest appoint-
ed by the Catholic Church in charge of shermen aairs and other priests of Negombo
division contributed invaluable service in organizing the movement against the Sea Plane
Project. But when the issue became more controversial and directly confronted the au-
thories most of them le the struggle.
There was the incident when a sherman in Katunayake raised a queson about the proj-
ect, a well known priest tried to aack him physically. There were instances when we
tried to contact Fr. Lester over the telephone the line went dead suddenly. In another case
when we visited his residence for a meeng his servant told us he is not at home though
we knew for certain that he was there at the me.
(86)
With all these drawbacks, a delegaon of shermen went to the residence of the Bishop
of Colombo on his birthday with owers to seek intervenon on this grave issue. Before
the appointment as Bishop he was associated with Seth Serena, an organizaon commit-
ted to the welfare of shermen and he was very considerate about di cules of the sher
community.

Further he is respected by authories. But he declined to take the issue with authories.
The visit proved to be fule.
His curt reply was what can I do? I am not the president of the country. The decision has
already been taken. Sea planes were imported. There is no point in protesng. With this,
the people of Negombo fancied the idea of leaving the Church and the Catholic order if
not for a few commied priests who sided with the cause of shermen.
Finally when the struggle was won at great odd, leaders of the church with their polical
friends co-opted the victory through their o cial publicaon. But the people of the area
know how serious the struggle was and who led the struggle with risks to their lives.
8.6.2 A convenon of sympathizers of the Negombo lagoon is needed for its
protecon

