23rd World Fisheries Day commemoration of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement- 2020
commemorated it’s 23 World Fisheries Day under the theme of Let us build a strong social movement to assert people’s rights in the face of blue
economic challenges on 21 of November 2020. NAFSO usually commemorates the world
fisheries day selecting one partner organization being invited for the leaders
and every stakeholders of the network but it commemorated remotely this time
following the guidelines of the health sector accordance of pandemic situation.
NAFSO overcame the challenge which created due to the pandemic being organized
a successful world fisheries day commemoration virtually. 17 partner
organizations remotely engaged with the world fisheries day commemoration. This
is also a fresh experience for the participants.
organized their own programs based on the world fisheries day in regional level
in the morning up to 11am. The main program of the commemoration was stared
with the dominance of Mr. Herman Kumara,
National Convener of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement at 11 am. At the
beginning of the program, Mr. Pradeep Wanigasuriya, Administrative Secretary of
the organization did the objective setting and welcome the participants as well
as he presented the fisheries statement of the organization. Mr. Nalaka
Rosairo, Coordinator, Advocacy and Policy
Studies presented the essence of policy dialogue conducted
during the year 2020 on inland fisheries policy drafting and Mr. M.D.Cyril Gunawardene, Chairperson, Ma-Eliya
Mahawewa, Fisheries Cooperative Society presented the existing situation of
inland fisheries industry and future development of it.
After that, Mrs. Lavina
Hasanthi, Coordinator of Gender and Development presented the background of developing
the women advocacy paper related to the initiatives of Socio, Economic, cultural
and Political issues and responses as
women federation of Sri Lanka and Mrs. Neluka Weerakkody, Chairperson, National
Women Fisher Federation presented the demands of the women federation that plans
to hand over the government.
It launched some publications of National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement giving a description. According to that, Mr. Laksiri
Fernando, Coordinator,
Youth and Environment cum Media, Publication officer launched the Sindusara
magazine, Mrs. Priyankara Costa, Coordinator of Praja Abilasha network launched
the research paper of NPP in Trincomalee and Mr. Nimal I Perera, Project
Manager launched blue Economy Concept paper briefly explain the background.
It opened the flow to Mr. N. V.
Subramaniyam, Chairperson of Northern Province Fisher Peoples’ Unity to address
the audience on our efforts to assert our rights as marginalized fishing
communities in Sri Lanka. Mr. K.A. Isuru Lakmal, Chairperson of Youth Movement for
Environment and Social Change[YMESOC] presented our victories during the year
2020 as National Youth Movement. It broadcast a video
which was prepared by National Fisheries Solidarity Movement in relation to
commemorate victims due to the Ester attack. Mr. Gayan Ambegoda, Coordinator of
Peace and Reconciliation gave a background of preparing the video.
Then, Mr. Herman Kumara, National
Convener of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement made the main speech of the
World Fisheries Day commemoration focusing on
the blue economy concept , people’s life and livelihoods and our role to assert our rights
as civil society movement. He emphasized and encouraged people to unite around
the civil society movement to protect the rights of the people in the
challenging context. It allocated time
to present the three songs which were prepared by the youth team of Galle,
Killinochchi and Negombo in relation to the environmental initiatives. Mr.
Kaveesha Mayuranga, Member of youth
organization, in Galle, Mr. K.
Lakshainie, Secretary of District Youth Federation in Kilinochchi and Mr. Sachith Dayantha, Member
of Youth Federation in Negombo presented
their experience and concept of creating the song. Closing a cavalier world fisheries day
commemoration, Mr. Sashi Poonyamoorthi, Coordinator, of Batticoloa District
Fisheries Solidarity did the vote of thanks finally. It had planned to organize the world fisheries
day commemoration in Batticalo district
in 2020 but according to the existing pandemic situation, the plan changed
organizing virtual commemoration as well.
