07.23 Annual Report 2022

ANNUAL REPORT
2022
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, [NAFSO]
No.10, Malwatta Road, Negombo. Sri Lanka.
Tel. +94 31 22 39750 Fax. +94 314 870 658
Email.nafsosl@gmail.com
Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Table of Contents
01. National Convener’s Message………………………………………………………………...5
02. Basic information of the organization....................................................................................... 7

03. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Evolvement of Economic Crisis .............................................................................................
3.2 Development process of the country, Debt & Political crises ................................................
04. About NAFSO ........................................................................................................................ 11
05. Vision, Mission and Direction of NAFSO ...............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Vision ............................................................................................................................................
Mission..........................................................................................................................................
Principles.......................................................................................................................................
06. Geographical coverage of the organization .............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
06.1 Map of the working districts .................................................................................................
07. Partner organizations ...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
08. Governing Body of NAFSO ................................................................................................... 16
08.1 Members of the Board of Trustees........................................................................................
08.2 Members of the Advisory Board...........................................................................................
08.3 Members of the Management Committee of the Year 2022.................................................
09. PROGRAMS.…………………………………………………………………………………..
09.1 Fisheries Policy Dialogue and Youth & Environmental Dialogue
09.1.1 Sustainable Fisheries Policy Dialogue ............................................................................... 16

09.1.2Transitional Justice Program………………………………………………………………22
09.1.3 Youth Movement Building…………………………………………………………… 23
09. 2 Land Rights Campaigns - Praja Abhilasha………………………………………………..24

09.2.1 Theme ...................................................................................................................................
09.2. 2 Program Objectives ..............................................................................................................
09.2.3 Main outcome .......................................................................................................................
09.2.4 Strengthening community activism ......................................................................................
09.2.5 Policy and legal reforms .......................................................................................................

09.2.6 Knowledge and information .................................................................................................
09.2.7 Building alternatives .............................................................................................................
09.2.8 Media Briefings for struggles .............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
09.2.9 Challenges Encountered..................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
09.3. Peace and Reconciliation (GIZ) ............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
09.3.1 Project title: Strengthening Reconciliation Progress in Sri Lanka (GIZ) ..........................
09.3.2 Project Location: Colombo ................................................................................................
09.3.3 Reporting period: December 2019 –June 2020 ................................................................
09.3.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................
09.3.5 Completed Activities .........................................................................................................
09.3.6 Results ................................................................................................................................
09.3.7 Progress ..............................................................................................................................
09.3.8 Results ................................................................................................................................
09.3.9 Unexpected outcomes ........................................................................................................
09.3.10 Lessons Learned...............................................................................................................
09.3.11 Lessons from the youth summit: ......................................................................................
09.3.12 Reflecting on community-level changes:.........................................................................
09.3.13 Way Forward and Recommendations ..............................................................................
09.4. Governance ......................................................................................................................... 37
09.4.1 Active Citizenship for Development Network. ..............................................................
09.4.1.1 Project Objective:.........................................................................................................
09.4.1.2 Accomplishments:........................................................................................................
09.4.1.3 Lesson learned: ............................................................................................................
09.5. Gender and Women Empowerment [Mission Inclusion] ................................................... 55
09.5.1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................
09.5.2 Activities: Capacity Building of women............................................................................
09.5.3 Activities: Economic Strengthen of Women .....................................................................
09.5.4: Challenges .........................................................................................................................
09.5.5 Opportunities.................................................................................................................. 66
09.6. CCFD Project Involvement.................................................................................................. 66
09.6.1 Intervention on IDPs ..........................................................................................................

09.6.2 Engagement with Government of Sri Lanka .....................................................................
09.6.3 Moves with Diplomatic Missions ......................................................................................
09.7. Media Program of NAFSO .................................................................................................. 70
09.7.1 Media Interventions ...........................................................................................................
09.7.2 Media Activity of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement - 2022 Year................ 85
10. Research Activities of NAFSO………………………………………………………………86
10.1 Community Lead Research on NPP and Impacts on Coastal Communities………………….
10.2 Point Pedro Fishery Harbour Development in Northern Province……………………………
10.3 Economic Development Opportunities for Women Headed Households in N/E districts……
10.4 Feminist Participatory Action Research [FPAR] among WHH in Northern Province……87
11. Regional Cooperation on Implementation of VGSSF………………………………………89
11.1 RAG A&P Regional Secretariat………………………………………………………………
11.2 Regional A&P Monitoring program………………………………….....................................
12. FAO Relief Assistance Program……………………………………………………………91.
12.1 Northern and Eastern Provinces………………………………………………………………
12.2 South/ Western, Southern, Western, North/Western and Northern Provinces………….……
12.3 NAFSO Experience and Recommendations of the program………………………………94
13. 25th ANNIVERSARY OF NAFSO [1997-2022]……………………………………………94
14. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………….100
15. ANNEXES……………………………………………………………………… …101-105

01. National Convener’s message
Year 2022 was a remarkable one for Sri Lankan people many ways. We can’t
not write our history and experiences without writing the important event
happened during the year as they were directly related to our work in the field
as we are working with people and with the demand of our membership.
The first time in the history, the powerful executive president was evicted from
his position in the 50 years of the position in existence. The people of the
country proved their power and July 9th was the historic day of the country as 3
months of continuous struggle came to the peak. However, this was because
the hardships people undergone during the period of 2019-2022 till the
country’s authorities declared it as a bankrupt country. Farmers did not have
fertilizer for their cultivations. Fishers did not have Kerosene for operate their
boats. Teachers were demanding their 18 years’ arrears salary increment and
engaged continuous struggle. Taxi drivers, three wheeler drivers and motor
bike riders stayed on fuel lines along the roads may be even days and nights to
collect petrol and left without having any fuel. The women were on the
struggle against the micro finance crisis as the companies were sucking their
blood with higher interest rates and demanding due payments amid their
difficult time due to COVID and loss of income due to lack of cultivation. The
small and medium size enterprises were disturbed with 8-12-hour long power
cuts. This affected the school children very badly as they were not able to do
their studies both at schools and also at homes. On top of this, the inflation was
seriously high and the food soaring prices were unbearable to the general
public. However, the supporters of the political campaigns to the ruling party
politicians received billions of tax concessions and cutting off loans they were
taken from the banks which ruined the country’s economy and people’s lives
and livelihoods as a whole.
So, the people began agitation right round the country and came to the streets
with the demands for fertilizer, fuel, decent wage, electricity, which lead to the
Youth Struggle at Galle Face Green.
NAFSO was fully supported the people’s spontaneous agitations, street
protests, media interventions and campaigns they launched during the year. So,
our focus was to make sure the agitations are peaceful and conduct without
harming to any of the people and environment. So, our women, fisher leaders,
youth together with our activists engaged the campaigns as they felt this is
important to survive and the necessity to bring change the political system.

In fact, NAFSO whole heartedly supported the peaceful campaign as the youth
who engaged claimed this as a “Struggle of Love”.
At the same time, we fully supported the ideology of system change and this
was one of the main aims of NAFSO to have a better society.
The youth engaged in the campaign demanded the corrupted politicians to step
down when they said, “Gota Go Home”. So, this is a must to rebuild the
country and valid even today. The second one is, “We do not have Ethnic,
Religious Divisions in our society and we build such a society.” This is what
we are talking about the Reconciliation, Ethnic Harmony and Sustainable
Peace. So, we can’t avoid this youth’s Voice as this is an echo of our voice
too. At the same time, the youth in the struggle demanded, “the abolish
executive Presidency and Constitutional Reform.” Which is part of our
campaigns too. At the same time, at the final document released by the Youth
in the struggle demanded, “Change of Economic Policies adopted through the
Neo Liberal Economic paradigm.” Which is our efforts against the exploitation
of people’s resources, environmental destruction, displacement of people,
exclusion of vulnerable communities from the so called development process
too. So, we expected some change through these efforts and we were also
encouraged and enthusiastic about the youth’s efforts to make these happen
through peaceful campaign with the commitment.
Many of our activists joined the campaigns and youth and members joined the
campaign either at their respective areas or joining through the Galle Face
campaign.
So, the most of the planned work of NAFSO either delayed or disturbed due to
the multiple crises and the people’s responses to overcome them. However, it
is important to report here, the planned activities were carried out diligently
and with commitment which lead to reach the success of the programs as well
as the organization as a whole.
I take this opportunity to thank our members, who trusted and engaged all
these activities amid the crisis, and their trust us. At the same time, I commend
my colleagues who committed to work and sweated among serious difficulties
and some threats to their lives to make the success of the programs. And we
are sending our gratitude to all our supported CSOs, NGOs, INGOS, IGOS,
researchers, academia, both local and foreign for their continuous support to
our work. We expect your continuous support for future too. Together we win
and transform the society to a better one.
Herman Kumara, National Convener, NAFSO

02. Basic Information of the Organization
Name of the Organization - National Fisheries Solidarity Movement

Registration Number/Registered date - L 18201/ 2001. 01. 25
Address of the NAFSO Secretariat - No. 10, Malwatta Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Telephone Number - +94 031 223 9750

Fax No - +94 314 870 658
E- mail - nafsosl@gmail.com
Website - <www.nafso-online.org>
Head of the Organization - Herman Kumara
Position - National Convener
Administrative Secretary - Pradeep Wanigasuriya
Finance Officer - Lawrence Shanthikumar

03. Introduction
The political landscape underwent a profound transformation following the Presidential
Elections on January 8th, 2015, signifying a significant shift in the prevailing political order.
This shift was further fortified by the success of the ruling coalition in the subsequent
parliamentary elections held on August 17th, 2015. Building upon this momentum, the
formation of a national government through a consensus arrangement between the two major
political parties has created a fertile ground for the potential consolidation of democratic
achievements and an enhanced level of civic participation in governance.
The Government's acknowledgment of civil society and the provision of a more lenient
operational space had the potential to grant civil society an active role in governance and
reconciliation processes. This recognition held the promise of empowering civil society to play
an influential part in these vital aspects of societal development.
On April 21, 2019, Sri Lanka experienced a devastating series of coordinated bombings targeting
churches and luxury hotels, commonly known as the Easter Sunday attack. The tragic event
shook the nation and had a profound social impact on various aspects of Sri Lankan society.1
The Easter attack left deep psychological scars on the people of Sri Lanka. Witnessing or
experiencing such acts of violence can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and long-
lasting emotional distress. Individuals directly affected by the attack, such as survivors, families
of the victims, and first responders, experienced grief, shock, and intense anxiety. This
traumatic event disrupted the normalcy of daily life, leading to fear, mistrust, and a heightened
sense of vulnerability within the society.
Sri Lanka is a diverse country with a rich tapestry of religions and ethnicities. The Easter attack,
which targeted churches during a significant religious celebration, strained the interfaith
relations and harmony that previously existed. The trust and mutual understanding between
different religious communities were compromised, leading to increased suspicion and tensions.
Instances of stigmatization and discrimination against certain religious groups were reported,
further exacerbating the social fabric of the country.
Despite the profound social impact of the attack, the people of Sri Lanka displayed remarkable
unity and resilience in the face of adversity. The shared grief and loss brought communities
together, transcending religious and ethnic boundaries. Acts of solidarity, such as blood
donations, interfaith prayer gatherings, and volunteerism, demonstrated the strength of the
nation's social fabric. The Sri Lankan society reaffirmed its commitment to peace, harmony, and
coexistence, emphasizing that the actions of a few should not dictate the collective identity of the
1 The Easter attack with killing of 158 devotees in Katuwapitiya Church in Negombo caused serious threat to
our operations at Negombo office as civil unrest and series of attacks to innocent Muslim civilians,
destruction of property, enforced curfew and police, army mediations in the city and due to the attacks
conducted by organized politically motivated thugs and henchmen. However, NAFSO took the initiative to
form a civil society coalition with the collaboration of religious groups including Christians, Hindus and
Muslims, NGOs, CBOs, TUs, Women groups, media journalists, Academia, and individuals to make peace and
harmony among the communities and bring peace and harmony among communities in Negombo and
suburbs.

entire country. Security Measures and Trust in Institutions: In the aftermath of the Easter
attack, the Sri Lankan government implemented stringent security measures to ensure public
safety. These measures, including increased surveillance, heightened security protocols, and
counter-terrorism efforts, aimed to restore confidence in the nation's security apparatus.
However, some of these measures also raised concerns about potential violations of civil
liberties and human rights. The balance between security and personal freedoms became a
subject of debate, highlighting the need for effective and transparent governance to rebuild trust
in institutions.
Sri Lanka's tourism industry, a significant contributor to the country's economy, suffered a
severe blow following the Easter attack. Foreign tourists, concerned about safety, canceled their
travel plans, resulting in a decline in tourist arrivals and revenue. The hospitality sector faced
immense challenges, including job losses and business closures. The negative economic impact
had ripple effects on various sectors, creating an additional burden on the already fragile social
and economic conditions of the country.
The year 2022 witnessed a significant rise in political unrest in Sri Lanka, exacerbating the
existing challenges faced by the country.
A leadership crisis unfolded in Sri Lanka in 2022, with a lack of consensus and unity among
political leaders. This crisis was marked by power struggles, party infighting, and a loss of public
confidence in the government's ability to effectively address the country's issues.2
Sri Lanka faced a severe economic downturn in 2022, characterized by high inflation, rising
unemployment, and a depreciating currency. The deteriorating economic conditions heightened
public dissatisfaction, leading to protests and calls for economic reforms.
Sri Lankan people are undergoing the worst economic crisis ever after independence. On April
12, 2022 the Central Bank declared the country as bankrupt. From then the crisis became more
serious as the food, fuel, gas, electricity, medicine, prices, transportation costs, basic
needs of education materials gone seriously high.
The fuel which is one of the most essential commodity for fishers was scarce and people spent
hours to get limited amount of fuel and went home empty hands. The fisher people suffered lot
due to this as they did not have fuel to operate their vessels. When men went to the sea with the
limited Kerosene they got, the women had to stay in the fuel lines day and night which caused
the social crisis among the families. Also due to lack of cooking gas, the people living in the
cities suffered lot though the middle class people living in the villages were also suffered with
the same issue. So, the fisher people did not have time to attend the programs conducted by
NAFSO as the project designed. Rather they wanted to attend their day today life struggles and
finding solutions in which NAFSO was also supportive.
In fact, the food inflation gone up to 104% in one point. Country was in a halt at that time, the
power cuts exceeded more than 8 hours a day. Fuel, Gas, food and medicine were not available
and long ques were observed. Although the long lines are not visible the prices of all the items
2Due to lack of foreign currency, the limited fuel supply affected small scale fisher people severely. Both men
and women had to suffer to collect fuel from the filling stations and spent more time on the fuel lines during
the day. This caused seriously on people’s day today life as well as the organizing, mobilizing work of NAFSO.

gone up, and fuel provides a quota system which is not adequate to engage fishing, other
transportation businesses for small scale producers including farmers.
People have no voice as there are draconian laws enacted such as the Prevention of Terrorism
Act, the newly drafted Anti-Terrorism Act, Rehabilitation Act to shut the people’s voice and
violating constitutional right of Right to Freedom of expression. At the same time, the newly
amending the VSSO act is another way to further squeeze and narrow down the working space
of Civil Society, the CSOs working on rights based activities in their involvement. The proposed/
enacted rehabilitation act was also another attempt to curtail the voices of the people and
individuals who take a stand against the anti-people, anti-democratic steps of the Governments.
Unfortunate thing is GOSL is justifying their compliance with IMF conditions and continue the
neo liberal economic reforms and privatize, lease out or selling them. So, the campaign of Land,
Food and Climate Justice we launch is relevant in the Sri Lankan society to mobilize people and
to resist and retain their natural resource which are the source of their food and sustainable
future.