Freddy Gamage, Editor, Meepura News Paper, Negombo
Sea Plane project is clearly entwined with the economic strategy of the Rajapakse regime.
This project was launched with the aim of aracng more tourists taking advantage of the
peaceful condions aer the war. The lagoon sustains 3500 sher families, but it is not
important to policians. They want it exploit it to the maximum for the tourist industry.
They built and are in the process of building more and more hotels around the lagoon and
in the islands in the lagoon. The government is not looking into the causes of dwindling
sh populaon. Maybe they want the lagoon to exhaust its sh and prawn populaon, so
that shermen will leave the place on their own.
However the Sea Plane struggle ended in a historic victory for the shermen. I note this
with sasfacon and with a sense of achievement, as I was involved in the process from
the very beginning.
The decision taken at one point to shi the protest from the lagoon to Colombo - Pualam
main road is instrumental in winning the struggle.
The complete shutdown of the main road for hours compelled the authories to put on
hold the Sea Plane Project. In the review meengs that followed, proposals for a long
(87)
term movement to protect the lagoon came up. But up to now no concrete acon has
been taken to implement the proposals.
Why is it so?
1. Lack of knowledge among the most pares who supported the struggle about the
Government strategic plans for the lagoon. For example it is important to focus on the
decisive role played by Sri Vimukthi Women organizaon.
Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen organizaon is a membership based community organiza-
on in Negombo. They marched to the Divisional Secretariat to hand over a peon
protesng against the endangering the marine resources by the acvies of mulna-
onal companies.
Powerful policians of the government aempted to hand over the resources to big
business overlooking the shermen.
Sea Plane Project failed because of the strong protest launched by people with the
Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women organizaon. But a businessman named Guruge who was
looking for opportunies in the lagoon opened a boat service. The Negombo munici-
pal council or any other polician did not take any meaningful step to prevent it. Not
even the shermen organizaons raised their opposion.
Our newspaper came in for cricism at the monthly meeng of the Municipal Council,
Negombo for our opposion to the boat service. Acvists of most organizaons in
Negombo are also the members of Women sociees of Nimal Lanza. Majority of them
are vong for him in any elecon in return for variety of benets they receive.
What they conveniently forget is the fact that the lagoon under the schemes of Basil
Rajapakse is a resource for the tourist industry and not for shermen. If these schemes
are not understood, what we can do is to follow the supporters of Nimal Lanza when
another threat is in the horizon.
2. We must clarify the roles of none governmental organizaons in formulang a long
term programmed to safeguard the lagoon.
Most of them do not have a binding relaonship with the lagoon. Environment is one
among their many acvies. If a NGO acvist is appointed to design a programmed for
safeguarding the lagoon he may limit it to the me and resources available and most
importantly to his knowledge of the issue. It becomes naturally a part of a project.
NGOs interest may diminish gradually as that of Sri Vimukthi Fisherwomen.
(88)
How can we safeguard the lagoon?
1. We want a charismac leadership with an overall analysis. They cannot be double
actors.
There are very convincing speakers among us. But later we found them to be remotely
controlled by Nimal Lanza. What can dancers do when the task is for mathemacians?
2. We have to clarify the role of NGOs and bring in professionalism into our work. Field
cadres should have an understanding to facilitate with ground level acvies.
3. Saying lagoon is our mother does not make any sense, if they do not demonstrate
their love for the lagoon by concrete acts. Major reason for the failure to formulate
a plan of acon aer the Sea Plane Struggle is that most parcipants of discussions
forgot what they said earlier and keep repeang the same thing over and over again.
They are busy with other work and have lile me to concentrate on these issues. This
is the main reason for not moving forward.
4. Negombo lagoon is specic to Sri Lanka. Now it is on the death row. We want a con-
venon of knowledgeable persons to explore the possibilies and to devise a realisc
plan of acon. We should be able to see through the schemes of Nimal Lanza and Basil
Rajapakse.
(89)
Chapter 9
From Victory to date
Even though the sea plane struggle ended victoriously and the organizaons that joined
together are scaered and no Sea planes are coming to the lagoon, the destrucon of
this lifeline is taking place unabated. We found in meeng the people who were in the
forefront of the struggle that they sll willing to come forward to protect the lagoon but
sadly there is no eecve interacon taking place. But this solidarity is under constraint
when there is no unity among them to support the leaders of shermen who were taken
to courts and when they start blaming each other for their unselsh work.
We have neglected the opportunity to form a trade union. We have failed the minimum
step of boyco ng the people who declared in the media that they support the Sea Plane
project and stood for municipal elecons. This quesoned the interest, dedicaon and
the polical knowledge on the overall development strategy. Is it not suicidal to vote for
the candidates who are supporng projects oppressing the people? The urgent task is to
iniate a dialogue among all the acvists who took part in the struggle. It should be the
beginning of an analysis on the polical educaon and the development as matured ci-
zens. This note is a basic document of invitaon for all the pares to engage in a dialogue
to restart the unity to safeguard the lagoon.
9.1 Arresng of the leaders of shermen
The Sea Plane Project planned in the laer half of 2010 in the guise of tourist industry for
the interest of policians and businessmen. Fishermen opposed it unreservedly. They had
to shi the project from the lagoon to Dandugam Oya in the face of unity, dedicaon and
the strength of the people, but it is a failure even there.
Even though the struggle ended successfully on 17th November 2010, the leaders of sh-
ermen who met later decided to be on high alert as there was no rm commitment from
authories to scrap the Sea Plane project.
A leaet to keep vigilant about the project was distributed on 27th November 2010 with
the parcipaon of more than 100 shermen in all over Negombo. In the night of 28th
November 2010 a group of policemen visited the home of Mr. Marcus Fernando, Chair-
man of Negombo Lagoon Fishermen organizaon and the home of Mr. Aruna Roshantha,
Chairman of All Ceylon Fisherfolk trade union asking them to come to the police staon
to record a statement on the distribuon of leaet on the previous day. When they went
to the police staon they were detained and accused of incing people by distribuon of
an government leaets.
(90)
They observed that during the course of quesoning by the Headquarter Inspector, two
persons who seemed to be the Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunarathna and the Pro-
vincial Council Minister Nimal Lanza were in conversaon with the Headquarter Inspector
over the phone.
Both of the accused were produced before Negombo magistrate at about 8.00pm in the
night and released on bail.
They were summoned to the courts on 14th December 2010 and the case dragged on
for 17 days but the police failed to prove the charges. Finally the judge exonerated and
released them. It is interesng to note that when the case was taken up in the courts,
lawyers rose to defend them without fees. Aorney at Law Mr. Lakshan Dias of Young Men
Catholic Associaon, Colombo was the leading lawyer for the defenders.
The calling dates of the case were as follows: Defending leaders of shermen had to at-
tend ten mes at the Magistrate Court, Negombo during year 2011 only. Two defenders
had to aend courts on 30th January, 27th February, 30th March, 20th April, 27th June,
2nd August, 24th September, 25th October, 27th November and 14th December in the
year 2011.
The case was called seven days in the year 2012.Two defenders had to aend the court
on 30th January, 22nd February, 29th March, 25th July, 21st August, 27th September and
nally on 20th October, 2012 and aer two years case was dismissed for lack of su cient
evidence. Most of the days police did not aend the courts. It is important to note aer
the victory, shermen engaged in shing in the lagoon not thinking about the two leaders
who brought before the courts. They went to the courts most of the me alone. Later, a
few priests, sisters, and few journalists with the women of Sri Vimukthi Fisher organiza-
on went to courts in support of the two leaders.
It is surprising is that we, known as a naon for gratude, neglected the leaders of sher
movement who had to go to courts on 17 occasions while we voted for the candidates
who were the part of the sea plane project aimed at destroying the lagoon.
9.2 Negombo Municipal council elecon
Negombo lagoon struggle ended victoriously. The aempt to organize a trade union for
shermen by two leaders of the struggle, Nimal Viyani as the Secretary and Joseph Peter
as Chairman did not succeed and had a natural death. One reason may be the decision not
to give membership of the union for women. The absence of an analycal discourse on
the lagoon struggle, dissipaon of the militancy of shermen and the deadlock set in due
(91)
to their own polical biases may have contributed for this state of inera. Another reason
is the push given by religious papers for policians.
A number of meengs with shermen were organized by Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda at Seth-
thapaduwa and few other places. Sri Vimukthi Fisherwoman Organizaon conducted
meengs at Kurana, Katunayaka, and Talahena. These aempts to educate the shermen
and women failed because of the apathy of people toward any organized movement.
The people of the area had the condence that aer the struggle they can conduct their
acvies without outside interference or obstrucons. They did not feel the need to get
organized.
Then the local government elecon came with abundant polical patronage. This area is
tradionally the polical base of United Naonal Party (This not our wish but has been
proved in several past elecons). But in reality Governing party who tried to bring in sea
planes to the lagoon to destroy the shing and the environment won the municipal elec-
on comfortably. This brings us to focus on what happened to the popular protest against
the project and the methodology we should adopt in handling these types of protests.
9.3 Death threats to leaders: Peoples response to the increase of fuel prices
It is clear from these arcles that the Sea Plane struggle or the lagoon struggle ended
victoriously for the shermen and the concerned people who extended their support and
solidarity. It is not the intension of the authories to limit the hunng of the leaders of
movement by taking some of them to courts. It is evident from the later behavior of au-
thories that they will not spare even the slightest opportunity to crush the leadership.

Fishermen agitaon over the increase of fuel prices
The increase of Kerosene price by Rs. 35 per liter from midnight of 11th February 2012 is
a knockout blow for small shermen. Even at the old price of Rs.70 per liter of Kerosene,
shermen found it di cult to be protable. They were complaining at meengs with NAF-
SO and other forums to campaign for a reducon of the price. The increase of price by
another Rs. 35 is unbearable for them. They took to the street to oppose the increase
even without a formal organizaon. The strike by private transport workers demanding
increase of bus fares to compensate the price rises ended within two days winning some
concessions.
But the struggle of shermen connued. The government rst oered subsidies to oset
the price increases. But shermen refused saying that they have no condence on such
promises. Instead they demanded to restore the earlier price which will benet all the
people. The Government responded saying that it is not a demand of shermen but a
polical demand put forward by Non Government Organizaons to discredit the govern-
ment.
(92)
Fishermen angered by government adamancy connued to demonstrate disregarding
threats and inmidaons. Government deployed forces to crush the agitaon and on 15th
February, the forces started ring indiscriminately to disperse the crowd which resulted
in killing Anthony Fernando instantly. Another sherman Jesu Maria Kingsley of Ridiwella,
Chilaw who was shot in the foot became disabled. He was the sole breadwinner of the
family. His een year old son had to take over the responsibility of feeding the family.
Unable to witness the toil that the young man had to undergo, and bear any longer his
disability, Kingsley commied suicide by hanging from the roof of his own home on 15th
May 2012.

