Lawlessness On The Sea And Anarchy In The Streets – The Government’s Failure To Protect The Seas And Fishing Community In Kalpitiya
October 22, 2016
On Friday, October 21st, protests in Kalpitiya reached a boiling point as violence broke out. Villagers from the Thalawila and Kandakuliya fishing communities gathered in force and created a blockade at Kurinjampitiya Junction, just a few kilometers south of Kalpitiya town. The blockade started yesterday (20/10/16) morning as a peaceful sit down protest.
The fishing communities are protesting against illegal ‘laila’ and ‘suroku’ fishing practices that take place in Kalpitiya waters. They say that over the past five years they have noticed a significant drop in the fish population and now the situation at sea is becoming dire.
The protesters consisting of women and children gathered after a fisherman was allegedly threatened out at sea by a laila group consisting of 10 boats. They told him to get out of their fishing area or they would attack him. People sat peacefully throughout the day and night chanting slogans and stating they will not leave until this situation is resolved. No traffic was allowed to pass and vehicles were lined up on either side of the blockade. Only ambulances, school vehicles and an air force truck were allowed to pass. One navy truck tried to pass but the group forced them to turn around.
This (21st) morning a large group of 200 or more people who were allegedly laila fishermen and laila supporters came to the blockade to face down the village protest. It is said that the supposed laila group attacked the protesters, consequently igniting a large scale fight. The attacking group soon fled back to Kalpitiya town. In their retreat the protestors burned one lorry and three motorbikes belonging to alleged laila fishermen.
It is said that the advancing “laila group” moved freely past the Kalpitiya Navy camp, police station and courthouse. Police were on site but were able to do little to stop the violence. Ambulances were seen rushing off from the scene of the fight.
Allegedly the retreating group went on to burn fishing boats in the Kalpitiya area. By this point it is said that Kalpitiya Navy forces took action against the laila group after receiving orders from higher command. By about 1:30 pm the police force had grown and was now equipped with riot gear, but still were positioned behind the front line of the protesters. By 3pm a few STF trucks had arrived and were stopped a couple kilometers away from the scene, but troops had not been deployed.
