Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Vadamarachchi fishermen threatened by Sri Lanka Navy intelligence after protest

Fishermen from Vadamarachchi have been threatened by Sri Lankan Navy intelligence officers following a protest against encroachment of their fishing areas by fishermen from other districts.

The fishermen of Vadamarachchi East held a protest on Sunday, in opposition to hundreds of structures to farm sea cucumbers put up on the coasts of Thalaiyadi, Maruthankerny, Sembiyanpattru by fishermen from the North Western Province.

The protest organisers were then subjected to death threats and threatening telephone calls from navy intelligence officers, Vadamarachchi East fishermen said at the Maruthankerny Divisional Secretariat. Threats included white van abductions and asking if the protestors had a wish to “see the 4th floor”, the floor of the CID notorious for torture of detainees.

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.