The Government connued to suppress the shermens agitaon by spreading disinfor-
maon and defaming the leadership of the struggle. Fishermen carried on their struggle
undaunted. They did not go to the sea but brought their shing cras to roads blocking
tra c. Some irate shermen burnt their shing cras in protest. They protested for 10
days without an organizaon or a visible leadership.
The general public of the area sympathized with the shermen and they also aended
protest meengs and demonstraons. When the situaon seems to be developing into
a mass movement against the government, the Minister of Fisheries invited them to a
discussion. The shermen clearly put down their only demand: No for subsidies, restore
the old price or subsidized kerosene prices.
As the usual pracce, the relevant minister could not solve the problems on his own.
Finally the President intervened and talked with the shermen. No concrete soluons
came up for the issue through the intervenon of president. No subsidized Kerosene or
reducon of the price.
But the anger of Fisheries Minister against the leaders and shermen organizaons did
not subside. The demonstraon on 17th February in Negombo protesng the killing and
assault on shermen and mass protest movement in front of Railway Staon Fort in Co-
lombo organized by shermen, civil society organizaons, human rights groups and oppo-
sion polical pares infuriated the minister further. Police used tear gas to disperse the
crowd in front of Fort railway staon. The army also called in.
Opposion parliamentarians raised the issue in the House. The ministers wrath against
the shermen was clearly evident in his reply to the House.
Fisheries minister in his reply accused Aruna Roshantha, Chairman of Fishermen Trade
union and Herman Kumara, the convener of NAFSO of being instrumental in incing
(93)
gullible people to agitate against fuel prices and they are also responsible for the tragic
death of Anthony Fernando. He further said that these so called leaders of shermen
were ge ng dollars over the death bodies of innocent. The minister made these blatant
allegaons behind the cover of parliamentary privileges.
The minister told the parliament, the same day that this informaon was given to him by
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Fr. Lester Nonis of Colombo diocese. These two persons
abandoned the Sea Plane struggle. But the shermen with civil society organizaons con-
nued it unl victory. One reason for their leaving the struggle is that they were not happy
with collecve leadership of the movement.
About two months aer the conclusion of the sea plane struggle Fr. Lester Nonis called
the convener of NAFSO over the phone and threatened him saying he and the Cardinal
are very concerned about his (Conveners) acvies and warned him to be careful (Two
months aer the sea plane struggle it was reported that the Bishop was anointed a car-
dinal).

"Haughty father shooted to our father"
Fig 28: Slain Fisherman Antony Fernando's daughter
(94)
It is clear that they gave vent to their anger at the crical juncture of the agitaon against
fuel price rise. A group of organizaon in Negombo with Aruna Roshantha, wife of Herman
Kumara and few others met Fr. Lester Nonis, Fr. Patrick Joseph, Fr. Dissanayka of Negombo
diocese and Fr. Julian on the maer. In our conversaon with them they assured us that
Fr. Lester and Cardinal Ranjith did not provide informaon to the minister and will issue a
statement through the Messenger, the publicaon of Catholic Church clarifying the issue.
But up to now no such statement appeared in the publicaon of the church. What can we
make out of this silence? Are they not issuing the statement due the fact that Fr. Lester
Nonis and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith did actually meet and gave the informaon to the
minister? Or is it an omission due to the heavy burden of dues? Or is it a case of forget-
ng promises by priests just as policians do?
Death threats to the Chairman of Fishermen trade union and to the Convener of
Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement
At the laer part of the fuel price agitaon, the Convener of Naonal Fisheries Soli-
darity Movement went to Rome to aend a conference of IFAD. In the meanme a rumor
was spreading in Negombo area to the eect that aer the incing the shermen of the
area to stage a polical clash he le the country secretly to save his skin.
There was an aempt to abduct him from the airport on his arrival. But he avoided it
dely. There were two other unsuccessful aempts to abduct him.
We are grateful to all who were involved in protecng Herman Kumara from these at-
tempts on his life. But at the same me we should note the threats to Aruna Roshantha,
Chairman of Fishermen Trade Union. Aruna Roshantha is a leader devoted to ght for the
rights of shermen disregarding threats to his own life. Because of his rm and correct
stands against the injusces of police, o cial Catholic Church and the policians he had
to spend considerable me in courts. While the others engaged in shing in the lagoon
which he and other leaders helped to save, Aruna had to be in courts of law for his lead-
ership in the struggle.
At a me when leaders of the shermen movement were facing death threats and at-
tempts of abducons, the lagoon shermen are carrying on their work oblivious to these.
More atrocious is the fact that they oppose the leaders of protest movement si ng with
government o cials to discuss general problems aecng the lagoon.
This is nothing more than the ignorant and ill informed opposion of so called patriots
toward NGOs now spreading across the country.
(95)
We have only to pray "God please forgive them for their ignorance" (Luke 23:34)
But God will not forgive those who choose not to see when it is there to see and to those
who choose not to hear when it is there hear. (Mark 10:12)
9.4 Building Fishermen Trade Union
Under the leadership of the Alliance of Protecon of Negombo Lagoon formed with rep-
resentaves from several shing villages around the lagoon, the massive demonstraon
against sea plane project successfully ended on 17th November 2010. Aerwards, the
leaders of the organizaon met and decided to work together with the support of all
concerned people in seeking durable soluons to burning issues facing the shermen of
the area. They discussed, especially about the health issues in the area and the situaon
of the hospital. Therefore it was decided to form a trade union to connue the good work
and to intervene to solve problems aecng the community.
All the civil society organizaons involved in the Alliance of Protecon of Negombo La-
goon assembled on 9th January 2011 to form the trade union. A secon of acvists op-
posed giving membership of the trade union to women shers of Sri Vimukthi Fisherwom-
en organizaon who worked relessly risking their lives, arguing that the membership
of trade union should limit to those engaged in shing in the lagoon. Women le the
meeng in protest.
Nobody except priests raised the queson as to why women are not represented in the
trade union. But what is the posion today? Trade union is not funconing for the sole
reason of the absence of women leadership and their representaon.
It is our convicon, which the strength of the organizaon dissipated due to the fact of not
recognizing the role and the importance of womens parcipaon.
(96)
(97)
Chapter 10
Fisher Peoples Struggles in other Asian Countries
We want to learn lessons from other Asian countries, mainly from South Asia where so-
cial, economic and polical contexts are more or less the same to that of Sri Lanka. Indian
sher peoples struggle against the foreign shing vessels which united all most all the
sectors including mechanized and small scale shers in India, the sher peoples struggle
against the rangers who occupied the mangrove forest in Pakistan, and the Bangladesh
small scale shers struggle over permits for shing in Bangladesh water are recorded here
for aenon of both leaders and members of the shing communies in Sri Lanka.
10.1 Indian shermens struggle
The struggle of Naonal Fish workers Forum / Naonal Fisheries Acon Commiee
Against Joint Ventures of Foreign Fishing vessels in Indian Waters
Thomas Kocherry, World Forum of Fisher Peoples [WFFP], India
Chronology of Events
September, 1993
Naonal Fish workers Forum (NFF), Federaon of Fish workers trade unions in India, orga-
nized a seminar for the small-scale mechanized and non-mechanized and other sectors to
discuss the new deep sea shing policy and its impact on the sh workers.
October, 1993
Naonal Fish workers Forum and Small Mechanized Boat Operators of India submied
its memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, requesng to revoke all new licenses
issued to joint ventures and also enact a deep sea shing regulaon act which should
encourage harvesng resources in the deep seas on a sustainable basis.
February, 1994
The NFF and 31 other organizaons and trade unions of nine marime states gave a call
for a one-day All India Fisheries Bandh. The small mechanized sector and the arsanal
sector did not go to sea on 4 February. The main Fisheries Harbors and sh markets were
also aected.
(98)
July, 1994