04. About NAFSO: NAFSO was first founded in 1992, as a part of the training &
animation section of SEDEC [Caritas Sri Lanka]. On 08th June 1997, it was established as an
independent organization. In November 1997, NAFSO became a founding member of the
WFFP, the World Forum of Fisher Peoples. In 1997, it won the Margarita Lizarraga Award of
the Food and Agriculture Organization for the translation of Code of Conduct for Responsible
Fisheries, which is known as CCRF of FAO. Later that year, NAFSO initiated the participatory
crafting of the first National Fisheries Policy about the needs of the fisher folks. As a result of
the 2004 tsunami that hit the country, NAFSO launched a massive tsunami rehabilitation,
resettlement, reconstruction, and reconciliation program in 2005, with support from various
donors around the world. It was able to lead the facilitation of the formulation of the Citizen’s
Report for the tsunami rebuilding process in the country. It was during this time, then, that
NAFSO’s work with internally displaced people from war and calamities began to emerge.
After the war ended in 2010, NAFSO launched a campaign to resettle war-affected IDPs and
bring sustainable life and livelihood for the victimized families. Moreover, NAFSO engaged in
democratization and sustainable Peace and Reconciliation process working through networking
with hundreds of like-minded organizations, oftentimes leading Peace and Sustainable
Development Strategies across the country.
NAFSO through its membership in the World Forum of Fisher Peoples [WFFP] was one of the
key organizations that co-crafted with the FAO the International Guidelines on Securing,
Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the context of Poverty Eradication, which was adopted in
June, 2014. NAFSO, on behalf of the WFFP, continues to sit in the Steering Committee of the
Farmers’ Forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD], the Rome
based organization for food producer groups.
NAFSO and it’s National Convener has the privilege and the responsibility to hold the General
Secretary position of the WFFP during 2004-2014 and also again since March 2023 on wards
which is the only organization of WFFP have this opportunity in the history of 26 years of it’s
existence since 1997.
In 2016 and 2017 NAFSO engaged in the UN Human Rights processes of UPR and CEDAW. It
functioned as the lead for the collaborative body of civil society actors on the CESCR process.

05. Vision, Mission, Objectives and core values of NAFSO
VISION: “A Just and Prosperous Society” where resources and their benefits are distributed
equally and where justice and peace prevail for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion,
and gender.
MISSION: To ensure equitable sharing of natural resources through empowering small

scale food producers, towards sustainable fisheries, food sovereignty and national integration and
by strengthening People’s Social Movement in Sri Lanka.
OBJECTIVES:
 To make progress towards the protection of Natural Resources to ensure responsible
fishing practices as well as the Human Rights of those within the Communities that serve
the fisheries industry.
 To propose to the government, parliament and all other policy-making bodies and
institutions, constructive policy alternatives aimed at strengthening sustainable fishing
practices with focus on Food Sovereignty and safeguarding Sri Lanka’s coastal belt.
 To focus attention on the social and environmental consequences of development.
CORE VALUES OF NAFSO:

 Integrity: honesty in ideas, words, and actions.
 Equality: the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities.
 Inclusiveness: creating a welcoming space for not only diversity of people, but also of
ideas and a culture where internal and external stakeholders are respected
 Diversity: in not only the composition of the team, but also in who we serve and with
whom we partner
 Accountability: accepting consequences, positive or negative, for the thoughts, words,
actions of not only oneself, but also the team.

06. Geographical Coverage of Programs
NAFSO is working in 15 districts out of the 25 districts with a base of 15 partner organizations
in them:
● Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaithivu and Mannar districts in the Northern Province;
● Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the Eastern Province;
● Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in the Northwestern Province;
● Gampaha and Kaluthara districts in Western Province;
● Galle and Matara districts in Southern Province;
● Monaragala district in Uva Province
● Polonnaruwa district in North /Central Province.

07.Partner Organizations
Contact
Name of Organization Postal Contact Person/ Contact
Email ID
[Registration Number] Address Activist Number
1. Southern Fisheries Kandapahala, L.Y. Wasantha madukasampath
Organization-Matara Dondra, Maduka Sampath @gmail.com&ly
0777625692 wasantha@gmail.
[MA/DS/SS13/2002] Matara Ananda Premalal,
com
Sahan Isanka
G.Gamage
2. Southern Fisheries Devineegoda, DulipRangajeewa 0773184530 duliprangajee
Organization-Galle Rathgama NadeekaJayamali wa1977@
[CEA/6/6/17/71/18] Channa Silva gmail.com
3. Kalutara District Marakkalamul D.D.SushilaDama 0773858557

Solidarity la, Hena Road, yanthi
Organization Beruwala
Antony Fernando
4. Sri Vimukthi Fisher 115, St. Subashinee Deepa 0721383334 subashinidp@

Women Mary’s Road, Vincent Sebastian gmail.com
Organization Negombo
5. Puttalam District No. 262/D1, S.Pathmanathan 0771529507 -

Fisheries Solidarity ThalavilaWell Subashinie
Organization a, Fernando
Barudalpola,
Thoduwawa
6. Mannar District No. 75, Salt Benedict Croos 0778708568 benadictcroos

Fisheries Solidarity End road, Mary Priyantha @icloud.com
Periyakade,
Mannar
7. Rural Labour UrumbiraiNort N. Inbanayagam 0777043635 inbam.nayaga

Society h,Urumbirai, JeyachitraDharma m@gmail.com
[VS/SS/VOR/2006/ Jaffna lingam,
03] ThadsajiniThavec
hlvam

8. Mulaitivu District Kombavil, S.Piradas 0771223076 pirathassingara
Fisheries Solidarity Ward no.4, K.Sujatha sa@gmail.com
Organization Puthukudiripp
u, Mullaithive
9. Trincomallee NO. 417, Nisaka Rangani 0768215786 nishakarangani

District Fisheries Mihidupura, 451@gmail.co
Solidarity Trincomale m
Organization
[DS/TG/SS/VSO/144]
10. Batticoloa District No. 15, Fathima Sharmila 0776539393 sharmy2008bp

Fisheries Solidarity Nihara Ramanadan Nirosha gb@gmail.co
Organization Manzil, m
Old GSO
Lane,
Kattankudy-03
11. District Fisheries Media Road, Kalanthar Isadeen 0752417010 kalantharisadeen

Solidarity-Ampara Pasarachchene Kannan Kokulan @gmail.com
[AM/DPS/5/NGO] iPottuvil,
Ampara
12. Miridiya Deewaragama, Manoj Silva 0776916640 manojmeredeya

Organization New Town, KamaniePriyadars @yahoo.com
[NCP/TK/NGO/148 Polonnaruwa hanie

]
13. PrajaSahayogitha No. 22, Sanjeewa 0779950398 saman10817@
Sansadaya Senasuma, Sampath gmail.com
Makulpotha, Jayawardene
Kurunegala Dinitha Nidushan
14. Kilinochchi District 4th, Mile Post, A.Satheshwaran, 0766237962 satheess864@

Fisheries Solidarity Poonakary J.Jeyarani gmail.com
M.Amalajeewanie
15. UwaWellassa Polpalathawan R.G. Pemalatha 772400402 lathawellsway
Women a Road, a@gmail.com
Organization Handapanagal
a, Wellawaya

08. Governing Body of NAFSO
8.1 Members of the Board of Trustees

a) Rev. Sr. Victorine Rodrigo [Perpetual Help Congregation]-Chair Person
b) Mrs. U.M.G.L. Fernando, Convener, We Women Lanka, Former NAFSO staff
c) Mr. Herman Kumara, Secretary, National Convener, Ex-officio member
d) Mr. Sampath Pushpakumara, Attorney-at-Law
e) Mr. Sirimal Peiris, Convener, People’s Health Movement
f) Mrs. A.M. Chandra Kanthi Abeykoon -Community Strength and Development Foundation.
8.2 Members of the Advisory Board

a) Sr. Deepa Fernando- Holy Family Sisters
b) Dr. SoosaiAnandan – Professor of Geography, University of Jaffna
8.3 Members of the Management Committee of the Year 2022

a) Herman Kumara – National Convener
b) Pradeep Wanigasuriya – Admin Secretary
c) A.L. Shanthikumar – Accountant
d) A. Benadict Croos - Representative of the Coordinators
e) K. Reeta Wasanthi - People’s Representative

9.0 Programs of the year 2022
09.1 Sustainable Fisheries Policy Dialogue and Building Youth

Movement [BftW]
Activities related to get National Fisheries Policy established and Get
Ratification the ILO fisheries convention.
The National Fisheries Solidarity Movement is working to formulate and get approve fisheries policy
from the parliament. At the same time, we are working on the process of get ratified the C-188 Fisheries
Convention of the International Labor Organization.
Due to various reasons, there were obstacles in meeting the officials and politicians and we took steps to
implement the above issues, namely, Fisheries Policy and Fisheries Convention on the same platform.
The committee appointed by the Ministry of Fisheries to study and propose the necessary
amendments is now ready to submit its proposals to the Cabinet for approval, the Chairman of
the Committee informed.
Two responsible officials from the Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Labor have stated
that they are moving towards the process of establishing the Fisheries Convention in the country.
 Conducted discussions with the political party leaders, members of parliament and
Fisheries Minister in different occasions via online and in person. These discussions
ended up with positive signs that Relationship was built with the political party who are
currently showing a strong commitment to change the dynamics of the country and has an
impact on society and the political arena. They reaffirmed the belief that the Fisheries
Convention could be get ratified with the support of progressive political parties of the
parliament.
 Consultation of representatives of fisheries organizations and fisher community leaders at
Camelot beach hotel – Negombo. As a result of the consultation, we were able to
formulate a road map for future work as a strong network to get ratified the ILO Work
in fisheries convention C-188. District fisheries organizations will continue to aware
fisheries communities on the matter and get their support for pressure the authorities to
ratify the C-188 convention.
 Round table discussion conducted with authorities and other stakeholders of ILO-FC C-
188, in Renuka city hotel at Colombo. As a result, we were able to convey our message to
the authorities on the requirement of get ratified the ILO-FC C-188. And followings
statements were given by the responsible officials that reveling the government is on the
process of ratifying the ILO-FC C-188.

National Convener and a ILO Officer addressed the gathering at the Round table dialogue
conducted with relevant authorities & other stakeholders of ILO-FC C-188, in Renuka city
hotel at Colombo
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL/DESTRUCTIVE FISHERIES

Fisheries sector faced difficulties under the regulations on COVID pandemic situation and
continuing under enormous pressure during the economic crisis. According to information from
the fishers destructive fishing has been increased. Due to high fuel price, many boats are not in
operation. People who are go for fishing are seeking for low-cost method to fish in the sea.
Inactive authorities happen to be a blessing for them.
The court has not yet begun hearing the case as the relevant government parties are still taking
time producing various issues. Court is giving high priority for political level issues and also
relevant authorities are taking the advantage of the derailed political situation of the country.
Round table discussions with government officials, Country office of UN-ILO,

and civil society organizations on the Work on Fisheries Convention Adopted
by the International Labor Organization in 2007
Date – 20th Jan 2022 @ Hotel Renuka- Colombo
The Discussion started emphasizing the objectives of the program adding following questions
“what is the Sri Lanka’s focus on establishing fishers’ safety and social security and what can
gain by ratifying C -188 Fisheries Convention (ILO-FC C 188), how it affects small-scale
fishermen and the community and what is the background needed to implement the provisions in
the convention more effectively and What is the response of the government in this regard? how
to build a process to build solutions in relation to establishing the safety of fishers and fisher
communities through ratifying ILO -FC C 188 in the country. Sri Lanka has voted for the C188
Fisheries convention adoption by the International Labor Organization in 2007.
Accordingly, this program was organized for three main purposes as mentioned below.

