New organization for protecting Negombo lagoon....

New Alliance built to protect Negombo Lagoon which crowned as the most famous wetland in the Asia today. This lagoon had been selected in several times to implement unsustainable development activities by the political authorities lately as well as currently. But no one could achieve their target before the objection of united lagoon fishermen around the Negombo Lagoon. Lagoon fishers needed to join together with other lagoon fishermen living around the lagoon to work in order to do something to protect the lagoon as a group.

As a result of their effort, Fishermen continued their struggle under the flag of “Alliance for Protecting Negombo Lagoon” until they temporally won the issue of Landing Sea Plane on Negombo lagoon last month after launching series of protests, discussions, meetings, etc .

According to Nimal Wiyani, the secretary of newly began “ United Organization for Protecting Negombo Lagoon” (UOPNL), politicians had divided lagoon fishermen in to several parts as it’s better to political parties until people work separately for fulfilling their desires. But all lagoon fishermen had to come to a one stage to fight against “Sea Plane”issue keeping all barriers aside. “Today we built a new organization to protect our Mother Negombo lagoon and from the opportunists who tried to destroy this lagoon.” Further said, Niaml Wiyani.

This organization consists of fisher trade unions, Lagoon Authority, NGOs’ including National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and its partner organizations, Fisher Women’s organizations, and civil society activist as well as catholic priests in the region.

This organization will work towards for protecting Negombo lagoon without going behind any political party.

By: Shamith Roshan