Non-mechanized, mechanized and other shing interests drowned their dierences,
came together as the Naonal Fisheries Acon Commiee against Joint Ventures (NFA-
CAJV), to confront a larger, common foe. In July, the commiee called for a Black Day and
sh workers in several coastal areas hoisted black ags on their boats, staged marches and
demonstraons.
November, 1994

On November 23 and 24, 1994, the sh workers struck work and shing in the marime
states came to a virtual standsll. It is esmated that about one million persons stood o
from work at sea, processing plants and markets as a mark of protest.
May, 1995

Fish workers leader and Convener of NFACAJV, Thomas Kochery launched an eight-day
fast in front of the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi in the coastal state of Gujarat, while
across India there were several supporve acons.

November, 1995

All the major central trade unions in the country - AITUC, BMS, HMS, INTUC, and NFF orga-
nized a naonal convenon of sh workers against an-Naonal Foreign Fishing in Cochin,
Kerala and called for an All India Fisheries strike on January 18, 1996. The NFACAJV called
for the blocking of the harbors on the same day.
January, 1996

The Central Trade Unions and NFACAJV jointly organized a one day successful All India
Fisheries strike on January 18.
August, 1996
Indenite hunger strike by Thomas Kochery in Mumbai. The Central Minister of the Food
Processing Industry came to Mumbai for talks with the Fisheries Leaders to nd a soluon.
September 1996
The Central Cabinet accepts the recommendaons of the Murray High Power Commiee.
February 1997
The Ministry for Food Processing Industry rescinded the Joint venture deep sea shing
policy and takes acons to cancel the licenses except those of the exisng vessels in op-
eraon (31) of them.
(99)
March 1997
The Government appoints the NFACAJV commiee to monitor the implementaons of
the Murari Commiee recommendaons.
September 1997
The Government of India transfers the Deep Sea shing maers from the ministry of Food
Processing Industry to the Ministry for Animal Husbandry. All sheries maer comes un-
der this ministry.
The Present State of Joint-Ventures
The implementaon of 21 recommendaons is sll a big queson. The new government
has not shown any interest in it. Even the NFACAJV Commiee that has been closely
working with the GOI is dismantled. There are sll about 40 foreign vessels operang in
the Indian waters. Their licenses are life long, we are told. No such facility exists for Indian
shermen; they have to renew their licenses every year. The struggle connues.
10.2 Bangladesh -Long liner shing within 40 M depth of the sea
Case of Bangladesh: Long Liner Fishing Trawlers catching sh with in the limit of 40 M
water depth.
Sanath Bowmic, Director, COAST organizaon, Dhaka, BANGLADESH.
Background
Near about 10 million people of coastal areas of Bangladesh are living on marine and
inland shing. Due to climate change impact the sh resources are gradually decreasing.
Most of the shermen now are shiing their profession to other occupaon. There is a
government rule that the long liner trawlers cannot come within the limit of 40 M water
depth. But the reality is dierent. They are not following the government rules. They are
shing within this limit. As a result the small shermen are not ge ng shes with their
small boats and nets. Not only that the long liners are destroying the other species when
the catch sh. They also damage the nets and boats of small shermen. In this context,
recently the government has issued 25 trawler licenses with a polical consideraon. This
decision will destroy the livelihoods of small shermen. Somemes the shermen also
aected by the pirates in the sea.
(100)
Right violaon/Conict
The rights of small scale shermen are to catch shes within the 40 M of water depth. But
due to long liners they are not ge ng shes. The long liner owners are very much pow-
erful or polical background. So, if there are some conict arises but the poor shermen
cannot get any achievement in this conict.
Movements
A naonal plaorm named Bangladesh Fish Workers Alliance-BFWA is doing campaigns
and movements in favor of poor and climate vulnerable shermen all over the country.
It is protesng for illegal catching shes by the long liners. The plaorm organizes human
chain, press conference and taking the opinions of the civil sociees and NGOs. It has also
frequent dialogues with the policy makers and district administraon to check the long
liners not to come within the 40 meter water depth. This plaorm also providing training
to the shing communies about their legislaon rights and claims.