01. To discuss and obtaining the views of the responsible public officers on how to get
ratified the ILO FC C188 in the county with taking into consideration of perspectives of
small-scale fishermen on occupational safety, social security measures and relevant
challenges they face.
02. Discuss In particular, the Ministry of Fisheries as one of the main responsible body, the
Ministry of External Affairs as this is an international agreement, the Ministry of Labor
as it is specifically mentioned here regarding Fish Workers, etc. To identify what are the
measures that have been taken so far to implement this Convention, To understand what
provisions are available for the benefit of the fisheries community and actions to be taken
in the future to get ratified the ILO FC C -188.
03. To focus on the questions asked by the community at the district level, especially in the
formulation of a fisheries policy in Sri Lanka, to discuss the current situation and to
clarify the answers from the responsible agencies and officials to the Ministries.
Consultation of representatives of fisheries organizations and fisher community leaders to get

ratified the ILO Work in fisheries convention C-188. at Camelot beach hotel – Negombo
Participation
Mr. Chinthaka de Silva, Coordinating Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Duglas Devananda,
representing the Ministry of Fisheries.
Mrs. Chathurika Kodithuwakku, Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries
Mrs. Manori Mallika representing the Ministry of External Affairs
Mr. S. Wasanthan is the Senior Representative representing the Ministry of Labor
Mr. Thomas Austin and Mrs. Lynn representing country office of the (UN) International Labor
Organization
Dr. [Mrs.]. Gayathri Lokuge, Deputy Director, Center for Poverty Analysis [CEPA]
Herman Kumara, Convener of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and Special Invitee,
World Forum of Fisher Peoples’ [WFFP]

K. Jamaldeen, President of the National Fisheries Trade Union, Secretary and staff members
Mr. Subramaniam, Chairman, Northern Province Fisheries Unity and Mr. Joseph, Vice
Chairman,
District Coordinators of NAFSO partner organizations together with fisheries leaders of Ampara
Trincomalee Galle Matara Kalutara Jaffna Mannar Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu
Leaders of Gampaha and Negombo Fisheries Associations and Invited civil society activists
09.1.2 TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional justice with its ‘Four Pillars’ -the Right to Truth, Right to Justice, Right to
Reparations and Non-recurrence - encompasses a range of objectives including peace building,
human rights and democratization, with a complex and lengthy transformative process that can
span years, if not decades.
In 2015 the Government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored a landmark UN Human Rights Council
resolution, 30/1, making commitments to promote reconciliation, accountability and human
rights in Sri Lanka. It renewed these commitments in two further UNHRC resolutions in 2017
and 2019. In the resolutions, Sri Lanka committed to “establish a judicial mechanism with a
special counsel to investigate allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and violations
of international humanitarian law” and affirmed that “a credible justice process should include
independent judicial and prosecutorial institutions led by individuals known for their integrity
and impartiality.” It also affirmed “the importance of participation in a Sri Lankan judicial
mechanism, including the special counsel’s office, of Commonwealth and other foreign judges,
defense lawyers and authorized prosecutors and investigators.” seven years later, Sri Lanka has
not yet established the mechanism.
Instead of promoting the above-mentioned commitments and mechanism, The Government of

Sri Lanka [GOSL] has violated them.
 A media briefing was conducted regarding the situation of families of disappeared

persons on 23rd March 2022 in Trincomalee.
 On 23rd March 2022, a protest was conducted by the communities demanding land
rights. TJ watchdog group members supported to organize the program and were

participated to the event. After the protest several representatives of IDPs have met
governor of Northern Province he has invited them to a formal discussion with relevant
authorities in later time. But still they haven’t had the opportunity to meet them. Monthly
visits to the relevant village areas were conducted and awareness were done to guide the
people on their specific issues while collecting relevant data. TJ relevant issues have been
discussed among youth during the monthly meetings and shared their experiences on the
matters.
Ampara District Fisheries Solidarity organized a discussion related to Transitional Justice for
the youth at local government in Pothuvil
09.1.3 Youth Movement for environmental and Social Change (Y-MESOC) is

continuing to work on build a better society in a greener environment.
The youth of the 15 district taken steps to fulfill their responsibilities in their areas facing most
difficult time period of their lives. Despite facing various difficulties during the past year, the
youth has been able to lead the teams towards their goals and achieve success by using various
alternatives means for conduct their work. Becoming a major force of the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement, they have already taken steps to take second-level leadership in the
movement and in social activities. They are now active across the country to take the lead in
building a better societyand a better country.
Tree Planting up to end of March 2022
Global warming due to declining global forest cover and rising greenhouse gas emissions,
including carbon dioxide, are causing global warming. youth continue to play a role in
responding to climate change.
Our tree planting program is targeted to improves our shared environment by building greener
country and providing a space to thrive all lives across the nation.

Youth Was targeted to reach 4500 trees to be planted during three-year time period. They used
the opportunity of different type of restrictions to plan and implement tree planting activities.
2021-2022 Quantity
No DISTRICT Remarks
of Planted
01 Mannar 713 Faced difficulties due to flood.
Faced difficulties in protecting the plants

02 Kilinochchi 376
due to high salinity and flooding in the area.
03 Jaffna 635
04 Mullaitivu 565
Face difficulties in protecting the plants due

05 Trincomalee 940
to dry weather and from the animals (Cow)
06 Batticaloa 180
07 Ampara 1150
08 Matara 885
Restoring the mangrove cover around the

09 Galle 1200
Rajgama lagoon.
10 Kaluthara 1100
11 Gampaha 1700
12 Puttalam 350
About 20 hectares of forest cover totally

13 Kurunegala 2965 destroyed by a fire was restoring by the
youth group
Youth have started a plant nursery which

14 Polonnaruwa 2500 provided plants for tree planting projects of
several other districts
15 Monaragala 710
TOTAL 15969

Youth of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization planted Mangrove plants in the Negombo Lagoon Banks
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY YOUTH
The Youth Network is currently working to implement a monthly program to clean up a selected
area used by community.
As a part of the youth action against plastic waste, they have been able to remove plastics and
other garbage from the environment, which are normally ended up in rivers, streams on in the
Sea, while maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding they are living in.
Young people often end their monthly meeting with a program with a ‘Shramadana’ (labor
donation) program.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP BUILDING –
The strong dynamism of the youth movement is based on its leadership.
Membership of the youth movement is varying with time as arriving of new members while
some of existing members are leaving looking for jobs and to start their new life. National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement continued to strengthen youth leadership annually.

09.2 Land Rights Campaign [Praja Abhilasha Network–Progress 2022]
Theme of the year - ‘Ensuring people’s right for sustainable, rural livelihoods in the times of
Pandemic’
Main focuses
01.Strengthened the groups and networking the Land Rights struggles' continuously.
02.The primary food producer groups begin to understand and to practice the concept of “Self
Sufficient Food Production and Exchange model”
03.Educate the outcome of UNFSS 2021 and to Promote, establish and campaign on food
sovereignty, alleviating inequalities while promoting sustainable development.
04.The communities affected by Blue Economy development programs launch island wide
campaign addressing human rights violations and demanding “Blue Justice” model.
Actions conducted
A. Conducted the FGD with each district where the partner organizations involve the land and
Human rights issues, once in two months.
B. Five provincial level meetings were conducted in order to strengthen the Provincial Level
land coalition network and the struggles.
C. Conducted 12 Capacity building training formed small scale self-sufficient food producer’s
units
D. Conducted with Farmers on Tree planting program
E. Conducted home garden program in each districts.
F. Joined hand with NAFSO to celebrate the International women day and World Fisheries day.
G. Campaigns and seminars conducted on Farmers date and world food day, District and
National level
H. Conducted training workshop for the identified 20 land issues leaders and Youth on
environmental destruction/ land use policies /Neo liberal development patterns / Food
Sovereignty,
I. Joined IYAFA -2022 FB and continuous updating and launching campaign highlighting the
importance of SSF for food security, nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable employment
creation

J. Conducted 3 days training to deepen the knowledge and practices on Food Sovereignty and to
understand on Blue Justice through a workshop.
K. Promote Blue Justice in fishing as mobilizing mechanism of fisher communities during the
IYAFA-2022
L. Developed the capacities on Communication skills.
Focus Group Discussion Held at Jaffna Focus Group Discussion held at Ponnilawa,
Kurunegala district
Achievements -2022
 495 families in 21 IDP camps lived in Jan 2022, now 179 families in 14 IDP camps have
been living in. The rest of the families were resettled [Though the people were resettled,
their basic needs haven’t been fulfilled yet by the government of Sri Lanka].
 People are aware about their land rights therefore the officials and the politicians are
unable to cheat the people as it was in the past.
Food selling center at Dodanduwa in Galle district Food selling center in Kalahagala, Pollonnaruwa district
 A circular or Gazette notifications in relation to land hadn’t been shared with the
community in the past. Now PA has been sharing all land related new

laws/circulars/Gazette notifications with the communities So people are able to act in
advance for their upcoming issues. [The information is in the PA/NAFSO and PARL
websites to refer
 After the continues land campaign of Janawasa 03 people, 152 families were given the
land permit by the Monaragala district, Wellawaya DS officers.
 Still the people who engage in the land struggles in the respective areas where PA work
are keeping on fighting without losing their land rights.
 30 self-sufficient small scale food producer’s units built - Strengthening the SSSSFP
Units.
 Five Seed banks formed [Kurunegala, Monaragala, Ampara, Galle and Trincomalee]
 Four compost centers started [Ampara, Galle, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa ]
 Three food selling canters started [Kurunegala, Galle and Polonnaruwa]
Protest against Land Grabbing on the Human Rights Day at Colombo on 10th
December, 2022
Challenges and Risks
-Trainings are unable to conduct due to lack of gas for prepare the food in the hotels and training
centers. [So far, we have postponed the Trainings which supposed to conduct by PA. Some one
day trainings have been conducted within the area through identifying the resource persons and
food from near houses]
-The Government Task force which was formed on Archaeological sites in the Eastern Province
caused lot of irritations among ethnic minorities. Now all the ethnic groups are in fear that they
might be evicted from their lands. [Sent online petitions collectively regarding the dissatisfaction

of the Task forces and its role at present. At the same time, it is a huge challenge for us to
mitigate, therefore the issue is in the same situation.]
-Cost of living has severely increased under the present government, which caused more burden
on poorest communities in the country. So the people are struggling to manage their day to day
life and they don’t have enough time and space to fight for their land issues. [Small scale food
producers’ self-sufficient units are promoting by PA to sort out these issues]
-Now the activists and partners are under intensified monitoring and surveillance processes of
the government intelligent services. Regular visits to offices, inquiries about the work and the
movements of the leaders are experienced during this period.
--Military intelligence and spies have been continuously spying about the civil society
engagements. This is very much experienced by our field activists. Due to our engagements on
the Gota Go Home campaign, the campaign to ousted the President, NAFSO activists face some
difficulties to continue the field work.
09.3 Peace and Reconciliation

09.3.1 Details of the Program
Project title: Empowering youth to promote harmony, respect for religious diversity and
coexistence: iDove in Sri Lanka
Project location: Ampara District, Galle District, Gampaha District, Jaffna District, Kilinochchi
District, Kurunegala District, and Matara District.
Context: As National Fisheries Solidarity (NAFSO) our involvement was with different
Communities and our main effort had been to work towards better change. Out of our past
almost 25 years of commitment had been focusing on adults (men& women) and we did rely on
them as viable change agent. However lately we did realize that as change agents Youth are far
better than the adults. They are full of energy and life and would always be ready for new
adventure and always willing to learn.
Building bridges and extending a hand of friendship are genuine qualities which all the youth
posses and recognizing this and developing this further would make the YOUTH a far better
change agent. We did realize that the real need of building human bridges among different ethnic
and religious communities could be fruitfully achieved with the youth. Another great realization
we as NAFSO members gained was that any cohesion building process must embrace the both

social and religious aspect too. If real opportunities were provided and required capacities
developed YOUTH would become vital agents of envisaged better society.
09.3.2 Main Issues/challenges
- Need to provide more interactions and engagements among the various communities,
ethnic and religious groups to understand each other’s culture, their core values focussing
on human dignity.
- Our attempt should be to unite the masses, the general public to secure our lives, our
livelihoods, and our environment and to ensure the wellbeing of all of us
- This is possible only through a dialogue of all of the working-class people.
Unfortunately, this is impossible as the working class is also highly divided into several
categories.
- For the last ten years NAFSO has been working on a people-to-people dialogue and
exchange programme promoting inter-ethnic harmony with increasing focus on youth as
important motor of change. For example, the efforts of the previous SRP process focused
on building interactive youth groups based on peace and reconciliation. We felt the
message, we attempted to disseminate, has been grasped by a considerable number of
youths. But the 2019 Easter bomb attack was a turning point, which triggered countless
inter-ethnic attacks, hate speeches, reactions, and violet remarks in social media, catching
up like a wildfire. And NAFSO immediately reacted in three ways: direct mediation with
the affected groups, safeguarding the victims of the attacks, and interacting with religious
leaders. At this juncture we found the violent involvement of youth in the aftermath of
this incident. NAFSO at this point decided to further strengthen its work with the youth –
with two key focuses: Concentrating on media work to counteract hate speech so
prevalent in social media and reaching out to discover the others as” a true human being”.
We trust that the future of the country is in the hands of the youth. Even in our strategic plan
for 2022-2026 one of the key thematic areas gives prominence to youth and their involvement in
this process of deepening the awareness and competence of youth to contribute to inter- and
intra-religious and ethnic understanding and harmony. Hence, the methods and experience
described above with regards to youth animation in inter- and intra-religious involvements does
qualify NAFSO as a competent partner for iDove implementation. This would give NAFSO a

valuable opportunity to learn more from iDove and to explore new avenues to healing and
building the broken hearts and relationships across our communities. The creative use of art and
culture would be an improved platform for communication and participation of the different
communities, all complimented by an enriched social media wing.
09.3.3 Outcomes:
The following key outcomes are envisaged to be reached by the project:
1. Improved knowledge among youth, religious leaders and civil society partners about
content and methods of intra- and inter-religious dialogue and use of social media for
community engagement in NAFSO working areas
2. 7 iDove platforms are facilitated with 140 members in NAFSO working areas, which
promote inter-religious harmony
3. GIZ/ iDove Consortium is supported in setting-up of learning / exchange in form of

iDove interregional youth conference in Sri Lanka and of international iDove conferences
and exchange as basis for constant learning and improvement process
09.3.4 Activity implementation during the project cycle
Completed Activities Challenges Adjustments

Activity 1: 1-Day Orientation Gathering of all District staff We did an orientation session for
Meeting on iDove for NAFSO- members to a one place prior to the District officers through
Staff the TOT to have a basic Online after the TOT, with the
orientation. National Office Staff members
who participated in the TOT.
Activity 2: Training of Trainers  To get everyone into the During the follow up Home work
(by iDove) via Zoom for all Key Online Platform with varied sessions within the Partner groups,
Organisations signal issues in some areas and we did manage to update and
regular power cuts in most of clarify the content and issues
the areas. related to the TOT.
 Also, the medium of
instruction Language being
only in English the level of
grasping in spite of the
provided translator facility.
Activity 3: 3 Day Training  Not all the District  With the assistance of a
Programme of district youth to coordinators were capable of Consultant (who completed the
become iDove Ambassadors giving the 3-day Training in TOT) the district coordinators
their own districts. were involved in conducting
 We couldn’t find members of the 3day Training.
all the ethnic communities in  We did got the members of
each district those ethnic communities
present within the district as
much as we could.
Activity 4: Youth groups start  Due to the fuel crisis and the  Some districts youth opted to

paying visits to all religious rising cost, we had to face the use Push cycles as an
centers (Buddhist & Hindu budget constraints. alternative mode of transport
Temples, Churches, Mosques)  In some districts (north-  Some districts (Kilinochchi &
Kilinochchi) both the language Jaffna) combined their efforts
and lack of Sinhala Buddhists and paid visits to common an
devotees made the visits Buddhist centres of worship
impractical.
 To pay a visit to the other
religious centres many youths
had to travel quite far from
their communities.
Activity 5: Conducting Social  In these two districts no  In both districts we were able
Media Training Workshop (2 WhatsApp groups and face to upgrade the knowledge and
Days) in Jaffna and Kurunegala book pages were not properly skills of youth members
maintained. through this training.
 Lack of proper video and
Photography skills.
Activity 6:Youth will  Majority of the different  Our Youth were more proactive
independently implement ethnic, religious group and made efforts to involve
planned 3 activities in each members were still reluctant to different members from each
district in conjunction with come together. community in planning of these
religious festivals and  Most of the ethnic, religious visits.
groups were scattered and  Made efforts to get different
celebrations
living in different parts of the communities involved in sports
districts, hence coming activities and common work by
together was not very easy giving them an opening to be
involved according to their own
interests.
 Managed to pay visits to all the
different places/communities
with smaller groups
Activity 7:Use of art & cultural  Convincing the wider  Made several attempts to reach
events to propagate this concept community of the mutual Religious leaders and centres in
of peace, harmony, respect for respect and harmony raising awareness on the
religious diversity and experienced by the youth in planned events.
coexistence with a wider their own groups.  Though as a whole some ethnic
audience at different  Some ethnic groups were bit communities were not very
sensitive to cultural items such keen, we did manage to get
communities as dancing, drama. those members who were
 Need of exploring new ways of willing to take part.
cultural performances were felt  Send around 300 youth embers
during the exercise. to take part in the Mobile
Exhibition on “Costumes
Speak” held in Colombo.
Activity 8:Reflection and  Due to the lack of time and  This being a very important
Knowledge Sharing Workshops available space we couldn’t activity, we managed hold
make it a National Event. some sessions at district level .

