Sinhala fishermen from South Sri Lanka are allowed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Mannaar district to fish in Mu’l’likku’lam reservoir located in the area where local residents uprooted during war are not permitted by SLA to resettle, sources in Mannaar said. Hundreds of Sinhala fishermen from South with six cooler vehicles stay in Mu’l’likku’lam area and drain the tank dry of fish which they take to the South. Brigadier Nisanka Ranawana, the Commander of SLA 61 Division in Mannaar, is alleged to be the person who is instrumental in allowing the Sinhala fishermen to fish in Mannaar, the sources added. The sale of the catch from Mannaar sold in South brings quite a large amount of profit in the venture.
Mu’l’likku’lm tank, Kattukkaraikku’lam (Giant’s Tank) and Thadchi’naa Maruthamadu tank are the three major reservoirs in Mannaar district.
The Tamil residents of Mu’l’likku’lam had continued to fish in their tank in the past without any hindrance until they were uprooted by the war on Vanni.
SLA 61 Division is located in Mu’l’likku’lam which is not allowed for resettlement of the residents uprooted.
Sri Lanka Army and its officers enjoy and exert absolute control of the North consolidating its presence in strategic locations to keep the Tamils under SLA rule forever, Tamil society circles in the North said.
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