.: Translation of the speech of Sureka Malkanthi.

I am Sureka Malkanthi, I live in Thilakapura, Galle district. I am doing a home catering business for my living. Southern Province Fisheries Organization in Galle district, attached to NAFSO has been helping me to improve my self-employment for the past few years. Recently I was given Rs.40,000 to improve my small business. Now my profit is Rs.300.00 per day. Some days my profit is more than Rs:300. This will help me to educate my two children and save some money. I have saved a quite a bit of money in the ‘Rural Bank’. I like to thank NAFSO and the Southern Province Fisheries Organization in Galle district. for helping me and my family in this difficult time.

ABOUT NAFSO

NAFSO (National Fisheries Solidarity Movement), organizes fishermen to lobby the government to defend their rights and to bring about good environmental practice in coastal areas. ...NAFSO has helped a fishing community to take legal action against a proposal to build a five-star hotel on a mangrove where fish spawn."We are not against hotels, because they bring tourism and income. But 3,000 families and 15,000 fishermen use this lagoon and all of them could be affected by the developments. Only 200 would be employed by the hotel. The lagoon is our mother, and we must protect her." Jude Preman Fernando, local fisherman. At the present situation we are continuing our campaign with small scale fishermen to urge the government to take legal action against Destructive Fishing Practices around the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. View my complete profile

Praja Abhilasha Network

Translation of the speech of Sureka Malkanthi.