Target Group(s)
Direct Indirect
Male -285 Female -307 M - 1140 F - 1228
Total – 592 Total - 2368
09.3.5 RESULTS
Result 01: OUTCOME 1: Improved knowledge among youth, religious leaders and civil
society partners about content and methods of intra- and inter-religious dialogue and use of
social media for community engagement in NAFSO working areas
Indicator
 Key NAFSO staff involved in project implementation;admin&finance participates
 Number of people engaged (7) and able to give an introduction on iDove Programme
 Specific action Plan for each District (7) to promote iDove concept
 No of youths trained as iDove Ambassadors is 140 (20x7)
 Action plans available
 No of inter- & intra-religious activities per district
● Numbers of visits to each other's religious centers.
● Documentation of the event (photos, videos & experiences shared) in form of report
● No of common celebrations (Religious & Cultural) organized
● Number of youths involved 40 (20x2)
● Creation of a WhatsApp-group
● Facebook page for each district Youth Group
 No of posts promoting inter-religious harmony & coexistence
Training Program of district Youth to become Training Program for district Youth to
iDove Ambassadors- Jaffna become iDove Ambassadors -Ampara
09.3.5.1 Actual results achieved during the project cycle
The project of iDove “Empowering youth to promote harmony, respect for religious diversity
and coexistence” was carried out successfully in all the 7 districts. In keeping with this overall

objective of the project and under the outcome 01 and the above-mentioned indicators we could
state that the increased knowledge and created interest among youth and religious leaders
reached around 75% of the expected results. Around 31 religious leaders were reached out
through the first 5 activities. in the project. Through these religious leaders we were able to reach
out to their wider communities. Most of the religious leaders were very positive towards these
activities initiated by youth and their very presence in many activities were also deeply
appreciated by the youth. The very positive responses of religious leaders expressing their
willingness to initiate such inter and intra religious dialogues were commendable and the
creative activities initiated by youth themselves were very encouraging and promising.
Result 02: OUTCOME 2:7 iDove platforms are facilitated with 140 members in NAFSO
working areas, which promote inter-religious harmony
Indicator
● Number of youths engaged 315 (15x3x7)
● Number of common celebrations (religious & cultural) organized
 Increased number of participants for community events such as exchanging plants, tree
planting in common places etc.
● Number of youths involved 140 (20x7)
● Number of cultural / aesthetic events carried in a District.
09.3.6 Actual results achieved during the project cycle
The result of this outcome is 100% and we were able to reach all targets. Youth were very
enthusiastic and very actively participated in all the proposed common activities such as cleaning
of beaches, planting of trees, Shramadana at public places. Number of common celebrations
completed was 18 (402 youths, Male: 269, Female:133) and number of cultural and aesthetic
event performed was 6 in total (564 Youth, Male:271, Female: 293) and the total involved was
1294, Male 712, Female:582.
Buddhist Youth Group visited a Catholic Buddhist Youth Group visited a Mosque
Church in Melsitrpura, Kurunegala district in Matara district

Result 03: OUTCOME 3: GIZ / iDove Consortium is supported in setting-up of learning /
exchange in form of iDove interregional youth conference in Sri Lanka and of international
iDove conferences and exchange as basis for constant learning and improvement process
Indicator
Actual results achieved during the project cycle (including information source)
Please elaborate the results with the support of feedback analysis and other impact reports.
It was a very enriching experiences and all the local youth participated were highly motivated in
obtaining an international level experience and interaction. The entire 2 days conference was
highly informative and widen the understanding and deepen the understanding of the mission of
IDove.
NAFSO Youth Ambassadors of iDove Program with the Deputy Ambassador of German
Embassy at the Reflection & Knowledge Sharing Workshop held at Negombo.
Lesson Learned
- It was through the establishment of a good relationship with the Centres of different
Religions and the Religious Leaders that the wider Communities were reached.
- To increase the level of participation of the youth at large, different activities (religious,
social and cultural) were planned and implemented through and with them.
- Perception of reaching out to the Other (other ethnic & religious communities) were
changed from seeking them in NORTH and East, to reach the immediate neighbour,
community living nearby you.
- Visibility of the active Youth groups (consisted of different ethnicities and religious
beliefs) were a very valuable sign of a hope and trust.

- Even the different religious leaders were reawakened and motivated to engage in the
peace and reconciliation process.
- Still some leaders (Social, Religious and Political) are biased and critical of these efforts
as their positions and status are challenged.
Reflecting on changes within your organisation:
Importance of listening deeply to, and communicating clearly the needs of each other as
the way forward to build trust and understanding among the different ethnic and religious
groups.
Accepting and Respecting the true humaneness of each person as the foundational step to
the lasting journey of peace, harmony and reconciliation.
Realized the Vitality of Prevention rather than curing of Violence and Extremisms.
Understanding of building Peace and reconciliation was broaden from limiting

exclusively to work among ethnic groups to wider ethnic –religious harmony.
Also peace and reconciliation process is not limited between North East communities and
South communities, but it is establishing respectful and harmonious relationships with the
members of our neighbourhood multi-ethnic, multi religious communities.
Always to be on the watch of potential moments and incidents which would spark
Violence. Preventing Violent extremism.
Narrow perceptions of isolated groups (one ethnic, one religious) were challenged and
widen the concept of all inclusive multi ethnic, multi religious groups.
Fundamental base of any network membership is to be based on deep acceptance and

respect to the humanity first.
Reflecting on changes among direct beneficiaries/participants:

- Gained the know-how on how to approach the other religious groups without being a
threat or challenge to their communities.
- Genuine Acceptance and respect for the human person behind diverse personalities
- Visit to other religious places (most of them for the first time) had tremendous impact on
the impressions, perceptions they had on the each other prior to this visit.
- Realization and becoming convinced of the core teachings, Values of all religious leads
one to just One truth that is to LOVE and SHARE your life.

- Ethnic, religious and other identities are mere labels to facilitate communication among
people.
a) The changes experienced in the attitudes and behaviour of direct beneficiaries
- Follow up visits to religious centres and organized common activities such as sharing
food with needy, providing a bag of provisions for Pregnant Mothers, organized as youth
teams and responded to the needs of flood victims, also took part in religious festivals as
part of the ongoing strengthening process of peace, harmony and reconciliation.
- Some youth in Galle who realized their mistakes in dealing with a Catholic group took
initiative to meet that community and apologize and rebuild their relationships and
continue to work in harmony.
- Another girl (a strong idealist of Sinhala Buddhist only) confessed publicly soon after the
training, of the sheer narrowness and pettiness of her thinking being bound to the
Sinhalese only identity. Took steps to go out of way to initiate friendship with Muslim
girls in her own class.
- Strong Tamil, Hindu devotee Youth realized how dark the and harsh had been the picture
painted in public media about the Buddhist Monks (except the several extremist monks)
when they visited the Buddhist Aramaya and had a very close chat. (they have never
attempted earlier to visit)
- Many reported in their feedback that number of unquestioned prejudices, assumptions
nourished by so called popular social& main stream media had been the main causes of
creating distance and unwanted hostility between communities.
Reflecting on community level changes:
Initiatives taken by our Youth on visiting other religious places and engaging in common
youth initiative activities have opened the eyes of wider community and almost all
religious leaders have responded very positively.
“Please let me know of any need of your group. I will try my best to be help. Don’t worry
about the distances. I will come by my own vehicle to any place you request. I really

appreciate the efforts your group is taking in strengthening inter religious, inter ethnic
harmony.” Catholic Priest from Melsiripura, Kurunegala.
“You are a wonderful group of youth, energetic, vibrant and courageous. Our own youth
are edified by you. I want to issue a certificate of participation and appreciation for the
beautiful visit you made and discussion we had.” Priest in charge of St. Mary’s Cathedral,
Galle.
At Matara the World children’s Day was celebrated together both with the involvement
of Muslim and Buddhist Youth groups. More and more opportunities are sought to further
nourish the growing union among the different communities. The dedication of the iDove
youth group is to be commended.
In Negombo Hindu Community motivated by the Youth are very positive in taking part in
common activities and clearly expressed their desire to be involved in the upcoming
events.
09.3.7 Way Forward and Recommendations
Recommendations are on two levels.

a. Deepening the current iDove process of learning and awareness raising,
b. Further nourishment of the existing iDove ambassador groups through a National
Summit.
c. Reflection and Knowledge sharing,
d. Deepening of the iDove process,
Further trainings could be organized for both TOT for Key Youth Leaders and Three
day Trainings for additional Youth members so that they gain a deeper understanding and
better conviction on the whole process of Peace building and Reconciliation. (Ref:
Activity 2, 3, 5 to be repeated)
e. Consolidating the already formed iDove ambassador groups.
Sustenance of the youth groups already formed should be of number one priority.
Accompanying them in this journey of peace building and reconciliation is a valuable
investment for the future of these Communities. ( Ref: Activity 4, 6, 7 to be repeated)

f. As much we initiate different activities for and with youth, taking time and sitting down to
reflect and share what we experienced is of utmost important. It is at this level the insightful
learning takes place. Hence greater importance to be placed upon this sessions.
09.4. Governance [Active Citizenship for Development Network]
09.4.1 Project context:
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) implemented the project of Active

Citizenship for development Network in four districts with four local government domains since
2011. NAFSO started implementing the Active Citizenship for Development Network with an
initial baseline survey in Jaffna, Mannar, Ampara and Trincomalee districts in the country.
Thelippalei local government domain from Jaffna, Musali local government domain in Mannar,
Town and Gravest local government domain from Trincomalee and Addalachchenei local
government domain in Ampara were selected through the baseline data. It implemented the
citizen forum process in above four local government domains in the beginning stage.
There were some disturbances from the political parties for implementing the program as
planned because the political elites had an incorrect understanding about the involvement of civil
activists to organize the people in Jaffna. Above political elites who had power in the Thelippalei
area blocked intervention of organizing people and encouraging them to approach the local
government. According to the situation, the citizen forum process was not functioned as planed
in Jaffna. This was the first and negative experience of implementing the citizen forum process
in the begging. The Jaffna District Fisheries Solidarity which is the partner organization of
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement functioned the citizen forum process again because of
the important of the people structure in development in the area by using the experience they
obtained in the previous state. Jaffna team has formed two citizen forums in two separated areas
and implements the citizen forum meeting under their own responsibility which is a positive
impact of the process. According to the experiences of implementing the citizen forum process,
Jaffna District Fisheries Solidarity has reorganized the citizen forums in the districts and there is
no influence of the politicians right now according to the situation. Political situation has been
changed and Jaffna team conducted the meetings of the citizen forums without support of the
project.
After the two years of the project, a decision was taken to select the most important two local
government domains to develop the citizen forum as modules because it needed to do the
experiment of organizing the people based on the citizen forums. It has planned to observe the

progress of the citizen forum process. Therefore, NAFSO planned to develop the citizen forums
as modules in Mannar and Trincomalee districts in 2013. The citizen forums of Jaffna and
Ampara were stopped and NAFSO implemented the project in Musali Pradeshiya Sabha domain
in Mannar district and Town and Gravest Pradeshiya Sabha domain in Trincomalee district. The
citizen forum process expanded to Urban Council domain in Mannar town with the experience of
implementing the project in Musali in 2014. We planned to organize the people based on the
concept of people participation in governance covering wider areas. NAFSO basically had
relationship with three local government domains such as Pradeshiya Sabha in Musali and Urban
council in Mannar as well as Town and gravest Pradeshiya Sabha in Trincomalee district in
2014. NAFSO properly established the citizen forum process in the domain of Urban Council
in Mannar Town pasting out from Musali. According to the experience working with citizen
forums in Musali, the citizen forums were able to build up their own identification as well as
established the concept in Musali. Many male and female leaders were built up through the
citizen forum process with the ability of playing the leading role to organize the community even
in the midst of difficulties. The leaders who developed the capacities taking responsibility in the
citizen forum process contested in the local governmental election in 2018 in Musali. Miss.
Rajeshwary who was the treasurer of the citizen forum in Musali has become a member of Local
Government in Musali. She has a better understanding about the situation of the area. She has a
connection with the citizen forum in Mannar and she visits the citizen forum when it needs. She
has practiced the knowledge and technical support obtained through the citizen forum process in
order to develop her capacities. It educated the citizen forum members about the role and status
of the Pradeshiya Sabha with the analysis of the local government act and other functions of it.
These understandings have supported to Miss. Rajeshwary to behave as members in the
Pradeshiya Sabha. Her capacities have been developed by the experience of the citizen forum,
according to her. Citizen Form members directly approached the Pradeshiya Sabha through their
former members, Miss. Rajeshwary. She is playing a considerable role in the Pradeshiya Sabha
as a member of the council.
Although it pasted out from Musali, the Mannar town citizen forum decided to provide
opportunity for representatives of Musali to participate in the citizen forum process. Some
members who participated representing the Musali citizen forum in the citizen forum meeting in
Mannar town played a vital role. Citizen forum members of Muasli are experienced community
leaders in this process. They always opened to share their experience with others.
Citizen forum and district citizen voice are the mechanisms that use to organize the marginalized
people though educational processes in the grass root level. In this current context, NAFSO is
mainly working in the Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban council domains in Trincomalee district and