Achievements
Through a project COAST developed 20 sher families for alternave income generang
acvies. Women of these families are involved with the goat rearing in the homestead.
The government has passed rule for giving ID card to the real sher folks.
During the banning of shing in the specic month of the year, the government takes
them under the safety net programs for supporng the shermen.
Limitaon
The shing laws are not obeyed by the rich or polical long liner trawler owners.
Due to climate change and chemical agriculture the sh resources are gradually decreas-
ing in the sea and aquaculture areas.
The shing trawlers through which the small shermen are catching sh are not equipped
with safety materials. The long liners are ge ng license through the polical pressure.
They have to face frequent metrological signal so that they have to return back to the
shore with compleng the cycle which needs 12 to 15 days. If they could not complete the
cycle then they cannot get su cient shes. If they cannot get su cient shes then they
cannot get the wages from the boat owners.
Approaches
Connuous dialogue with elected representaves and policy makers.
Local level civil society mobilizaon in favor of shing communies so that they can get
social and economic safety nets in the lives and livelihoods.
(101)
No long liner trawler license with the compleng the census of the resources in the Bay
of Bengal.
10.3 struggle of Pakistan shermen- Illegal occupaon of Land by Para military groups
Resisng Exploitaon by State Security Forces: Successful Struggle in Pakistan
Mohommed Ali Sha, General Secretary, World Forum of Fisher Peoples [WFFP]
Chairperson , Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF)
Fishing waters were historically free from any formal state regulaon. When government
increased its control of natural resources, access to shing waters also became subject to
a licensing-registraon system. For a long while the license annual fee was aordable by
the indigenous sherfolk. Subsequently, government got greedy and introduced a con-
tract system, whereby waters began to be auconed as a local monopoly. Successful bid-
ders represented commercial interests rather than any community organizaon. The un-
organized sherfolk became a target for exploitaon by the monopolist contractor. Since
the bureaucracy was open to larger bribes and threats oered by the polically inuenal
contractor, sher folk were le unprotected. In consequence, their earnings collapsed by
being forced to accept highly exploitave terms for shing.
Some shing areas were very close to the internaonal border. This invited aenon of
the security forces, which led to specic areas being administered by the para-military
Rangers in 1977. This armed organizaon was also granted a shing monopoly in water
bodies -- which included Shakoor Lake, Adda Khan, Shaikhani Gari, Sim Mullahs. Over
the years, Rangers abused their power by unauthorized occupaon of many more water
bodies over a large area of Badin district and many miles distant from the internaonal
border. The occupaon was largely free of cost, with sub-contractors paying to Rangers
but the government receiving lile or nothing. The new round of exploitaon included
arbitrary seizures of sh harvests, and physical abuse of sher folk.
Responding to repeated calls for help, in 2000 the Pakistan Fisher folk Forum began mo-
bilizing local sher folk communies towards collecve acon. Their organized protests
and resistance against abuse included large-scale parcipaon of women. Support from
naonal polical pares including elected public representaves was sustained through
a media campaign. Solidarity alliances within civil society not only kept morale high but
also gave protests a higher prole to issues of abuse of power by armed forces wholly for
commercial self-interest. Internaonal solidarity helped to make the state uncomfortable
by public ridicule of its indefensible acons on grounds of security.
A military coup, unexpectedly, led to a favorable result of the struggle. The paramilitary
force of Rangers was reassigned to other areas of the country in 2004. Further protec-
on to community shing rights was provided through formal recognion by the Sindh
(102)
provincial government (which has jurisdicon over inland water bodies). Freedom to sh
responsibly has resulted in growing prosperity of residents. Most importantly, women are
now accorded respect for being a visible and sustained force in the struggle.
Challenges remain.

The armed forces may act on their past threats to teach a lesson to communies and
acvists. Government has sll to act upon promises for legislaon that would provide per-
manent protecon to sher folk via a simple and aordable license system, and abolion
of contract system.
Can this experience lead to vastly larger inclusion of women as members of PFF? What
may be contributed to similar adverse situaons in other areas of the country with a lon-
ger history of monopoly contracts by government? How useful can this case be to other
countries through the WFFP?
Lessons Learned
1. Polical inclinaon among the leaders badly aect the mass mobilizaon for polical
change
2. Socializaon of leadership is must to inspire cadre
3. Right me use of polical party and media.
4. Womens intervenon in every acon is inspiring and eecve.
5. Alliance and network building with stakeholders key to achieve set targets.
6. Frequent meengs, interacon with community acvists keep the organizaon intact
7. Media iniave is helpful to highlight the struggle, strengthen the acon
(103)
Chapter 11
Emphasis on the necessity towards community tourisum :
Steve Alston, London, UK, An Accompanier of NAFSO movement since 1992
I have travelled through much of South and South-East Asia during my working life with a
development agency. I have seen tremendous struggles for survival during that me, the
rich landscape of peoples varied lives, and beneted enormously. In this age of the global
village people to people connecons are a reality and many agencies working to support
a more equal and just world, increasingly recognise this. What impact is this now have on
the developing tourist industry?
I recall clearly a boat ride on the Negombo lagoon at least 6 years ago. I was in the closing
days of my stay in Sri Lanka as a local development adviser. One of my tasks had been try
help local Non Governmental Organizaons (NGOs) nd sustainable income sources, both
to enable their work to outlive their internaonal donors, but also to ensure their own
embedded local accountability. The sher folk wanted me to see the huge damage they
feared to their sustainable lagoon from shore side hotel construcon. They feared the
negave impact of tourism. Wow ! the sunset was so dierent seen from the tradional
inshore prawn trawling canoe. Why not oer this stunning shing experience to inter-
naonal tourists, I said to the sherman steering me towards the prawn grounds, this
would give you an income source as well as a unique opportunity to tell people how mass
tourist construcons impacts on your livelihoods and ordinary living.
Today 24 hours news and the huge amount of movement of people around the world
have brought our worlds closer together. There are sll the rich and poor everywhere,
but the North South divide is now more di cult to dene. And yet it is sll possible for
the richer to visit the poorer countries and never see or experience the reality. That is the
problem of the massive and developing tourism industry.
Community, (people to people), tourism challenges that. In many ways it it enables those
in richer economies to learn from the deep experiences of those in under-developed or
developing economies. Home stays, now increasingly common, allow people to share
their homes and lives and enrich the connecons between cultures. It challenges assump-
ons and develops understanding reaching out across connents. It also means that local
communies experience much greater direct benets of inward investment as visitors pay
for their meals accommodaon and trips.
(104)
However the benets are so much more than economic. We see the real country through
the eyes of those who know it best; discover the hidden gems of human experience, such
as the recipes of home cooking; the local temple/church/mosque, which otherwise would
never been seen by outsiders. Evening spent cha ng outside on the roadside or early
morning visits to the local market all add immensely to our understanding of how others
live.
Yes, we might come back from our 14 days in the sun of a palm tree strewn beach or
sunken eternity 5 star hotel pool and feel weve had a thrilling me. But this is frequently
done at the expense of the tradional sher folk whose lives have been destroyed by the
requisions of their beaches and beachside homes to build a modern temple to tourism.
Tradional community culture can and is too oen bastardised by the demands of tour
agencies for a taste of what believe is tradional culture. Bali most quickly comes to mind
as a culture almost buried by its modern reincarnaon for the camera.
There are indeed huge problems with people to people tourist and we learn as we go
along. Language is clearly a divide that needs breaching but is increasingly less of a prob-
lem than we think. Indeed the need to learn basic words from the host community can
oen enrich a stay with a local family. Host families can also benet by their children hav-
ing the opportunity to speak in foreign languages and pracce their skills, one thing that
Ive oen found made it di cult to pracce my smaering of local vocab. The propensity
for visitors to feel a donaon can help improve a local familys development opportuni-
es is also a danger and not something we want to see encouraged. Home stay is not an
alternave to aid but can be a genuine real injecon of genuine economic support to the
local community
Eco-tourism, study-tourism, community tourism are all increasingly developing sectors
which give huge opportunies for learning whilst respecng the development of local
economies and cultures. We need to be on constant guard to prevent culturally destruc-
ve a tudes and behavior but that is probably even truer of the mass tourism we largely
dominate. Home stays of themselves help in the process of educaon those from dierent
cultures to respect local pracce and behaviors.
(105)
Chapter 12
Ahead from the peoples victory

