The Satyagraha campaign launched by a group of fishermen demanding the removal of the ban on tractor-mounted winches for Madel (seine net) fishing entered its third consecutive day today.

The protest, which began on 5 February in front of the Presidential Secretariat, involves seine fishermen from several coastal areas including Mullaitivu and Kokilai.

Despite discussions with Director General to the President, D. Gamage, no resolution was reached.

Protesters later met His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo to present their grievances.

A subsequent meeting with the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and the Director General also failed to produce an outcome.

The Ministry of Fisheries has maintained that environmental damage caused by violations of the Seine Fishing Regulations by certain operators prompted the restrictions.