Urban council and Pradeshiya Sabha in Mannar district. NAFSO already have established two
citizen forums based on Town and Gravest Pradeshiya Sabha and Mannar town Urban council.
But, Citizen Forums built up link with the urban council in Trincomalee as well as Pradeshiya
Sabha in Mannar. Most of people who have engaged with citizen forums have faced to the war
directly or indirectly in the north and east. NAFSO basically concerned to empower the
marginalized, excluded and vulnerable people in the area. War effected community, internally
displaced people due to the war, women headed families, fishermen, farmers and labours and
people with disabilities were the main content of the citizen forums.
According to the Corona-19 pandemic, many local government institutions were not functioned
properly but the basic service of the local government bodied were being supplied in the
pandemic situation. The council meetings were held but there was no continuation due to the
situation. The new tendency of the local government is to decrease the power of the ruling party
in the context. Annual budget for 2021 was defeated by the opposition parties with the support of
the members of the ruling party. Political strength of the ruling party is gradually decreasing in
the country and according to the situation of the country, power of the local government has been
opened to challenge. But, local government played a considerable role in implementing the
procedures of the government to control the pandemic as an operational mechanism. According
to the economic crisis of the country, many provisions have been decreased of the local
government. They have limited their services in accordance of the restrictions. The citizen
forums have built constructive link with the local government bodies in both districts. Citizen
forum closely worked with local government institutions in the pandemic situation specially to
educate the people and provide the relief for the effected people. It has planned to work with the
local government bodies further on the development of the area as well.
09.4.2 Narrative session:

09.4.2.1 Focus group discussions in village level in two districts:
The focus group discussions provide a basement to organize the people and keeping the
relationship with the people in the grass root level in both districts. District staff also requests to
make opportunities to visit the people in the grass root and identify their real situation as well as
members of the citizen forums request staff to come to the village to visit the people. According
to our experience, when we organize an educational program to the citizen forums, members of
the citizen forum requests us to come to the village and educate the rest of people in the village
about the particular issue. The citizen forum and district citizen voice allow limited persons to
participate in the meetings because of the limitation and capacities. Our strategy is
representatives of the village as citizen forum members to bring the messages to their community

but representatives of the citizen forums request the organizers to directly come to the
community in order to directly communicate the people in the grass root.
We use this format to visit the grass root community and discuss with them on development and
other issues. This opportunity was very helpful in the pandemic situation because even in the
lockdown period, district staff was able to visit the people in the grass root through this space.
Not only in the pandemic situation, discussion with the people in their own places is very useful
tool to organize people and educate the people those who are unable to participate in the citizen
forum structures. It has planned 72 focus group discussions in the project period and all
discussions have been conducted in the particular period in both districts. The responsibility of
implementing the focus group meetings has been given to the district staff and they need to visit
the people in the village every month following the finding of the citizen forum and district
citizen voice meetings. Sometime very useful and effective suggestions are made by the people
in the focus group meetings in order to find the solutions for the issues. The focus group
meetings have provided an opportunity to keep coordination continuously with the people in the
grass root level as well as the district staff used this opportunity to organize the people on public
campaigns.
Focus Group Discussions held among Citizen Forum Members in Trincomalee district
09.4.2.2 Regional citizens’ forum discussions, one in every three months in two districts
This is the most suitable time to discuss about the important of the citizen forum platform to
ensue the rights of the marginalized people and organize the people in the grass root because
the citizen forum always took the development issues in the discussions. The citizen forum is a
good platform to gather concern people in order to discuss, understand, take decisions and take
actions with other relevant stakeholders on development issues in the respective areas. The
citizen forum process has built number of leaders especially women leaders in the respective
districts. We can see the significant improvement of the women based on the citizen forum
process. According to the women representatives in the citizen forums, they have developed
their skills, capacities and leadership qualities through participating in the citizen forum process.

Many women who had limited to the domestic affairs, now have taken the leadership of the
community as one of the results of the citizen forums.
The citizen forum already has discussed about the reasons for the economic crisis of the country.
Many members of the citizen forum have an understanding about the root course of the
economic crisis as well as the issues related to the ESCR because it has concerned the heath,
education, food sovereignty, impact of neo liberal economic policies, fishers, farmers and
industrial sector in the citizen forum meetings. Although the economic crisis has been made its
fully impact to the people in this situation, this situation had been predicted before this. It has
discussed in the citizen forums as well. Citizen forum process intervened to ensure the ESCR
through the constitutional amendment because of having an understanding about the bad
situation in the country. Citizen forums took the theme of youth campaign in to the discussion
table in order to have an analysis with better understanding about the youth campaign. Citizen
forum concerned the new tendencies of the political changes of the country while involving in to
the development in the respective areas based on local government.
The citizen forum always highly concerned to build the active citizenship through its
interventions. We can see that developed citizen forum members have come forward to work
with the local government institution as well as community affairs. When we analyze the nature
of the citizen forum members to take leadership in the campaign against the ruling government
on economic crisis, Sinhala members come to the front lines to advocate the government by
using their experience and knowledge but Tamil members in Mannar have not taken the initiative
to advocate against especially the economic crisis. When NAFSO organizes campaign against
the government in relation to fisher, land, farmers, and other issues, Tamil members from the
citizen forum play a vital role in the campaign. The citizen form members apply their skill,
capacities and knowledge that they obtained from the process of citizen forum in the campaigns.
Citizen forum platform has not only concerned the ESCR, it has given initiative to the political
crisis with issue of the democracy in the country. When we analyze the capacity and knowledge
of the participants of many campaign and events, we are able to see that members of the citizen
forums are there in the front of the events taking responsibilities because they have better
understanding than others. Taking leadership, active participation and taking collective actions
are major improvements of the citizen forum members.

Regular Citizen Forum Meeting Held in Regular Citizen Forum Meeting held in
Mannar Trincomalee
09.4.2.3 District Citizen Voice meetings: One in every three months in two districts
The format of District Citizen Voice was created to have a wider approach of the representatives
from different sectors than the format of the citizen forum. While we were conducting the citizen
forum meetings, it realized that there were some limitations of keeping different sector’s
representations in the platform. According to the situation, it designed the district citizen voice
format specially for organizing the wider campaigns in the respective districts. This format gives
a broader opportunity for some dominant’s representatives such as established community
leaders who have an identification as well as ability to give a leadership for the people in the
community. It uses the platform of District Citizen Voice to organize the campaigns especially as
the purpose of introducing the particular format.
This District Citizen Voice format used to organize people working with wider stakeholders to
campaign toward to ensure the rights of the people. Even in the pandemic situation, it organized
some events in the midst of different barriers to raise the voice of the people. The District Citizen
Voice took initiatives to do the actions against the Indian trawler issue collaboratively with other
civil societies in the Mannar. The Indian trawlers illegally cross the border and break into the Sri
Lankan water for fishing. They come to the coastal belt of the North basically. This is one of the
major issues of the fisheries industry which directly influence to the fisher community. Land
issue is one of the campaign points of the district citizen voice in this period. Land issue is
influencing not only to the people who attached to the citizen forum process but also many
people in both districts. The land which was captured in the internal conflict have not totally
been released to the people in Mannar district as well as Trincomalee district also. The
government has a plan to implement the National Physical Plan in five locations in the country
and Trincomalee district is one of the locations. The government has not withdrawn of
implementing the plan but it has temporized because of the crisis in the country. It has planned to
recapture the land which is used by the people to implement the national physical plan. The
district citizen voice involved in taking actions against the illegal fishing practices in
Trincomalee district. Resource grabbing is one of the campaign points in the north. Many foreign

and local investors have grabbed resources without having a proper legal approach in the north.
Citizen forum in Mannar district directly involved organizing the campaign through the tool of
district citizen voice. The members of the district citizen voice initiated to raise the voice
against the police and fisheries officers due to not implementing the law and regulations against
the illegal fishing practices in the district. As well as, NAFSO has started a process to legally
challenge the respective officers who have a responsibility to implement the regulations to stop
the illegal fishing practices. The members of the district citizen voice have involved with the
process giving epidemics to prove the evidence. The district citizen voice meeting is the place
where people can plan the campaign with the participation of the members. 8 meetings have been
conducted in the project period.
09.4.3 Regular visits to LGIS’ and other decision-making bodies in every four month in two
districts.
The citizen forum process basically prepares the people to participate in the governing
mechanisms in the regional level. Citizen Forum has built a relationship with the local
government institutions in both districts as well. Local government institutions are the lowest
governing body which has power to intervene to the development in the regional level. The local
government provides many services for the people in the respective domains. Therefore, the
citizen forums regularly visit the local government and its political representatives and officers.
There are some mechanisms of the local government institutions people to participate in the
decision-making process. People are allowed to visit the local government and give their
suggestions. People have a right to send the representatives to the local government bodies as
well as intervene by using the formal ways to provide a better service for the people. According
to the existing situation of the local government institutions of both districts, political
representatives do not provide services for the marginalized people, vulnerable and excluded
people efficiently. There are many issues of providing services and issues related to the incorrect
and inefficient decisions of the local government. There should be a pressure group to influence
the political representatives to fulfill the needs of the people and implement the plans of
development in the area. The citizen forum members also play a role as a group which keep
constructive link with the local government bodies to implement their work efficiently. The
members of the citizen forums did a considerable role working with the local governments in the
pandemic period as well as they met the members of the local government and officers of it to
discuss the issues of the region. According to the situation, the local governments do not function
properly because of not having provisions of conduct the service. They have limited their
services due to the crisis situation of the country as well as legal time period of the local

government has expired. The previous government extended the period giving the authority to a
commissioner. The ruling government has decided to hold the local government election in the
early of 2023 but there are many arguments in this regard. According to the election held 2018 in
relation to the local government, major power was taken by the Podujana Peramuna which is the
political party of Rajapaksha’s but the popularity with power is losing gradually due to the
situation. Although the president has been selected from another party, majority power of the
parliament is there in the hand of Rajapaksha’s. They are the people who control the parliament
as well as the government with president. There is a huge debate in holding the local government
election.
09.4.4. Exploratory news reported and published related to the issues on ESCR in village
level in public media in two districts
The citizen forum and district citizen voice platforms provide an opportunity people to gather
and discuss the development matters and take actions toward to find the solutions. There is no
proper system of any institution to work for the people as responsible bodies which are
maintained by the public tax money. Although there are rules and regulations in relation to
development and provide services for the people, the particular institutions do not follow the
rules and regulations as well. This is a common situation of the country and there should be a
people’s involvement as a pressure group to take actions against the corruptions, regularities and
inefficiencies exploring those aspects to the public. The citizen forum and districts citizen voice
platforms also work with the governing bodies and other governmental institutions on
development of the area.
The media is doing such as a good work to explore the negative impacts of the development
projects, corruptions, irregularities and other matters. The citizen forums have attached the
journalists with the process because there are many areas to explore according to the members of
the citizen forums and related people. While the citizen forum and district citizen voice are
having, representatives of the forums share their experiences and information in relation to many
corruptions, irregularities, inefficiency and gaps of providing services in the regions. Although
the representatives raise the matters, there should be correct information and evidences to prove
the causes. The journalists who have attached to the citizen forum and district citizen voice
platforms explore the issues with evidences and publish in the social media and main stream
media. This is a kind of a monitoring system because this news items can open the eyes of the
people as well as higher government officers related to the particular matters. This is one of the
advocacy mechanisms which can be used to mitigate the corruptions and accelerate the nature of
providing services. The media persons disseminate the information in relation to finding of the
meetings, campaigns as well as exploratory news items with the direction of the members of the
citizen forums. Land issue, illegal fishing, Indian trawler issues, gaps of providing services of the

local government, issues of the primary education, issues related to irrigation system,
infrastructure development as well as impact of the fuel, food, medicine shortage and related
issues have been concerned in the news items in both districts.
09.4.5 Prepare the people’s budget proposals to LGIs in two districts.

Citizen forums usually give an attention to prepare the people’s budget and hand over the local
government institutions as a dominant involvement. This opportunity is used to prepare a budget
proposal with the participation of the people. People have an opportunity to identify the issues
and their solution on development in the area.
There is a provision of the local government to obtain the people’s proposals while they prepare
the budget proposal for the respective year. The local government institutes should inform to the
concern people to submit their proposals pasting notices in public but according to the
experience, the local government institutions do not follow the provisions properly.
There are many concerns of preparing the budget proposal in the local government because the
budget proposals are prepared by the technical groups without having adequate consultation of
the general public. People needs and expectations are not indicated and addressed through the
budget proposal with action plans. Therefore, local government institution should more open to
the general public to identify their needs which should be reflected in the budget proposal.
Citizen forum keep concern to prepare people’s budget while others do not give priority. The
citizen forum as a civil society gathering prepares the people’s budget proposal within the citizen
forum structure. According to the preparation of the budget in the local government institutes,
the citizen forum also convenes the representatives of the citizen forum to gather their views,
ideas and proposals in relation to the issues in the field level. This event is opened to the wider
community without limiting in the citizen forum members only because preparing alternative
budget is a common task of the society. It invited wider representatives such as representatives
from the citizen forum, district citizen voice, Udayam women society; Youth district committee,
District Fisher Union and Praja Abilasha committee in Trincomalee. Representatives from the
citizen forum, district citizen voice and district youth committee participated in Mannar.
It conducted two meetings with the group discussions in order to identify the needs of the people
in the grass root. Participants actively engaged with the workshop and it was able to see an
encouragement of the members to identify the most important development needs because it
wanted to prioritize the issues using the rating system with the agreement of the members.
According to the previous discussion with the authorities of the local government, it has less
opportunity to include all proposals which were handed over by the citizen forums to the local
government institutes because of the limitation of the resources. Therefore, it listed out the most
important needs filtering the all proposals which were prepared by the people. According to the
intervention of the citizen forums members, it identified some key issues that the citizen forums
members faced in particular areas. Land grabbing, fishers’ issues, issues related to the access

ways to the sea, fixing street lamps, repairing the roads, sea erosion, income generation activities
of the women, drinking water, flood situation, destroying the co-existing between human beings
and elephants, environmental issues, health issues, were the main issues of the people in both
districts. The citizen forums have handed over their alternative budget proposals representing
citizen forums in both districts for many years but people are not in a position to satisfy with the
progress of implementing the budget proposal as well. The proposal was handed over to different
stakeholders such as Governor of the eastern province, Commissioner of the local government,
Deputy commissioner of the local government, District Secretariat Officer, Office of the regional
secretary, President of the local government and Mayor of Municipal Council in Town and
Gravest with the expectation of receiving the solutions for the issues. The same issues are
repeatedly proposed by the people with the expectation of receiving a progress from the local
government but local government institutions address very limited issues proposed by the people
through their alternative budget proposals. We conducted 2 meetings in both districts to prepare
the people’s budget proposals.
Citizen forum members engaged with the workshop to prepare a people’s budget proposal in Trincomle district
One workshop is conducted to analyze deeply the existing economic policies under the neo
liberal economic trend that directly influence to general public badly and important of
ensuring economic and social rights through the constitute in national level.
The neo-liberal economic policies were introduced with the open economy after the reforms in
1977 under the government of J.R. Jayawardana. The 1977 government decided to open the
economy for especially foreign investors. Although many previous governments criticized the
neo-liberal economic policies as well as the J.R. Jayawardana who introduced it, any government
did not attempt to make major changes to the neo-liberal economic policy as well. Every
government followed the particular policies in their governing period. On the other hand, doing a
major change to the economic policies was not an easy task according to the existing scenario of
the world.

