July 12, Trincomalee: Sri Lanka Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP for the Trincomalee district Jayanatha Weerasekara yesterday asked the government to provide 20,000 rupees for each Trincomalee fisher family who had lost their livelihood.

Speaking at a meeting, the MP said the restrictions imposed by the defence officials on fishing in the waters off the coast have affected over 240,000 people living in four AG divisions.

He said the government has imposed fishing restrictions from 5 pm to 6 am on the following day for the fishermen living in Muttur, Kuchchiveli, Kinniya, and Trincomalee AG divisions. As the restrictions are imposed on the most productive period of time for fishing, the fisher folks have lost their livelihood, he added.

The MP noted that if the fishermen are making sacrifices for the country’s security, the government too has to look after them. If the government fails to meet the party’s demand in a week he said that action will be taken against the government with the support of the Trincomalee district fisher folks.