Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday (6) that following recent flood disasters in Sri Lanka, crabs that previously inhabited lagoons had now moved into the open sea, questioning what strategy the Government has to restore these natural resources.
Raising the issue during a parliamentary debate, Rajapaksa criticised the Government’s response to the plight of fishing and farming communities affected by recent disasters. He compared the direction of the current Government to the sideways movement of a crab, claiming the administration lacked a proper understanding of the country’s present situation.
Rajapaksa further alleged that several fishing villages, including areas such as Seruwavila and Mavil Aru, had been excluded from Government relief lists despite suffering severe economic collapse, even where there was no direct physical damage from flooding. He also said that although the President had promised compensation ranging from Rs. 5 million to Rs. 10 million for housing damage, such assistance had not materialised in practice.
He accused the Government of shifting responsibility onto Grama Niladharis and other officials while remaining silent, stressing that authorities should be honest with the public about what can and cannot be done.
Responding to these claims, NPP Parliamentarian Ajith Gihan rejected Rajapaksa’s remarks, stating that they were made without any technical understanding of the fisheries sector. Speaking critically, Gihan questioned the basis of Rajapaksa’s assertion that crabs had been swept into the sea due to floods, and accused him of lacking even basic knowledge of fisheries-related matters.
Gihan said the Government had already taken steps to support those affected in the prawn farming sector, including the distribution of prawn juveniles and the provision of highly concessional loans of up to Rs. 25 million.
He urged Rajapaksa to undertake a proper study of the fisheries sector before making public statements, rather than delivering what he described as brief, uninformed speeches in Parliament.