With the end of the war in 2009, global finance capital and investment by bilateral donors such
as China contributed to a massive transformation of the economy with infrastructure and urban
development.
After the war in 2009, it showed higher economic growth between 6% and 8% dependent on
construction with foreign borrowings in the Mahinda Rajapaksha regime. The structure of
foreign debt also went through a transformation, with high-interest short-term loans for
sovereign bonds and euro dollar bonds for commercial banks and bilateral aid from China at
commercial rates. Sustaining such growth through international debt required rolling over
previous loans with newer and larger loans. Even as the chances of debt-related economic crisis
increased, the Rajapaksa regime found new avenues of financial flows including by encouraging
further real estate related foreign investment.
The national unity government also trapped within this neoliberal economic trajectory set over
the last few years. It was under considerable pressure to continue on the path of financial
stability to avoid an immediate debt-related crisis but in the process it could prolong the
onslaught of a deeper future crisis. National Unity government also was unable to maintain the
stable economic situation of the country. According to the satieties, the national unity
government also has taken foreign debt, and dept rate has been increased further.
Every economic strategy of the country focuses on the market-oriented business, there is no
economic tools to be included the poor layer of the society. Although the political parties defined
them as leftists, any political party was unable to present a proper alternative economic concept
on behalf of neo-liberal economic policy. Small scale businessmen, farmers, fishers, labours and
other layers of the economy have no opportunities to survive in the neo-liberal market situation.
Most of economic projects give benefits for the investors rather than general public. The neo-
liberal economic policies create a room to accumulate the money around the businessmen those
who invest capitals on different financial projects. There was no good financial management of
the Mahinda Rajapaksha’s regime, Maithreepala Sirisena’s regimes, Gotabaya Rajapakshs’s
regime as well as new ruling government. Especially Mahinda Rajapaksha regime tried to
implement mega development projects rather than implement the small scale development
project to sustain the lower community layers of the country. Poorest layers of the society are
benefited as a result of the increasing wealth of the richest according to the belief and ideology
of every government in the country. Poorest people become more poor and richest layers of the
country become more rich accumulating wealth them according to the neo-liberal economic
system in the country.

Piece of a land is the most important and one and only resource of the poor people. Land of the
poor people is being recaptured by the government in the name of development without
reasonable compensation system. Mahinda Rajapaksha regime grabbed the land of the people by
using the army forces in the name of national security in the war period. Developing tourism
industry is one of the major economic strategies of the government to develop the country. Beach
lands of the citizens have been captured lease to the local and foreign investors to construct the
hotels in many places of the country. Many fisher communities have been resettled outside of the
shore areas. Some traditional fishing methods such as beach seine industry have been narrowed
with new regulations. National Physical Plan was also passed by the Mahinda Rajapaksha regime
and National Unity government as well as Gotabaya Rajapaksha regime also continues the same
project. As well as, Ranil Wickramasignha’s government is also following the same economic
policies rather than other regimes because Ranil Wickramasignha openly appears on behalf of
neo-liberal economic system according to the belief and ideology of him.
On the other hand, there are many corruptions, nepotism, brief, fraud, irregularities, stealing
money, not respect to the rule of law, absence of transparency and accountability,
misappropriation of resources (Land) binding with the neo-liberal economy. This situation has
been continuing since 1978 but it has been become a worst situation under the Rajapaksha’s
regimes but there is no proper legal action against the responsible person. Everything depends on
the political power and economic strength. There are three kind of stakeholders of this corrupted
circle such as politician, dominate government officers and selected business community.
Corruption, brief, fraud, irregularities, stealing money have been become a part of the neo-liberal
economic system but any government has not taken legal actions against this situation properly
yet.
There are many development projects under the national physical plan and initial steps have been
taken to recapture the land for developing the projects under the national physical plan up to
2050. There is a discussion about the agreement of Millennium Development Cooperation
(MCC). Every development strategy does favor to the large-scale investors. It can see that many
local and foreign companies have built economic monopolies destroying the small scale business
in the neo-liberal market. Low salary, labour exploitation, narrowing the labour regulations,
minimum binding between the employees and employers are common situation of the economic.
Every government which ruled the country got entangled with the debt trap as a result of taking
unlimited longs. Recent governments failed to develop the domestic economic promoting local
investors.
Ranil Wickramasinha’s government has kept a wider belief about the IMF debt to build the
country giving a solution for the economic crisis. But, there are a lot of arguments on that

decision in the country. Central government has started the discussion with the IMF in order to
get the debt. According to the information, IMF has recommended some conditions to fulfill to
be released the debt. Ranil Wickramasignha’s government has planned to implement the
conditions of IMF. Citizens of the country are facing the worst economic crisis under the neo-
liberal economic policies. Food sovereignty has been challenged, no sufficient medicines, price
of goods is going up daily but there is no solution for that.
There was a sufficient discussion with the district staff in relation to existing economic policies
under the neo liberal economic trend that directly influence to general public badly and important
of ensuring economic and social rights through constitutional. The discussion focused on the
enhancement of the understanding of the staff as well as it emphasized the important option to
minimize the influence to the poor and marginalize layers from the existing economic policies in
the country. Advocate the policy makers to take actions to ensure the economic, social and
cultural rights of the people through constitutional reform are the visible solution to protect the
lower community layers from the neo-liberal economic policies. There was a dialogue in the
previous national unity government to include ESCR into the constitution accordance of
introducing new constitution but Gotabaya Rajapaksha government has not given priority for
introducing a new constitution. They gave a high priority to amend the to increase the reduced
power of the executive president. People were done aware the situation of including ESCR into
the constitution with a people involvement in future. NAFSO would like to deal with the new
government in order to see the possibility to incorporate the economic, social and cultural rights
in the constitution.
09.4.6 National level Peoples Assembly of human rights defenders to repel the totalitarian
elements from the constitution and take collective effort against the challenges in the
political context as ACDN
The totalitarian situation of the executive directly has influenced to create the economic crisis as
well as political and social crisis in the country. The democracy has been challenged because of
the nature of practicing the executive power of the president according to the constitution.
Gotabaya Rajapakshe is the 7th executive president of the county but he wanted to accumulate
more power around the executive presidency. He initiated to make the 20th amendment to the
constitution changing the 19th amendment just after coming to the power. He directly took the
power of appointing the persons to the dominant posts in many institutions changing the
structure of the commissions. There is no power balance of the three pillars of the democracy.
When we concern the democratic values of the country, there should be a balance of power
among the parliament, executive and judiciary to serve the democratic values. But, the executive
president has accumulated more power than other two institutions and he is able to take decisions

ignoring the parliament as well as he has power to place top of judiciary also. The executive
president is the person who takes the decision of appointing the judgers for the Supreme Court.
The executive president has taken many decisions without concerning the suggestions of the
others even expertise and consultants. Taking the decision to convert the chemical farming into
organic farm is one of the dominant decisions which directly influence to destroy the rural
economy. The people’s struggle was started against the government and president with the
decision of banding the chemical fertilizer and pesticides. There are many incorrect and
inefficient decision of the president even president does not accountable to the cabinet but he has
power to behave like that according to the constitution.
Civil societies also have been opened to challenge because of the undemocratic situation of the
country. President believed the military rather than the government mechanisms in governing the
country. Military officers have been appointed to many dominant institutions. The military
always try to control the voice of the people. The civil societies also concerned to participate in
the process of introducing a new constitution. NAFSO is one of the partners which played a vital
role in the process. NAFSO with the collaboration of different civil societies, trade unions,
community leaders, professionals, academics, student movements, religion leaders, lawyers and
other relevant stakeholders formed a coalition in the name of Movement for the formation of
People based Constitution to take actions to amend the constitution with an idea of abolishing the
executive presidency and strengthening the parliament. Numbers of meetings were organized at
Colombo and different districts. A national assembly was organized based on human right day
to get an agreement among the partners of the coalition to propose the proposal of civil societies
to the process of drafting the constitution at Colombo. Around 300 representatives from different
CSOs, and other institutions participated in the gathering. It was able to come to an agreement
about the frame of the proposal which is suggested by the civil societies as human rights
defenders. We were able to send a message to the government about the intervention of the
CSOs to abolish the executive presidency in the constitution.

Assembly of Human Rights Defenders at CMU, Colombo on Constitutional Dialogue
Continue the gathering of a group of people concern on human rights and people’s active
engagement to democratic processes, peace and co-existing among the nations and religions
This is one of the activities which is continually implemented based on the Voice of Negombo
Citizen, Movement for the formation of people based constitution and some different frontlines
toward to ensure the democracy with peace and co-existing through constitutional approach. It
highly concerned to prepare a people based constitution for the country. Series of meetings were
organized to consult the people and gather suggestions of the people in Kandy, Trincomalee,
Batticaloa and some other districts. The main meeting was organized in the secretariat office of
NAFSO. An educational workshop was organized by the Movement for the formation of People
based Constitution, under the theme of “Let us build a social movement to initiate the process of
People based Constitution” at the Auditorium of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement on
January, 2022. There were three sessions of the program. In the first, it tried to identify the
current crisis with it root cause. Dr. R.S. Samarathunga, analyzed the crisis and its impacts
through the economic perspectives. Mr. Basil Frenando, he showed the need of initiating a
people based consultative process for a new constitution in order to response to the crisis. He
participated through the online platform.
Professor Deepika Udugama joined the floor via Zoom and shared her reflections on the need
and value of the people based Constitution at this moment and a short video by Professor
Jayadeva Uyangoda on the meaning and the formation process of people movement was
screened. Based on the above inputs the second session, an open dialogue on the formation of a
people movement in building a people based Constitution was carried out. Mr.Saman
Seneviratne and Mrs. Thamara Dayani facilitated this second session.

The third session on exploring the possibilities and avenues of legal aids and proceedings as
response to this crisis. It was facilitated by Mr. Vincent Bulathasinhala (Attorney at Law) along
with a panel of eminent lawyers. The main focus was to look for the legal justification and filing
of a court case or number of cases based on the cries and appeals of the people in general, who
are being victimized day by day under this evolving crisis. A brief introduction on the possible
legal proceedings was shared by Mr. Basil Fernando (Attorney at Law and AHRC), the
Unity of Negombo Citizens’ Organized a gathering on Constitutional Dialogue at NAFSO

auditorium at Negombo.
importance of collective effort and filing of court cases as a group based on the burning issues of
people was shared by Mr. Srinath Perera (Presidential Counselor) and the possibility of
proceeding with a court case to overcome this crisis through a rectification process within the
legal framework while exploring the possibilities of obtaining help from different persons and
sectors, was also shared by Mr. Janaka Edirisinghe (Attorney at Law). NAFSO with the
collaboration of other civil societies facilitated this event basically to build the coalition as a
movement to take actions toward to change the constitution with the favor of peoples’
expectations.
This is a gathering of CSOs, community leaders, religion leaders and other concern people under
the voice of Negombo citizens’ structure. There are some meetings in the second phase of the
project and some demonstrations also were organized to pressure the government to take actions
to ensure the rights of the victims due to the Easter attack. The people gathering of Voice of
Negombo Citizen organize a demonstration on 21 of every month near the access road to the
church in Katuwapitiya which is one of the targeted churches of the attack.

09.4.7 Green Democratic Citizens’ Assemblies
The democratic space of the citizens has been gradually narrowing for some decades according
to the political nature of the governing systems. The power of the government changes among
few political groups in the country after receiving the freedom for the country in 1948. After
1978, the power exchange limited among three political parties according to the political history
of the country. Any political party which governed the country was unable to ensure the
democratic environment for the citizens in order to enjoy the benefits of the democracy as well.
The expectations of the people do not represent in the parliament and other governing bodies in
the country. Politicians always try to obtain the votes of the people showing different manifestos
in the elections but there is no any commitment of the politicians to implement the manifestos
after coming to the power.
Political power is used by the politicians to gather resources around them rather than developing
the country. The corruption, nepotism, brief, fraud, irregularities, stealing money, not respect to
the rule of law, absence of transparency & accountability, misappropriation of resources (Land)
are the main components of the politic in the country when we refer to the political culture
recently in the country. Rajapaksha’s regimes should take the lager position of the responsibility
in creating this economic crisis. As well as other regimes even national coalition government is
unable to escape without taking responsibility on this crisis. RanilWickramasignha’s government
plays a role in using even prevention of terrorism act narrowing the democratic space of the
citizen. Number of civil activists including leaders of the youth struggle has been charged under
the prevention of terrorism act. There is no space to raise voice for the citizen against the
injustice decisions of the government. Government always attempts to suppress the raising voice
under different legal provisions. Democracy has been challenged in the existing context of the
country. Citizens are organized to face the influence of the government. Organized groups
gathered to discuss the situation and see the possibilities to take actions to ensure the democratic
space of the country. This gathering was done simultaneously with continues gathering of a
group of people concern on human rights and people’s active engagement to democratic
processes, peace and co-existing among the nations and religions. There are different fronts with
a common agenda to ensure the rights of the people in the country.
09.4.8 Lesson learnt:
Gotabaya Rajapaksha’s government has showed their inability to govern the country according
to the expectation of the people in the country. Although there were many progressive
suggestions in the mandate of his party, they have failed to implement any of them toward to

develop the country. People had a strong belief about the Gotabaya Rajapaksha but he is the
weakest president of the Sri Lankan history.
The economy of the country is being gradually decreased because of the inefficient and incorrect
decisions of the executive president. A huge damage has been done to the rural economy due to
the decision of converting the chemical farming into organic farming without having a proper
assessment and experiment. The most of people who live in the rural area are farmers as well as
most of them are rice farmers. The basement of the rural economy was destroyed with above
decision of the president.
A huge pressure accumulated against the president, prime minster and the government from the
people in the country. Youth took the leadership of the struggle against the government with the
main slogan of “Gota Go Home” Economic crisis is the basement of this campaign and farmers
gave the start for the campaign.
People power is the most important element rather than any other power. Citizens have a power
to establish a government as well as change the government if the political leaders do not govern
the country as well. This is the time that citizens practice their power and rights to change the
government and its political leaders. Citizens of the country took the leadership to challenge the
most powerful executive president in the Sri Lankan history without cruel damage. The
strugglers ensured the power of the people as the most important element in the politic. People
played a role of active citizenship which is practiced by the citizen forum process also in the
campaign. Many opportunities were opened to amend the constitution in a progressive way due
to the result of the campaign. There is a golden opportunity for the people to change the system
in the country
Different countries try to intervene into the Sri Lanka by using this crisis. There is a tense
situation between two fronts which have been formed consisting of different countries. India,
America, Australia and Japan are the dominate countries in the one front and China is there other
front. Sri Lank practiced non aligned foreign policy but Mahinda Rajapaksha’s government had a
close relationship with China. According to the economic crisis, India has come forward support
to Sri Lanka rather than China. India and their front take actions against the program of Silk
Road which is implemented by China. China has already used their dept trap diplomacy and Sri
Lanka is unable to escape from China easily. India also has an own agenda behind the way of
supporting.

