TNA objects to Chinese fishing in Nanthikadal

COLOMBO: Vino Noharaathalingam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for the north Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking region of Wanni, has expressed opposition to a reported plan to give China fishing rights in the Nanthikadal lagoon in Mullaitivu district, where the Liberation Tamil Tigers Eelam leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was killed in May 2009.

The MP told parliament on Wednesday that while the fishermen were happy with the resumption of fishing in Mullaitivu, they were dismayed that the Chinese were going to be allowed to fish in the lagoon.

Earlier, Daily Mirror had quoted the Fisheries Minister, Dr Rajitha Senaratne, as saying that a Chinese company had been given the right to establish a prawn farm in the Nanthikadal lagoon.

When Express sought more details, Senaratne denied the media report and said that while various parties had evinced interest in the commercial exploitation of the aquatic resources in the lagoon, the government had not taken a decision in the matter.

However, Tamil circles are worried not only about the foreign presence in the area, but fear loss of employment opportunities for locals.

RAJAPAKSA REJECTS MINISTER’S RESIGNATION: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday refused to accept the resignation of Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who is on a fast unto death seeking the dissolution of the United Nations advisory committee on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

A spokesman of Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF), who told the media about the resignation and its subsequent rejection by the President, said that the fast would continue because the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did not seem to be relenting. In a related development, several embassies lodged their protest over anti-UN actions in Lanka.