FISHING TRAWLERS, boats and boat engines, captured from Mullaittivu district previous LTTE terrorist bases during the final phases of the Wanni Humanitarian Operations, were vested again in the fishing community Monday (3) morning at a simple ceremony, held close to the beach, near Mullaittivu District Secretariat.
Major General Athula Jayawardene, Commander, Security Forces, Mullaittivu, on the instructions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, made arrangements to bring down all those captured LTTE boats and boat engines that can be made operational from remote areas such as Welioya, Oddusuddan, Puthukkuddiyiruppu, etc under his command.
The value of those boats and engines exceeds Rs 35 million since some of those boat engines are as powerful as 10 - 35 horsepower (h.p).
The collection, thus made by Army troops under Mullaittivu Security Forces Headquarters consisted of 100 fishing trawlers and 160 engines which were distributed free among fishermen, chosen by respective Fisheries Co-operative Unions and different Divisional Secretariats in the region, on the instructions of Ms Imelda Sukumar, Mullaittivu District Secretary. District Secretariat is to provide financial assistance for minor repairs, needed to be done on those boats.
Monday’s free distribution turned rather emotional and unbelievable, as two of those recipients suddenly expressed shock, having identified LTTE hijacked two of their boats in the stock, brought to the venue. Both of them received their old money spinning boats back emotionally amidst applause and cheers of the gathering.
Receipt of those boats and engines by those fisher folk as a godsend considering their poverty is expected to create many job chances and benefit as many as 500 new comers to the industry. Mrs Sukumar extended her secretariat’s gratitude to the Army for this worthy project and one of the prominent office-bearers from the district Fisheries Co-operative Union raised the vote of thanks towards the end of the day’s programme.
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