There is a mixed and complicated political environment after the youth struggle in the country.
The Gotabaya Rajapakha, the former president resigned due to the pressure of the campaigners
as well as Mahindra Rajapaksha, former prime minister also resigned due to the same result.
Ranil Wickramasignha who had only one seat in the parliament became as the president through
the parliamentary election. Although there is no people’s sovereignty, Ranil Wickramasignha
plays the role of executive presidency with the blessing of Rajapakshas.
The youth campaigners demanded a structural change through their Island wide campaign but
the dominate politicians have not taken the real understanding about the message of the people in
the country. The ruling government also does not address the root course of the issue in the
country although the campaigners raised it through the struggle.
Ranil Wickramasignha, the ruling president practices the executive power to control the youth
campaigners by using even prevention of terrorism act going beyond the former president
Gotabaya Rajapaksha.
With the immigration of Ranil Wickramasignha to the post of executive presidency, the youth
campaign began to weak gradually because different stakeholders those who supported to the
youth campaign gradually changed their strategies. Colombo based business communities,
middle class people, and government officers changed their attitude and stopped giving support
to the struggle.
09.5. Gender Justice and Women Empowerment with the support of

Mission Inclusion
9.5.1 Introduction:
Gender and women empowerment are one of the major sectors of National Fisheries Solidarity
Movement. Women are the majority of the membership of the organization. Women in the
fisheries sector, agricultural sector, women labour and women in the plantation sector are being
considered in the social development. When it concerns the gender development we closely work
with women headed households and internally displaced women as especial social layer in the
North and East.
Gender section of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement has organized women in different
sectors under the three levels such as regional, district and national level. The regional women
committees have been formed in 15 districts in the network. As well as connecting regional
women committees, district women committees have been formed. And, provincial women

federations also have been formed especially in the North and East. National Women Federation
has been established linking all district women committees and provincial women federations.
The purpose of establishing the National Women Federation is to accumulate the all strength of
the women to advocate toward to ensure the rights of the women in the national and international
level. Reconciliation among the nation has been concerned of this process. It has purposely given
opportunities for women leaders in the National Women Federation representing main three
nations such as Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim as well as there is a combination of different regions
of the national women federation.
The gender section of the organization was able to build strong women leaders through the
process. National Women Federation has engaged with different national and international
mechanisms to ensure the women’s rights. As well as, different women structures of the
organization have constructive relationship with other movements, women organizations, like
minded organizations, CSOs, government officers, unions and policy makers in regional and
national level.
Gender and women empowerment has two major sectors such as capacity development and
economic strengthen of the women. According to the capacity development, there were some
programs to enhance the leadership, understanding and knowledge of the women on social and
political. Under the economic strengthen, it organized some skill trainings and provided
livelihood assistance to the women to develop income generation activities in their won society.
Sri Lanka has been facing a severe political and economic crisis since 2021.The citizens of the
country have been affected severely due to this crisis. The geographical areas which were
selected for the project are most vulnerable among other districts. The beneficiaries were
selected from the vulnerable women headed families for this project. The Mission Inclusion [MI]
project has contributed to overcome from many challenges in the project sites through the
empowering the women headed families in the respective districts. So far, NAFSO had
supported for 82 women headed families by MI project during this one project period in order to
overcome from the livelihood obstacles which were faced by the women headed families in the
respective districts. NAFSO team conducted the door to door monitoring and evaluation
program. Due to the implementation of the MI project, the beneficiaries were able to face the
current economic crisis of the country. Once the beneficiaries had received the livelihood
supports from MI project, the economic condition of the beneficiaries have been increased
satisfactorily. Example: One of the beneficiary in Mullithivu district profited 27,000 LKR by
selling the hoppers within two months of time period. The beneficiaries of Livestock related
supports will reach their targets after six months once they received the support. Furthermore,
the women engage in savings practices in their respective villages.
The women have been empowered in five respective districts on socio, political and economic
rights. The women are dare to speak out their issues with District secretariat and other
government institutions. Apparently, the women speak to main stream and social media in terms

of their social, political and economic issues. As a result of the empowerment, Women have been
discussing about the other districts’ women issues in various platforms. Example: when the
women presented their district women’s issue to the secretary of the Provincial Council and
former minister of Provincial council at the women’s day celebration in 2022 in Trincomalee.
The women have demonstrated with the officials when the government officials refused the
criticism against the government. Furthermore, the government officials challenged the women
at the event.
9.5.2 Capacity building of women
Objective No 01:
Strengthen the national fisheries women federation [NFWF] and district women federations to
engage in economic, social, cultural and political rights of women and to increase women
political representation on their issues.
9.5.2.1 Continue the bimonthly gathering of district women committees conducted in 5 districts,
Achievement:
 Village level issues which face by women are discussed in District Women Federation
[DWF] meeting. Certain actions have been taken in order to settle of those issues.
Example: There was no public transportation service for Hijrapuram area in Mullaithivu
district, women has brought up this issue to the DWF meeting and handed over the
petition to the relevant officials and conducted a round table discussion. After the
consecutive attempts, a bus was deployed since December, 2022.
 The relationship between the DWF and government officials were increased in Galle and
Ampara. Galle district people meet the government officials often in order to sort out the
common issues. During the one of the meetings, the women proposed the government
officials to provide a training program on coir related productions, later on, the
Government officials provided the training as requested by the DWF. The officers of the
District Secretariat took part as a resource person at the Training. Herewith, Galle district
women conducted an exhibition through the support of PrajaAbhilasha Network.
Divisional Secretary participated as a chief guest. At the same time, the Divisional
Secretary requested to conduct such events in the villages in his DS division. Moreover,
Divisional secretariat officials take part in the village level events as well.
 Example -02: KilakkuSooriyan District Women committee of Ampara have discussed
with the Divisional secretariat and Pradeshiya Saba regarding the drinking water issue,
public transport service, garbage issues and Human & Elephant conflict related issues.
These kind of discussion creates the better relationship among the women and
government officials. At the same time, DIFSO Ampara invites the government
institutions for the public events which conducted by the partner organization.

 As a decision was taken KilakkuSooriyan District Women Federation on drinking water
issues of 4 villages. The federation has handed over a petition to the Alayadivembu
Pradeshiya Saba [Local Government Body] mentioning the drinking water issue. Since
September 2022, The Pradeshiya Saba provides the drinking water for 7 villages, since
the request given by the women federation in Ampara District. The Drinking water are
provided 2 times in week, 12,000 litters drinking water are provided in a week.
Approximately, 15,000 people from 2500 families are in these following villages
Kawdapity/Kannaipuram-01/Kannagipuram-02/Vinayagapuram /Ashrafnagar/Deegavapi
/ Puliyampattru/ Aligamba.
 Membership has been increased by 8 %, due to convening the district committee.
Example: Before beginning of this project year, 25 women were as members, but now it
increased up to 30 women members in the Galle District organization. 7 members were in
Galbokka village and now increased up to 15 members. Now the Galbokka members
identified two new villages named Pathagama[ 12 members] and Piyagama [10
members]. Moreover, Ampara, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu districts’ no of members
increased as well.
 The district Women Federations within the district and between the districts engaged
consistently regarding the women’s rights issues. Because of the above mentioned
engagement, Eastern Province Women Federation and Northern Province United Women
Federation were further strengthened by the women leadership team. Example- Other
district women participated in the ongoing protest against Sea Cucumber farming at
Kiranchi in Kilinochchi. Parallel women leaders from 3 districts conducted a media
briefing as well.
 A decision has taken at the Galle District Women Federation meeting to provide a
training on Palm related products. Once the training was given, Now the people began the
Palm products and selling them at the sales centre which was started by MI project in last
year.
Bimonthly gathering of district women committee in Bi-Monthly gathering of district women committee in
Batticaloa Ampara district

9.5.2.2 Conducted one out of two national fisheries women federation meeting. The meeting was
conducted as two days workshop and conducted an evaluation of the past 2 years of the women
federation’s engagement and progress. Moreover, road map was developed for 2023-2024 on
women’s programs.
Achievement:
 NFWF was able to identify the strengths and weakness of the engagement of NWF for
the last two years.
 A National level road map was developed for the year 2023-2024.
 Based on the National Level road map, one day district seminars were conducted to
develop the district level road maps.
Women and the People gathered at Trincomalee commemorating women’s day and attended on
March and the Indoor Gathering at Hindu Cultural Hall at Trincomalee on 28th March, 2022
9.5.2.3 National Women gathering on commemoration of International Women’s Day was

conducted on 28th March at Trincomalee.
Achievement:
 Handed over the Advocacy paper [Reactivating the raise of eastern women & empower
the women producers] on women issues of Eastern Province to the representative of
Eastern Province governor, Chief Secretary of eastern provincial council and other
government officials.
 NAFSO partner organizations from 15 districts and women organizations which work on
women rights across the country assembled and shared the experiences and ideas.
 Women leaders from North/East and South challenged the government officials as
follows Secretary of Eastern Provincial Council / Former Minister of Eastern Provincial
Council. Example: When NAFSO had organized the women’s day in Trincomalee district
in 2022, The National women’s coordinator addressed at the event and specially
explained about the issues of economic crisis with inflation, war affected women, women

headed families, Land and displacement and livelihood. Then, the Secretary of the
Eastern Provincial council denied the statement of the National women’s coordinator. As
soon as the Secretary of the eastern Provincial council denied the statement, the women
from north, east and south voiced out against his speech and the women explained the
real situation to audience and officials without any panic. Herewith after all the speeches
of the women, Former women affair minister of the Eastern Province criticized the
women and attempted to pull out the women from the hall. But the women didn’t move
and stayed together at the event.
 Southern women voice out together with Northern and Eastern Women for the issues
faced by north and east fellow women. This was a sign of reconciliation and road towards
sustainable peace. Example-01: Southern women emphasized the government officials to
visit Jaffna, in order to learn about the IDP camps in north where still displaced people
live. Also the women insisted the government officials to dwell in the IDP camps’ tent to
know about the real situation. Example-02: Southern women take risks to bring out the
north and east people’s issues, in order to educate the southern communities.
 Former Minister of Eastern Provincial Council [Mrs. Ariyawathi Galappaththi]
interrupted the women day celebration as she expected the prominence at the event but
women faced it without panic.
 We were able to overcome from the complaint which was filed against us at the
Trincomalee Police station due to the integrated engagement of the women.
 This event was become popular in main stream media due to the tensions occurred at the
celebration which were created by Mrs. Galappaththi.
 Special matters of affected women by war were educated to the other district participants.
During the village level and district level meetings, NAFSO is often discussing and
educating the people district wise and village wise about the issues of the north and east
people who affected by war. At the same time, when the northern women organize an
event or protest, the southern women also participate in the protests.
National Convener of NAFSO addressed the Women Coordinator of NAFSO handed over the
International Women Day commemoration held at Advocacy paper on women issues of Eastern
Hindu Cultural Hall at Trincomalee on 28th March, Province to the invitees in the women day
2022 commemoration

Objective No 02:
Measure and display how women begin to strengthen their economic power with the given
assistance to them & share and encourage other women with the achieved results and to promote
North South relationship among women participants
Activities under Objective: 01

Exhibition of the products / Produce (results) of livelihood strategies utilized by the beneficiaries
with the assistance provided to them.
15 Video clips on successful livelihood engagement stories of the women headed families in five
district were produced instead of conducting exhibition in district wise. The video clips
published in March 2023.
Achievement:
 15 videos produced and the subtitling is in progress.
9.5.2.4 Prepared the annual report based on the individual monthly income – expenditure
assessment report and savings of the beneficiaries (for the beneficiaries of 2021)
Achievement:
 District wise five reports [Tamil/Sinhala languages] were developed by the
district organizations. NAFSO was able to identify how long the district
organizations were strengthened through MI project.
 Beneficiaries are keeping records about their income and expenditure prior to
implement the program. They didn’t have such record before this.
 The beneficiaries take decisions based on the records.
9.5.2.5 Uploaded & Disseminated 10 Face Book posts per month for all the districts and create
25 video clips [5 per district] related to the successful stories of livelihood initiatives of women
during the year.
Achievement:
 Women engagement of this project were spread with other districts members.
 Knowledge on social media was developed in the respective districts.
 Other districts’ women have also been motivated by the progress of these
women’s engagement. Example-01: Ponnilava village women of Kurunegala
District have requested to support for their livelihood initiatives, subsequently the
women have seen the engagement of NAFSO with other districts. The coordinator
of Kurunegala District brought this message to the NAFSO steering committee

meeting. Example-02: Thematagala Diriyashakthi women’s group in Kurunegala
has started packaging and selling the Tamarind and Turmeric power. Example-03:
Food Stall opened and women have been providing the home made food for this
food stall in Polonnaruwa. Herewith, women are selling the vegetables of their
home garden during the fair market once in a week. These are the unintended
outcome of the project as well.
 Women speak out about women’s rights and human rights while they work to
develop their economic condition. These women’s voices are visible in the
NAFSO Social media platforms and blogger.
9.5.2.6 Monitoring program developed and closely assessed the progress through M & E process
on monthly event reports.
Achievement:
 NAFSO was able to follow up the progress of the beneficiaries consistently.
 NAFSO was able to see the knowledge development of the beneficiaries. NAFSO
has provided support for book keeping. Now the women’s knowledge on book
keeping has been increased and now the women maintains their monthly income
and expenditure document in the project areas.
 Sharing the progress of the MI project during the monthly steering committee
meeting of NAFSO.
 NAFSO staffs have visited 98% of the beneficiaries’ household door to door in
order to identify the real situation of the beneficiaries.
9.5.3 Economic strengthen of women

