German helping hand for resettled fishermen in Kilinochchi

Enlarge image The Acting German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Marja Einig handing over handed over Rs. 7 Million worth of fishing equipment to fishing families in Kannaginagar, Killinochchi. (© German Embassy) KILINOCHCHI, September 09 – When 44-year-old I. Satchithanandam, the first internally displaced person to return to Kannaginagar came back to his village it was still in rubbles with destroyed fishing gear scattered around.

“The first group of returnees cleaned up the rubble and helped each other to get back to a regular, daily routine,” said Satchithanandam, who heads the rural fishing society in the village.

Kannaginagar, a fishing hamlet off the Paranthan-Mullaitivu road ,has about 320 families, who have been displaced multiple times. They were first displaced in the 1990’s, then during the tsunami and for a third time during the final stages of the conflict in 2009. About 150 families still live in temporary shelters. The entire village depends on fishing, but only a few have the required equipment to engage in deep sea fishing. The other families catch prawns in shallow waters.

“At the beginning we didn’t have money to buy nets and fishing gear. Therefore we borrowed money from the fish vendors, who bought our catch,” Satchithanandam explained. “But we had to promise to sell our fish for about Rs. 400 to 500 per kg to them.” Over time the community’s dependence on these vendors increased, since they did not have access to a proper market and now they are forced to sell their catch for as little as  Rs. 150 per kg, which is not enough to live.

The German Government program for International Development and Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in cooperation with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Economic Development initiated a project this yearto  invest Rs. 340 million (2.2 million Euros) to revive livelihoods of displaced families resettled in the Vanni.

The Acting German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Marja Einig handed over Rs. 7 Million worth of fishing equipment to villagers on September 7 as a part of the first phase of this three year long project.

“While resettled families are happy to return to their villages, many live in dire conditions. Next to adequate housing access to better economic opportunities is their top-priority. This is where we hope to lend a helping hand” Einig said.

The Acting Ambassador Einig added that Killinochchi and Mullaitivu had an immense potential in terms of agriculture and fisheries production which would be key to reviving the entire economy in the Northern region.

The project spanning from 2010 to 2013, focuses on three main components. It has invested 850,000 Euros to revive the agriculture and fisheries sectors and 500,000 Euros to rebuild the educational infrastructure in the region. It also focuses on long term community development by providing counselling facilities and greater opportunities for women in terms of access to livelihoods, education and enhancing their civic participation.

Over 3,000 returning families in Killinochchi district and 1,700 in Mullaitivu will benefit from the project. Currently a needs assessment is being done to include beneficiaries from Vavuniya as well. 

The project is implemented by the German Government program for International Development and Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in cooperation with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Economic Development.

Caption 1: The Acting German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Marja Einig handing over Rs. 7 Million worth of fishing equipment to fishing families in Kannaginagar, Killinochchi.