Negombo lagoon is having number of importance and income coming from prawn in-
dustry is the most important one for the country economy. It gives the largest amount of
annual income according to the records. Marshy lands and the mangrove eco system in
the lagoon give the protecon and the nutrients to the mosses, sea grasses, and also the
exchange of sea water through high de and low de currents.
Contribuons from the lagoon banks and mangroves plants and also from the Sea grasses
to the lagoon;
1. It gives protecon and helps with the reproducon system with the shers life circle.
2. It gives more than 3500 employment and millions of annual income to the country.
This is due to large number of sh reproducon with the diversity of the lagoon.
3. Digested mangrove leaves give a good surface and food especially for crabs and
prawns.
4. Roots of the mangrove plants and the surrounding area give the main support for
sh reproducon system.
5. It resist against the wind and the waves of the lagoons to protect the sea erosion
and the edge of the lagoon.
6. Use of Tanins extracted from the Mangrove trees to apply in the sail and also assist
to brush le shing which provides lot of assistance for tradional shing industry,
7. It absorbs CO2 and maintains the atmospheric temperature levels and also cool the
environment and help to face the climate changes.
8. Retaining the mud and debris in the water with large numbers of roots of the
man grove plants, helps to protect the coral reefs and to protect the sh breeding
grounds,
9. It is one of the most important eco systems where children and student can study
about them,
Most important thing is to protect this nature gi and study the factors, since this may
contribute to the high harvest of numbers of shes.
But if you look at what is happening in the present situaon you will feel like a disaster
with all the tourism industry and in the name of development. The building new highways
and construcon of mega cies, city beaucaon, by destroying the Negombo lagoon
could be evident today.
Also the building hotels in some islands in Negombo lagoon to develop the tourism indus-
try to give tourist aracon. Main concern is what will happen to our eco system and to
our lagoon in the future with the eects from this development.
(106)
If we name this process of creang an exnct lagoon is the suitable word. When we
compare with a previous years of high harvest numbers of sh has come down due to this
maer. According to the shermen that yellow korelliya [Kaha Koraliya] is an exnct sh.
Mangrove crabs is one of best. It also going to fade out soon.
According to the records of Dr. Jayampathi Samarakoone, It says in Year 2000 prot has in-
creased up to 250 million rupees. But according to current records of Environmental Con-
servaon Trust, now it has come down to 150 million rupees. This result has gone down
due to the environmental polluon and environmental degradaon around the lagoon.
Under main threats on the lagoon, it is with breaching of law
Illegal environmental degradaon in the Negombo lagoon
Illegally destroying of mangrove plants and lling of the edge of the lagoon.
Illegally make buildings on lled lagoon surface area.
Illegally lling & expanding the land areas around the lagoon with removing all the
boundary line scks.
By releasing all the wasted products from many animal farmers (pigs farmers)
around the lagoon and dump garbage from other places of the country
Because of increasing of the populaon People use to using the lagoon is to put all
the liers and spoiled the lagoon water.
Illegally release all the harmful chemicals and liers from the factories around the
lagoon.
Large numbers of oysters and fungi is been increased and some marine plants and
moss all been destroyed due to harmful chemicals and liers.
Peoples are suering from lots of illness around the lagoon and also its a massive
threat for sh reproducon system due to harmful chemicals which is coming
through the river cannels.
Destroying the mangrove plants to oer the land for some people who are in need.
Its impossible to eat sh in some area in the lagoon due to wasted product and oils
release from the trawler boats.
Challenges ahead of us!
When we consider about the sustainable development of the country, Government should
always understand the value of the environment and should manage and protect it for the
future and use it without making any damage.
Now a days everyone is trying to destroy the lagoon and to aempt to develop the indus-
tries. For an example the current situaon of the Negombo lagoon and the sher men are
facing because of the development on tourism.
(107)
Due to all these maers, the income of the shermen and all the industries related to
lagoon gradually destroying. And also people who depend on the lagoon have to sacrice
one meal out of three to survive.
Those who get elected from the people's votes to the local government agencies are also
misuse their power against the nature. They give dry raons to their voters, animals to
animal farmers, equipments to the shermens and donaons to self employment. This
will make peoples to depend on those policians. Rather than been a straight forward
men and women, those people have become dependents of the policians. Since then
how a country can develop?
Peoples Acon and building Lagoon Commiee
The responsibility of the sheries authories is to conserve the Muthurajawela marsh and
Negombo lagoon and focus on management of sh resources and to allow shermen to
harvest it.
But the current acvies are just a puzzle for local people. The current polical context is
oppressive in many ways for poor and marginalized people.
If shermen cut a branch of mangrove plant for their Brush File shery, then the wild
life and other law enforcement authories are taking stern acons against them. Howev-
er, once the business people and polical henchmen destroy hectares of mangrove forest,
there are no such acons against them and prevent the destrucon. We do not bother
about the law enforcement against illegal, destrucve maers. But, when it uses to op-
press only the poor people is our concern.
Since then the people those who want to protect this lagoon from destrucon should be
united. Fisher people, sheries cooperaves, civil organizaons, law enforcement au-
thories, religious groups, womens groups, trade unions, media and volunteers on social
work should be come to a common and plan out how to protect the lagoon and oer it for
the benet of future generaons.
At present, we have nalized and idened the main areas in the lagoon to be protected
from destrucon by using the law and other appropriate acons with the parcipaon of
lagoon communies.

