The Ministry of Science and Technology and the University of Vavuniya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch an Incubation and Innovation Development Project, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and startup growth in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

The agreement, signed by University Vice Chancellor Prof. A. Atputharajah and Ministry Secretary Y. L. Mohomed Navavi, includes an initial allocation of Rs. 4 million to establish a food product testing laboratory at the university.

An additional Rs. 15 million will be provided through the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) program to expand the facility.

The laboratory will offer testing and quality assurance services for food products, helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region meet both national and international standards. The initiative is expected to strengthen local industries, support value addition, and enhance market competitiveness. (Newswire)

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A specialized investment zone will be established in the Northern Province, which will be tailored to the fishing industry, State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha announced.

The State Minister revealed that this strategic endeavour aims to attract investments related to the fisheries sector, fostering economic growth and generating substantial employment opportunities for the citizens.

He further underscored the proactive measures that have already been initiated to combat the fishing mafia, a network of intermediaries who have profited unjustly at the expense of both the fishing industry and consumers.

Providing an update on future plans, the State Minister said to coincide with this year’s World Fisheries Day, a series of programs will be held from November 19 to 21, with a specific focus on the Northern Province, led by the Jaffna district.

“Within the Jaffna district, various services provided by agencies affiliated with the Ministry of Fisheries, such as mobile fishing services, issuance of fishing ID cards, registration of fishing boats and resolution of communication issues concerning fishing signals, will be the centre of attention. Solutions will be delivered to these challenges directly within the local communities.”

State Minister Piyal Nishantha also noted that additionally, a testing centre affiliated with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) Institute is set to be established in the Kilinochchi district. 

“Plans are in place to release small fish into lakes, rivers and reservoirs within the province, particularly the Iranamadu Reservoir. This move aligns with the commitment to expanding fish harvest areas for multi-day fishing vessels through the introduction of a new FAD machine.”

“The promotion of the freshwater fishing industry remains a priority, marked by the distribution of approximately 54 million small fish into freshwater reservoirs nationwide,” he added.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), State Minister Piyal Nishantha made these remarks during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Wednesday (Oct 18).

He further said, “In the past, the Fishery Corporation procured sailfish through suppliers, subsequently distributing imported fish. However, the corporation later transitioned to direct imports through legitimate channels, yielding considerable profits. This transformation disrupted the monopolistic control exercised by a select group of suppliers and intermediaries to some extent.”

“Nevertheless, it is worth acknowledging that breaking this monopoly presented considerable challenges. Attempts were made to obstruct our efforts, even from within the corporation itself. As a consequence, fishermen, consumers and the corporation incurred substantial losses. Notwithstanding these difficulties, we remain steadfast in our commitment to curbing this exploitative network.”

“For instance, the Fishery Corporation previously procured a kilogram of sailfish from local suppliers at a price of Rs 1750. But when importing sailfish directly, one kilo can be bought for Rs. 1250. With a monthly requirement exceeding 50,000 tons, it is unsurprising that the corporation incurred losses”

“It is crucial to emphasize that this import of fish is a temporary measure. Our primary objective is to facilitate the Fishery Corporation’s progress in collaboration with Sri Lankan fishermen, ensuring the delivery of quality and dependable seafood to our valued customers,” he said.

Giving details on the dedicated investment zone for the fishing industry in the Northern Province, the State Minister said arrangements are underway in this regard, adding that it is a move that will welcome investments linked to the fisheries sector into Sri Lanka, while simultaneously generating employment opportunities for a substantial workforce.

Significant emphasis is also placed on projects with the potential to enhance foreign exchange earnings, including seaweed cultivation and sea leech breeding.

Under the aid of the Chinese government, a program to provide kerosene subsidies for one-day fishing vessels is being implemented for the second time. A total of 4,250,000 litres of kerosene will be distributed among 28,000 fishermen, equating to 153 litres of kerosene per fisherman.

“To foster cooperation among the officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and affiliated institutions, plans are underway to conduct a volleyball tournament and an ‘inter-school drawing competition,” the State Minister added. (NewsWire)

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A group has defrauded the public in the Northern Province of over Rs. 50 million under the guise of staging a singing competition using the name of a fake radio channel, it was reported.

According to Daily News, the suspects had issued a notice announcing a singing competition in the Northern Province with the 10 finalists being awarded cash prizes of hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Those interested had been asked to deposit Rs. 17,500 to a bank account named by the organizers, while more than 5,000 young people from many areas including Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna had entered the competition.

The suspects had also advertised a few programmes of the first round through a Facebook page and had announced an entry fee of Rs. 25,000 for those wishing to participate in the second round. They had also sold a ticket for Rs. 1,000 each for spectators who wanted to view the competition. 

The scam was exposed when nearly 1000 people showed up at the relevant place in Mannar to view the finals of the second round of the competition, but the organisers had not shown up and their phones had been disconnected.

