Government has decided to pay rupees one hundred thousand each as compensation to closest relatives of fishermen who have lost lives and are missing.
People of the Southern and South-Western part of the country had experienced an unprecedented wind storm on 25th November of last year and it claimed the lives of 17 fisher-folk while 11 were reported missing in the Galle and Matara districts.
As a result of this devastated wind storm, marine fishing had been severely affected causing tremendous damages to the fishing industry in the areas. 32 fishing boats were destroyed fully while over 200 boats were damaged partially.
On a proposal made by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, the Cabinet approved to provide Rs 100,000 to the closest relatives of fishermen who lost lives and were missing while providing 5000 life saving jackets at a cost of Rs 40 million.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
