• Environmental harm cited as fishermen continue satyagraha protest

With a specific law in force and a court case currently pending, the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Development stated that it is unable to accede to demands by madela net fishermen to lift the ban on the use of tractor-mounted winches.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa said the Ministry’s position is constrained by the Madela Net Fishing Regulations of 1984, as amended, which were issued under the main fisheries law and strictly regulate beach seine fishing methods.

He said that although fishermen are demanding the removal of the ban, environmental organisations have warned they would initiate legal action if the Ministry relaxes enforcement of the regulations. “Given the existing legal framework and the writ application currently before court, changing the Ministry’s position would not be acceptable,” he said.

He noted that although protests were launched last week by fishermen calling for the ban to be lifted, the use of tractor-mounted winches has been identified as environmentally damaging. "According to the regulations, beach seine nets are permitted to be spread up to about two kilometres. However, the use of tractor-mounted winches allows fishing operations to extend between 10 and 15 kilometres, causing severe damage to the seabed, similar in impact to bottom trawling."

Dr. Jinadasa said studies conducted by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) have clearly documented the harmful effects of this practice on marine ecosystems.

He further said that the use of tractor-mounted winches has adversely affected the livelihoods of traditional fishermen as well as operators of multi-day fishing vessels.

The Secretary also pointed out that several former Ministers of Fisheries had at various times granted permission to certain seine fishing groups to use tractor-mounted winches, despite the regulations.

Discussions were held with the relevant fishing groups in June last year (2025), during which fishermen were given a six-month grace period to modify their nets and fishing methods to comply with the law. However, after the grace period expired, a writ application was filed in January 2026 seeking to have the ban lifted.

Meanwhile, the satyagraha campaign launched by a group of seine fishermen demanding the lifting of the ban continued for the fourth consecutive day yesterday (08). The protest began on 05 February in front of the Presidential Secretariat, with fishermen from coastal areas including Mullaitivu and Kokilai taking part. Protesters said that although multiple discussions were held with officials from the Department of Fisheries and the Presidential Secretariat, no resolution was reached.