A large number of complaints have been filed with various Police stations in the Northern Province with regard to the scam. The Police are yet to arrest the suspects who have fled Mannar with over Rs. 50 million that was collected through the scam. (NewsWire)

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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has made six recommendations to President Ranil Wickremesinghe following its visit to the Northern Province. 

In a six-point letter, the HRCSL has highlighted several matters observed during its visit to the Northern Province from 16th – 18th February 2023.

The HRCSL has made recommendations pertaining to several issues related to the Northern Province, including long-term detainees, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, drug trafficking and smuggling, alleged harassment by the Military at checkpoints in Mannar, identification pass system for fishermen in Mannar, and private lands still occupied by the Military.

The six-point recommendation letter is as follows:

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s recommendations to His Excellency the President for implementation based on the HRCSL visit to Northern Province from 16th to 18th February 2023. 

1. Long-term detainees are a matter of concern to the Commission, and the government should take meaningful steps to address this issue to build the trust and confidence of the people in the North. It was observed that some prisoners have been in remand prison for 14 years awaiting the conclusion of the trial. It is recommended that steps be taken by the advisory board constituted under the PTA on this matter, as detaining a person for 14 years pending trial is a gross violation of his fundamental rights under the Constitution and a violation of his rights under the International Covenant Civil Political Rights. It is also recommended that the Parole Board take cognizance of the nature of the offence committed and the behaviour of the convicted prisoners and advice the authority to refer for a pardon, or for a nolle prosequi for those awaiting the conclusion of the trial whenever it deems appropriate. The Commission recommends these matters to the Ministry in charge of the prisoners for an appropriate solution. As such has now become relevant and urgent concerning the issue of reconciliation. 

2. Despite the participants being in favour of an international mechanism for accountability and reconciliation, they were agreeable to an internal mechanism, provided that the Truth Commission comprises members with competency and integrity, and allows for the participation of the representatives of the victims without any control of the government. 

The Act of Parliament establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission constituted under the powers of Parliament, should be equipped with sufficient powers to function independently and transparently and to address issues placed before them without any political interference. 

The Truth Commission must be able to build the trust and confidence of the victims and/or the families of the victims from its inception, or the Government should take steps to do so as a precondition to the establishment of the Commission.

To build the trust and confidence of the victims and their families, it is fundamental that issues pertaining to land, enforced disappearances and missing persons and long-term detainees are meaningfully addressed and resolved by the government as a threshold concern. 

The Commission observed the conflicting views from the participants about the central purpose of a truth commission. Some of the participants expressed that the overriding imperative was a need to achieve justice and to bring to account those guilty of gross human rights violations. Some maintained that truth was at least as important as justice and that knowledge of the truth alone would contribute significantly to the cause of peace and stability. 

The Commission recommends that to ensure that the truth commission encapsulates these views, it is important to be constituted with members of competency and integrity and with the participation of the representatives of the victims. Its terms of reference must include the power to act independently without any political interference to achieve justice and bring peace and stability. It is vital to ensure that the members of the commission have no connection with any politician and their families. Transparency, independence, competency and integrity are vital components of the truth commission to be a successful internal mechanism of truth-seeking, reconciliation and reparation. 

3. Drug trafficking and smuggling is a matter of concern to the whole country. To address this issue it is recommended to the government that border control by the Navy is strengthened along the coast island-wide. 

In the event, permanent checkpoints and barriers are necessary for the North for the protection of civilians from habitual offenders and for national security and public order, it is recommended to have a consistent security policy applicable to all provinces in the country dependent on the intelligence data collected by the Security Council and the policy of the government on the national security of the people in Jaffna. The main concern of the commission was to address the disparity between the North and the South on the security issue. 

4. In view of what transpired during the discussion in Mannar, severe harassment is caused to the people crossing the checkpoints by the Military by doing body searches on women or directing passengers to alight from the buses and or unload goods from the lorries. The government is advised to instruct the police and army to employ alternative methods of checking at checkpoints with immediate effect until the consistent security policy applicable to all provinces mentioned in point no.3 is established. 
5. It was observed that an identification pass system for fishermen in Mannar to fish is a violation of a fundamental right. It is discriminatory as such a system is not in operation in any other part of the country and all fishermen are equal before the law.

The Commission intends to discuss this issue with fishermen, their representatives and relevant State authorities island-wide to address this matter and, make a recommendation thereafter. 

6. The Commission observed that the livelihood of farmers concerning cultivation and livestock rearing is disrupted, as their lands are primarily in the possession of the military, Wildlife and Forest Department, and Archeological Department. Although the land issues in the North are of great concern to the Commission, at this juncture the Commission made no efforts to discuss or make recommendations about land issues, as Your Excellency has already undertaken to resolve them. (NewsWire)

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