A group of fishermen engaged in the dried fish industry in Negombo, and backed by Gampaha District MP Nimal Lanza, has attended a discussion held with Fisheries Minister Douglas Devannada on providing compensation for the damages caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel disaster on Tuesday (5).
Under the fourth phase of providing compensation, measures are to be taken to compensate the fishermen engaged in the dried fish industry as well as people engaged in other jobs related to fishing.
This group of fishermen sent by MP Lanza had given a lengthy explanation to the Minister of Fisheries about the damage caused to their industry due to the X-Press Pearl disaster.
They said that they were engaged in the dried fish industry along the Negombo Lagoon and the Negombo Coast and that they had to refrain from engaging in their livelihood due to the vessel disaster for a prolonged period.
Accordingly, they have requested Minister Devananda to pay attention to their plight and take steps to compensate them for the loss of their livelihood.