(108)
(109)
Chapter 13
Few words aer victory
Final cut of the victory on the Struggle of Negombo lagoon
Sri Vimukthi Fisher Womens Organizaon bought the news about the threat to Negombo
lagoon. So we all got together united and stood against the destrucon. In the rst place
we spoke to Fr. Lester Nonis who is the champion and the main supporter to the lagoon
people. In such situaon once Geetha, NAFSO admin secretary spoke to Fr. Nonis, the re-
sponse was, I will educate all the shermen about the danger of sea plane by informing
the enre parish priests around the Negombo lagoon parishes. Without any ones help
we can solve the issue by ourselves. If not we will speak to the president through our
archbishop and stop the sea plane project. We dont need any NGOs help for this work.
But we didnt give up the aempt to work with the church leaders who were already
engage in the struggle. We helped the priest to educate the Negombo lagoon sher men
and women. What we believed was that the catholic church should take the leadership to
facilitate shers on this struggle and is the suitable and the right decision. We did forget
that the catholic church leaders gave up their support to the community when they were
faced some issues. Even though with the past experiences, we didnt have any dierent
opinions on the process. Even on November 11 decisive meeng held at Negombo Town
hall, we were ready to meet the president with the leadership of Fr. Lester Nonis, as open-
ly expressed by Herman Kumara at the same meeng.
However, we should note here, people could not work with the group which le them
behind and deserted at the peak of the struggle.
While the struggle connue at the hardest stage, people had to separate and move ahead.
But, people always need shepherds leadership unl the end. In the past catholic leaders
gave their priority on to peoples side. But aer winning the Negombo lagoon struggle
catholic leaders has menoned on their main news paper as No result though worked
hard.[Natapu Thovilayakuth Naha, Bere Paluwakuth Naha] Those who played for the Ne-
gombo lagoon has le the Kalpiya islands people when they were on a struggle. But the
catholic community services are there for both Negombo and Kalpiya islands people
when they were on a trouble. This is what journalist Manel Perera has menoned on her
arcle.
(110)
Whatever the situaon there were hundreds of thousands of people who were looking
for a victory through the lagoon struggle. Due to security maers we didnt menon their
names on this book. Some notes we have included to this book is to respect those who
gave the support from the back side through the lagoon struggle.
It became a challenge for some scholars, those who helped by wring leers for the book.
Its true that we have no democracy or freedom of expression so freely in the country. We
should remember all sher men and sherwomen who were with us during the strug-
gle. We should discuss again and again on the way we protect the lagoon and prevent
the destrucon it happen again. Freddy Gamage and Rev Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda have
menoned on their arcles about the discussion on how the lagoon protecon should
be in the future. This issue has taken a special place due to the arcle on chapter 04 by
Mr. Nalaka Rosairo. They have removed the sea plane project from the Negombo lagoon.
They have planned to replace it in some other places in the country. They have selected
Pualam, Kogalla, Panama lagoons and 25 reservoirs for the project. Negombo Lagoon
had been the center of Sea Plane transprotaion system. And we touched the strategic
point of the whole project.
They have failed the sea plane project on Parakrama Samudraya due to strong opposion
from the civil groups and individuals engages against the SeaPLane project at Parakrama
Samudraya. Comrades Kaudulle Jayathissa, Weenadhipathi and Manoj Silva, Sr. Marlin
Perera were in the fore front of the struggle with the other farmers and sheries groups.
Catholic priests of Fr. Paris Jayamaha and their main acons were there behind the victory
during the Parakrama Samudra SeaPlane struggle. What we can learn from this is when
there is a team spirit victory is always on our hands. Rev. Anne Perera has menoned
this on her leer as If we work as a unity we can do miracles. The main reason why we
menoned this is to compare the Kalpiya lagoon struggle which is divided and disturbed
by many groups. Ulmately this serves the capitalists and powerful few while oppressing
thousands of shermen and women.
Negombo Lagoon struggle is not the only single struggle in sheries when you compare
with the world. When we look at the India, Pakistan and Bangladesh sher people have
taken on their struggles and acons to protect the environment and natural resources
for the future. With the leers our internaonal sheries organizaon comrades have
shared among us, we can understand the commied campaigns of those countries too.
We convey our special thanks to all those who helped us to improve and to exchange the
experiences of struggles among us as Asians.
(111)
To expand the knowledge and understanding of the importance of Negombo lagoon, Sa-
jeewa Chamikara has done a great job by taking us on various heading and arcles. We
value the facts that took us through the environment scienc informaon and also social
and economical informaon has menoned in his arcle.
Feel sorry about to menon only two of media reporters due to the reason of space. They
were with us during the whole struggle and acons unl the me victory.
We respect Manel Perera for wring arcles with consistent manner throughout the la-
goon struggle.
Those who involved during the lagoon struggle are on death silence today. As Freddy
menoned in his arcle and we agree to that note. On other hand earlier those who con-
tribute by heart will also need to involve for reorganizaon and get consents as its mely
necessary. Though its hard to accept the bier truth our main challenge on heading to
the victory Our acons against the unethical, unsustainable tourism may be interpreted as
we are against the development of the country. We wont get surprise when they call us
