Rights of Tamil Fishermen Established at Kokkilai

The power regarding the state lands are rested with Divisional Secretaries and Police cannot interfere in this matter. Kokkilai Fishermen will construct the Vadis in the area allocated to them today. The permission for constructing their Vadis by letter to them, said the Divisional Secretary of Karaithuraipattu, K.Kunapalan.

Earlier 19 fishermen and two Catholic priest accompanying them were not allowed to put up their vadis in the area allocated to them by the Thero of Kokkilai Vihare and Sinhala ‘Mudalalis’ and the police called in by them interfered, had sent them away and had called them for inquiry. But on instructions from the District Secretary and Divisional Secretary , the police had given up the inquiry.

I have sent two officers to make certain  that Tamil Fishermen putting up the vadis in the allocated area. Police has no power to remove vadis put up in the approved area. I believe that there will be no problem there, said the Divisional Secretary, Karaithuraipattu.