Struggle over the Negombo Lagoon

8/11/2019 Struggle over the Negombo Lagoon

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Struggle over the Negombo

Lagoon

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

Naonal Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)


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(I)


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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 : 30th 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)


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All thosewho

Contributedto the Victory of

Sea plane Struggle

till to the endwith

Self Sacrificeand

Commitment

Offer

(III)


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Chief SealesLETTER 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 flowers 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 issacred. Each glossy reflection 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

first 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 flowers.

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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 webof 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 stillbe 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]

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(VII)


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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 fisheries 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 fisheries women organizaon, Negombo

7. Francis Rajan, Praja Abhilasha Network, Negombo.

8. Ms. Melina Kumari Fernando, Sri Vimukthi fisheries 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

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Table of contents

(iii) Offer

(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 Process2005 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 fishermen? 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 fisherwomen .............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 fisher leaders

9.2 Negombo Municipal Council Elecons

9.3 Life threats to fisher leaders who involve the SeaPlane Struggle

9.4 Building Lagoon fisheries trade union

10. Peoples Struggles in Asia and Peoples Leaderships in those Struggles

10.1 Indian fisher 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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Chapter 1Introducon:

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 efforts 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 conflict,

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 leaderswho 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

conflict 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. Anycricism 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 fishers 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 fled

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 different polical affi liaons and was an encouragement for the civil

society acvists while it was also taken up as a topic of discussion within policalparty members and leadership. In pu ng this into record we are le to find 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 diffi cult for us to come to the discussion table with

government offi 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 effort and it honors the struggle of

all who were engaged in it. If this effort 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 effort 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 efforts for dialogue.

It should be noted that the efforts 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 civilsocietys 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 fishers and forest

resources that are needed by indigenous communies are taken over by the government

and such resources are exploited for commercial benefits.

The natural resources of this land forests, flora and fauna, belong to the beings who oc-

cupy the land, birds who reign over the skies, fish in water. You are only the sole guardian

of these resources honorable king.

Thus was the first sermon by Arahat Mahinda thero to King Devanampiyassa. This word

of Arahat Mahinda goes unchallenged and uncontested. If Sri Lanka as a country thatprides 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-

ficiencies. It also affects accessing resources such as herbal medicine from forests. Natural

resources are destroyed, hotels are built and land, water and forests resources are soughtfor 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 effort can suppress a united struggle.

1.3 Conserving natural resources as a step towards prevenon of disasters andtrigger 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 fishing industry has been explainedby the fisher folk who were leading the campaign. Destroying of marine life, mangroves,

the river/lagoon bed and changing of the water flow would negavely impact the fisheries

industry. It would also negavely affect the life of birds and fish 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 greenhouse 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 offi cially fix the correct figures 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 affected were mainly the fisher families. The Daily Mirror of 15, January,

2005 reported that 7,500 fishermen 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 affected by the tsunami. The fishermen who

repaired their boats and fising gear and the people who had jobs did not get tsunami aid.

The fisher folk and the fisheries 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

fishermen 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 affected by the tsunami.

At this me, the then President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranayke brought in the cos-

tal buffer 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 fishermen were opposed to this as they could not get to sea conveniently with their

equipment and thus affected 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 suitwas 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 againstthe 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. Inaddion, 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 theyare taking steps to give these areas over to the tourist trade.

Disrupng the small scale fishers from fishing by fencing off from fisheries ports.


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Destrucon of mangroves to make entrances for tourist hotels aects the fishing 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 fishing industry

The damage that the local people have to face as a result of the natural flow of the

water is disturbed such as floods 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 influences 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.


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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 citycenters 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 thuspeace building. Pro-development community organizaons need to be empowered to

understand how to be part of and how to derive benefits from tourism for the short to

long term.

The exisng tourism enterprise also believed communies would benefit from improved

infrastructure, but again warned that big internaonal hotels would limit benefits. He felt

a major investment in training is required, along with a commitment from large hotels to

recruit local people. However, as most fishing communies are uneducated, it is unclear

if they would benefit. Customary land rights will be evoked and they will cry foul in a bidto receive compensaon. However, he stated grievances would need to be addressed by

government and the requisite resources for relocaon and re-housing made available.