Development Killers. These cricisms can be understood only persons with free minds.
We are largely unhappy to see the reality in an open mind.
On steve Alstons arcle, he has menoned about why we against the proposed tourism.
And also about what are the other opons available on tourism. As a tourist he has en-
couraged community based tourism through his arcle.
We are happy to say that Its our luck is to write a book about this struggle even aer three
years. All the shermens and sherwomens who were with us are agree to get together
and reunited. Aer the victory some leaders those who silent aer the struggle are there
to sacrice their life to protect the lagoon is one of the main point.
Special respect to Aruna Roshantha, Nimal Viyani, Joseph Peter, Niroshan Fernando, Ran-
jith Fernando, Marcus Antony are as some leaders who contributed in the book. However,
there are unmenoned leaders thousands among them.
You Can clearly seen that Indrani, Malani, Greata, Grace, Nadishani, and all the women
members in the sheries women organizaon honor and the respect by us. We were
among others at the procession to honour them. We respect those need to pay respect.
Thanks for those who helped us on this book. This book will help us to bring forward to
the Negombo future.
(112)
Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda is always remembering and teaches us on how to overcome and
how we faced the problems during the struggle. In the current society between civil peo-
ple and the polical leaders what we should discuss and should overcome the village level
are some highlighted points among us.
To remove the barriers between the civil society and the polical leaders and maintain the
power among the people and to overcome from the current harmful area is a challenge
is one of topic on Mr. Brito arcle. We have experience this through the acons. Aer
the end of lagoon struggle we have witness some of our leader had life threats. Its been
important Since Mr. Brito Fernando has remembered about the maer which has helped
us to build up a shape of this struggle.
Fr. Sherad during the struggle has given a special contribuon to the struggle, even he is
not the sheries chaplain of the Colombo diocese. During the Sea plane struggle he has
given the leadership throughout the campaign. His contribuon is decisive. He is the main
person who answer the decisive telephone call to the secretary to the defense ministry
at the mid of the lagoon during the struggle. As he menon on the arcle the leaders of
the other Chrisan sects also involved on this campaign. But as a result of his engagement
on sheries struggles he was also evicted from Negombo and assigned his work out of
Negombo.
Finally we need to commend the role of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organizaon to a
lunch the book. Melina Kumari, Subashini Kamalanadhan, as women acvists as well as
our special thanks to Sebasan Vincent for his contribuons as it is the main contributor
during the processing of the book.
Need to menon the secretariat team of the NAFSO, Nalaka Rosairo, Priyankara Costa,
Laksiri Fernando, Francis Rajan and Geetha Lakmini for providing arcles and contribuon
of the editorial work. Without their unring eorts, the SeaPlane publicaon would not
have been published.
We build a social movement to protect the Negombo lagoon and write down the ex-
perience with the help of those contributed to build social movement. We wish you all the
best and good luck. Those who contributed to build up history will give us proud.
Dare to stuggle ! Dare to win !
(113)
Annexes
1. Some media intervenons on SeaPlane Struggle
01/07/2011 18:02
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka government ready to move seaplanes from Negombo Lagoon
by Melani Manel Perera
hp://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sri-Lanka-government-ready-to-move-seaplanes-from-
Negombo-Lagoon-20445.html
12/14/2010 13:24
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka: environmentalists against Negombo lagoon tourism project
by Melani Manel Perera
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sri-Lanka:-environmentalists-against-Negombo-la-
goon-tourism-project-20252.html
12/02/2010 16:55
SRI LANKA
Sri Lankan sher people call on Card Ranjith to mediate with the government
by Melani Manel Perera
hp://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sri-Lankan-sher-people-call-on-Card-Ranjith-to-medi-
ate-with-the-government-20160.html
11/25/2010 11:29
SRI LANKA
Over one thousand people for the World Day of sheries in Sri Lanka
by Melani Manel Perera
hp://www.asianews.it/news-en/Over-one-thousand-people-for-the-World-Day-of-sh-
eries-in-Sri-Lanka-20085.html
11/18/2010 15:48
SRI LANKA
Some 8,000 sher people hold sit-in against government tourist project
by Melani Manel Perera
hp://www.asianews.it/news-en/Some-8,000-sher-people-hold-sit-in-against-govern-
ment-tourist-project-20032.html
(114)
11/17/2010
SRI LANKA
Fishermen appeal to Card. Ranjith: stop government project
by Melani Manel Perera
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fishermen-appeal-to-Card.-Ranjith:-stop-govern-
ment-project-20011.html
11/02/2010 13:40
SRI LANKA
Catholic priests support shermen's protest against seaplanes
by Melani Manel Perera
http://www. asi anews. i t/news-en/Cathol i c-pri ests-support-fi shermen' s-pro-
test-against-seaplanes-19882.html
(115)
Annex 2:
2. Map of proposed 45 tourism zones

01. Kalpiya 31. Nuwara
02. Maaravila 32. Nuwaraeliya
03. Waikaala 33. Bandarawela
04. Negombo 34. Maskeliya
05. Colombo 35. Habarana
06. Galkissa 36. Polonnaruwa
07. Vaadduwa 37. Anuradapura
08. Kalutara 38. Viktoriya Jalashaya
09. Beruwala 39. Matale
10. Bentota 40. Dhambulla
11. Dhedduwa 41. Seegirirya
12. Maaduganga 42. Girithale
13. Balapiya 43. Udawalava
14. Ahungalla 44. Vasgamuwa
15. Hikkaduwa 45. Rathnapura
16. Galle
17. Unawatuna
18. Koggala
19. Veligama
20. Mirissa
21. Matara
22. Tanagalla
23. Hambantota
24. Thissamaharamata
25. Yaala
26. Arugambei
27. Paasikuda
28. Thrikunamalaya
30. Pinnavala
29. Nilaweli
(116)
Annex 2:
(117)
Annex 3:
3. Invitaon Leer to the formaon of Alliance for Protecon of Negombo
Lagoon
(118)
(119)
(120)
(121)