Locals in Vaharai, Batticaloa protested yesterday to oppose the opening of a prawn farm due to the impact it will have on their livelihoods and the environment.
Protesters were demanding that the land surveying for the farm must be stopped and called for the farm project to be abandoned entirely.
Civil society organisations and activists gathered outside the Divisional Secretariat to express their concerns over the prawn farm. Local activists said that the area will be depleted of it's natural resources if the project goes ahead.
They warned that many locals depend on fishing for their economic livelihood but if these areas are closed off, then they will no longer be able to sustain themselves. Fishermen who are already on low incomes will be impacted further if the fishing rivers are no longer accessible, causing further economic devastation to those already struggling amidst the economic crisis.
Farmers will also be impacted as large swathes of land are used by them for grazing. According to locals, around 27,000 cows and goats are grazed on these lands.
Locals and activists have also opposed the prawn farm as it is likely to also cause water pollution if chemical waste from the farm is discharged into the rivers. Water pollution will lead to habitat destruction, killing freshwater fish.
The Assistant Divisional Secretary who visited the protest site, told the demonstrators that he would bring the matter to the attention of the Divisional Secretary for further action.