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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 conflict 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 conflict (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 conflict, 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 recentlyopened a hotel in Jana in the north, while Sinhalese Buddhist naonalism purportedly

remains an ideological current that sll dominates within the business community (Bas-


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an,2005:25). Such colonizaon which links to issues of land and Tamil self-determina-

on - was a key root cause of the conflict (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,Jaffna, in 2010.

Finally, while some view the governments development efforts 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 reflecon 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.


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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 2030prepared 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 Jaffna, Trincomalees,

Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Bat-

caloa, Ampara, Hambantota and Colombo.

The five metro city centers proposed will bein Jaffna, 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


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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


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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 thecountry. In this system we cannot expect the upliing of the economic standard of the

local farmers or shermen.

Proposed link to the Asian Highway


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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 fishermen.

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 andsouth is being jusfied 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 jusfied 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.


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3.5 Will the oceans resources be lost to fishermen? Declaring TrincomaleesPigeon 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 reflect on the objecves agreed at Rio

and access to what extent the world had progressed or been diverted from the objecvesidened 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 floang 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.


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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 Sampurwith 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.

Dueto 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 diffi 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.


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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 conflict; their final 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 alsofalls 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 fishers, 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 benefit 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 theland acquision and proposed development of the

area with communies that would be most affected

by these changes.

In August 2009 (just

3 months after

conclusion of the final

offensive) certain localnewspapers 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 generalunderstanding among

people that there is

no credible, valid

reason to violate

existing land laws and

regulations


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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 influence 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 fishing 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.


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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 kilometersand 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 equivalentcompensation 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 offi 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 silencedpeople.

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 efforts 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 andtake 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.


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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 firm soli-

darity and strength for all of the landless people of Sampur.


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Chapter 4

The Negombo Lagoon Sea Plane Project is a major componentof 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 find 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 figures, through developing the tourist industry.

The UNP government had faith in the private sector and as such in their programmed to

develop the tourist field, 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 Affairs and Tourism,

late Anura Bandaranayke completed on 18 October 2005. The day the Peoples Alliance

government launched the Mahinda Chinthanaya,


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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

conflict, and the use of its henchmen to exploit the resources of people, the first defeatwas over the Negombo lagoon.

It is no doubt that if Negombo fisher populaon did not fight 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.


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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.


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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 first 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 fisher folk. At the start not many were confident 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.


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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 offi cials and policians, keeping to an unwavering stance

was a hard and tedious task. The unring efforts 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 fishermen will face as result of this

project. About 35 women members of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women organizaon took part

in the discussion.


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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:


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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 fisher

women parcipated at the meeng.

To place crosses around the lagoon to symbolize the opposion to the Sea Planeproject, 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 affi 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 offi 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 fisher men of lagoon area. His response was that there

is no harm to fishermen of the area from Sea Plane project and if they feel otherwise theycan meet President and explain it to him.


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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.


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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 fisher men

of lagoon area.

05.11.2010

A delegaon of 7 leaders of fishermen went to meet Bishop Malcolm Ranjith seeking

his intervenon in the Sea Plane Struggle of fishermen. The delegaon included Melina

Kumari, Marcus Fernando, Aruna Roshantha and Herman Kumara. Nimal Viyani of

Seththapaduwa joined the delegaon for the first 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.


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Then the Deputy Minister agreed to suspend the dredging carrying out in lagoon aer a

brief consultaon with his offi 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 fisher 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 conflict arose between the machine operators and

leaders of fisher men.


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15.11.2010

Fig 13: Fisher Leaders are at the Press Briefing 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 flower 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.


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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 fishermen including Ranjith Fernando, Aruna Roshantha, and

Nimal Viyani visited the fishing 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


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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 fishing 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. Kefir jets were flown

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 offi cer from the Secretary of the

Defense Ministry.


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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 fishermen 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 aroundthe lagoon to enlist their support in case of threats to fishermen, to meet the bishop to

inform him of the success of the agitaon against the Sea Plane Project, to coordinate the

struggle of fishermen 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 fishing 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.


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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 significance of the lagoon andMarcus Fernando provided the field support to them.

21.11.2010

TheNaonal 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.

24.11.2010Leaders 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 offi 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.


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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


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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 leaflets 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 fishermen movement was taken up at the courts, 20

lawyers rose to represent them voluntarily. Court floor overflowed with members of Sri

Vimukthi Fisher women

Documents

Struggle over the Negombo Lagoon