Sri Lanka fisher community to hold a protest week

Friday, July 20, 2007, 14:22 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 20, Colombo:

All Lanka Fisher Community Trade Union has decided to launch a protest week against the increase of kerosene prices by 30%, said M.Vijendra the Secretary of the Union. He said that 17,000 small boat fishermen are affected by the price hike.
The protest week commences 23 July and will end on 31 July with a mass protest. Fisher community will hoist black flags on 25 July to attract the attention to their grievances, said M. Vijendra.
He further said that the whole petroleum price increase has affected the fishermen and the prices of fishing gear have also gone up. He requested the government to provide the promised kerosene subsidy immediately and to reduce government taxes imposed on the fishing gear.