Objective 03:
Further enhance sustainable economic opportunities for new 85 women living in targeted 5
coastal districts, (last 4 years 293 women received LH support) while promoting sustainable
agricultural practices, sewing, exchange goods, Post -harvest practices, materials for fishing
activities, small holder entrepreneurship programs, livestock development, etc.
9.5.3.1 Enhanced the existing criteria for 2022 and Selection of new 15 beneficiaries in each
district. [15 x 5 =75 in 5 districts]
Achievement:
 Village level leaders selected the beneficiaries through using the criteria which was
drafted by NAFSO. The criteria draft was shared and educated with District women
federation.
 Selection process moved smoothly in the village level due to practice the criteria.
9.5.3.2 Conducted a Meeting with Selection Committee members to finalize the beneficiary list
to ensure transparency and equity, one in each district.
Achievement:

 Although the beneficiaries were selected by the village leaders, final decision made
by the selection committee. Unsuitable beneficiaries were omitted by this committee
as well. 82 beneficiaries were selected in the initial selection from 5 districts. Then,
we had theone to one discussion with the selected beneficiaries and identified 8
people [Ampara-03/ Galle-02/Mullaithivu-01/Batticalao-02] among them are
unsuitable. Later, we have selected another 8 beneficiaries who are the most
vulnerable and marginalized in those areas.
A hen was handed over to a beneficiary

Symbolically at the economic development A coir machine was handed over to a
Program at Ampara beneficiary at the Galle Program
9.5.3.3 Conducted an orientation program on Business Management and Economic Monitoring

One-day workshop in five districts.
Achievement:
 82 women had gained knowledge on Individual business plan.
 The women maintain formal business plan by themselves.
 Women were able to identify the future directions in terms of their business. At the
same time, their skills and attitude were developed to take decisions.
 Women were able to reduce their unwanted expenditures and to increase their
income.
 A background was created to engage in new livelihood activities. Example: NAFSO
provided livelihood support a woman for the peanuts cultivation at Kannagipuram in
Ampara District. The women earned enough and through the income she has started
vegetable cultivation as a new livelihood activity.
9.5.3.4 Calling for quotations & selection on items, materials or animals to be distributed
among women were completed.
9.5.3.4.1 Purchased and distributed the required items/ materials/ animals among the 82
beneficiaries.

Achievement:
 82 women’s economy conditions [Income] were increased by between 2000LKR-
15,000LKR [Batticaloa-15/ Kilinochchi-15/ Galle-15/Ampatra-17, Mullaithivu-20]
 through the direct support of NAFSO [MI Project]. Example: K.Vatsala from
Kannagipuram-02 in Ampara District, she has earned 2,000LKR a monthly income
before the project implementation and she was a dependant at that time, but now she
earns 15,000LKR.
Monitoring and evaluation meeting related to Monitoring and evaluation meeting related
livelihood programs in Galle district to the livelihood programs in Mullaithivu district
 Nine beneficiaries out 82 have begun new income generating initiatives through the
savings of their livelihood which were supported by NAFSO. Example- NAFSO
provided livelihood support a woman for the peanuts cultivation at Kannagipuram in
Ampara District. The women earned enough and through the income she has started
vegetable cultivation as well.
 Single women who lived dependably for food/medicine and were able to fulfill their
needs by themselves. Now those women self-confident level was increased. Example-
One of the beneficiary in Mullaithivu district profited 27,000LKR by selling the
hoppers (it is food made by rice flour) within two months of time period.
 Some of the beneficiaries have been engaging in the livelihood activities as a group
though they received the support as an individual. The individuals have separate
groups which contain 10 people in each group, subsequently discussed with their
group members. Example: 9 members at Anbupuram engage in Chilli Powder
packing as group, 6 members at Pallikuda engage in Nutrition flour production, 8
members at Iranaimathanagar engage in Chilli powder and Nutrition flour production
as a group, 7 members at Valaipadu engage in Nutrition flour production as a group
in Kilinochchi district. 3 members at Dodanduwa, 2 members at Karawayagoda and 2
members at Devinigoda engage in coir related productions in Galle district.

 Now these women have social recognition within the family and the neighbouring
society through becoming strong in economic conditions.
 32 out of 82 women who have borrowed loans settled down them and live loan free
life.
 27 families (5 in Ampara, 4 in Batticaloa, 7 in Mullaithivu, 6 in Kilinochchi and 5 in
Galle) were able to look after their children’s education satisfactorily. At the same
time, they were able to send their children for tuition (extra) classes as well.
 Women have moral satisfaction on their self-employment engagements.
9.5.3.4.2 One evaluation session per district on the progress of livelihood activities conducted at
the end of the program.
Achievement:
 We [NAFSO] were able to understand the real economic development progress of the
beneficiaries due to the door to door evaluation method. At the same time, we were
able to identify the beneficiaries who were failed to reach the objectives of the
project. And attempted to rectify those with necessary advice and guidance to revive
their project activities towards right direction.
 Around 85% of the beneficiaries have been maintaining the records about Income and
Expenditure of the business.
 The gaps of Social, Economic and Cultural atmosphere among the village poor were
able to understand. At the same times we learned that the political knowledge is very
poor and the social security is a question in the project areas. These issues identified
and shared in the social and main stream media without quoting the names of the
persons.
9.5.4 Challenges
 Fuel price hike and fuel shortage are the major challenge that we have faced. Therefore,
we had transport problem to complete the work according to the timeline. Meanwhile, we
have organized the events through discussing with the district staffs through the mobile
phones. As soon as we obtained the fuel, we speed up to complete the activities. So we
covered three districts’ works within field visits.
 The travelling cost for the participants have been increased by 200%, therefore, we had
some problems to gather the people for the meetings and other events. Therefore, We
have discussed with the beneficiaries about our limitation, at the same time, we increased
their travelling cost reasonably in order to sort out this issue.
 Our members who engage in the rights based approach were unable to reach their targets
due to the instability of political situation. Therefore, we have discussed at the district
women committee meeting in terms of increasing the participation of the members. At
the same time, we have educated them how to face this crisis. When many members were

fed up with the instability of the political situation, so we conducted online zoom
meetings with selected women and connected the members with other civil
organizations’ activities to motivate the members. Special speakers addressed in the
meetings and they shared their views with the members on various sectors. Also they
shared the importance of the mobilization to build better Sri Lanka. Also we educated the
people on Right to Information Act [RTI] and how to present the issues to the officials.
We organized more collaboration activities during this time period. Herewith, we
attempted to bridge the people with government officials.
 One of the Special invitees [Former provincial council Minister] for the women day
celebration turned against our organization at the event, Subsequently the National
women’s coordinator’s presentation. The special invitee threatened NAFSO staffs and
animators further, the invitee said that she will never allow NAFSO to work in the East if
NAFSO accused the government such like this. Further, she has complained against few
staffs of NAFSO in the Trincomalee Police head quarters. We used this threat as an
opportunity and gave a wider publicity to our work through the main stream and social
media. Moreover, we have discussed with the staffs and women leaders to mitigate such
incidents not to happen in future. Example: After this incident, there was a setback
among women in terms of organizing meetings in the respective district, later on,
NAFSO educated the members that NAFSO has sorted out the issue at the police station
so the district women do not need to hesitate to organize any meetings. Also we educated
them that there is space in the legal side to express our issue.
9.5.5 Opportunities
 We used this project as an opportunity to strengthen the Eastern province women
federation and Northern Province women federation through empowering the district
women committee and members plus their leadership.
 This project has given an opportunity to bridge and to build better relationship with
government officials.
 The women who engage in right based approaches activities are vulnerable economically.
Therefore, we have found that there were setbacks among women to engage in the right
based approach activities. So NAFSO identified the MI project as an opportunity in order
to respond for economic problem of the vulnerable group. Therefore, NAFSO was able to
increase the participation of the vulnerable women groups for the right based approach
activities. We continuously meet the people and said that we are with their struggles. So
we have built trust among the members to engage in the right based approach activities.
Most of the time, NAFSO staffs also took part in the initiatives of the right based
approaches. When The NAFSO participates in the struggles, people also come forwarded
without panic.
 Women leadership and engagement of their works have been publicized through the
opportunities to handle with the media personals.

9.6 CCFD Project on Freedom to the Nation, Resettlement to the Internally
Displaced People & Build up the Reconciliation for the Social Justice
9.6.1 Intervention on IDPs
 Conducted action committee meeting of Northern Province Fisher People’s Unity
 The national fisher women federation that was established in 2014 with the support of
CCFD project is completing 10 years in 2024. Concentrating on this a road map for
women activities for 2023 – 2024 was created.
 NAFSO conducted three days TOT training workshop for selected women leaders in
district level on community building, social approach, gender balance, civil society, UN
system, networking. 18 women resource persons were formed on the district basis.
 NAFSO, Fisheries Societies in North CSOs, Mannar catholic mission and women
societies organized collective march and protest against the intervention of the Indian
trawler fishing in Sri Lanka waters (North part)
9.6.2 Engagement with Government of Sri Lanka

 NAFSO organized dialogue among Ministry of Fisheries, Labour and Foreign affairs,
SEPA organization and ILO office in Sri Lanka, Representatives from fisher community
on process of the C-188 fisheries convention.
 The NAFSO conducted a national dialogue with Civil organization and Environment
organization in Southern on issues of the fisheries community in northern in Sri Lanka.
The dialogue mainly focused on illegal fishing and intervention of the Indian trawlers.
 Conducted special meeting with Kallarawa village in Trincomalee on issues of the fisher
community faced due to the closed of the river mouth at the same time conducted
dialogue with government authorities.
 A media briefing was organized to clarify the problems faced by the fishermen of
Northern Province with regard to invading Indian fishermen and also to aware the other
civil organizations operating in South.
 For the life and livelihood problems of the people, two protests were organized in district
levels, supported the protest organized in Mannar against the Indian Fishermen invasion.
 In 2023 NAFSO supported May Day rally that was organized by the trade unions in
Colombo first time as the national fisheries trade union.
 National Fisheries Solidarity Movement conducted special dialogue on issues
identification and planning with representatives of Citizen Committee, Udayam District
Women Federation, National Fisheries Trade Union (Trinco branch) and District you
committee.
Program held on 29th September 2022 in Trincomalee.

9.6.3 Moves with Diplomatic Missions
 Representatives of Northern Province Fisher People's Unity and National Fisheries

Solidarity Movement met and discussed with the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in
Jaffna. During this, representatives explained about the problems faced by the northern
fishermen due to the illegal fishing carried out by Indian trawlers in the northern part of
Sri Lanka, the actions taken so far by the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and the
Northern Provincial Fisher People's Unity to solve this problem and they requested to
arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu as another effort to solve this
problem. It has been demanded that Indian fishermen should completely stop trawling
fishing and not be allowed to enter our territorial waters.
The Leaders of NPFPU met the Deputy HC of India at the High Commissioners office at Jaffna
 A meeting was organized with assistant high commissioner in the Indian High
Commission in Jaffna with regard to the invasion of Indian fishermen.
 The National Fisheries Trade Union and NAFSO held a collective media conference
regarding the problems faced by fishermen and fisher women due to fuel crisis and fuel
price and the actions of the government of Sri Lanka. In this press conference 10
demands were presented to the government.

The Trade Union Leaders & National Convener of NAFSO addressing the media after the awareness program on
ratification process of ILO- C-188 Convention which was held at NAFSO Secretariat at Negombo
 Representatives of Thendral District Women Federation (Affiliated Norther Province

Women Federation)" met Mr. Vijendran, chairman of Mullaithevu Pradesiya Saba (local
government) and discussed regarding women’s issues and handed over the petition. At
the same time conducted the media briefing.
 Northern Province Women's Federation (affiliated with National Fisher Women's
Federation) conducted media briefing on women faced issues due to the economic crisis
and political situation. (August 2022)
 National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and Northern Province Fisher People Unity
organized collective media discussion on issues of the fisher community due to the
political and economic situation of Sri Lanka.
 NAFSO have given support to the protest against wind power and sand mining project in
Mannar.
9.7 Media:
9.7.1 Media intervention of NAFSO-2022
The year of 2022 is important for NAFSO because of celebrating 25 anniversaries of National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement and year of small scale fishers. We are a civil organization which
works towards to the sustainability of the small scale fishers and develop the sustainability of the
small scale fisheries industry. According to the above two dominant components, it is able to
present the media intervention of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement

9.7.2 Media activism of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement:
NAFSO is using different print, Social and electronic media platforms to disseminate the
information for the members. There are some platforms such as NAFSO online official Face
book account, NAFSO Blogger, NAFSO- Sri Lanka official twitter and three months “ Sidusara
magazine. We work competently with mainstream media organizing different media discussions
and different media works coordinating with other CSOs. Our media section is doing such as an
important role to ensure the people rights by using the local and foreign media relationship. Our
media unit has been developed for a wider area which was established under a media
coordinator.
The last mechanism for reporting various activities including new social activities and other
social activities carried out by our organization in the national and international arena is the
media channel owned by our organization. Sometimes there are times when they work hand in
hand with the national media. We use the media platforms that we have in the national level as
well as media of district level to disseminate the information
It must be said that our institution's social media is one of the main mechanisms that popularize
the achievements of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement for more than two decades. It
can be stated that the national community as well as the international community is getting
attention and understanding regarding the work of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
through the media that we cover. Not only the local academics but the international academic
community as well as the local media organizations and foreign media organizations as well as
the journalists working in the media industry have contacted our institution through the media of
our institution. However, the media machinery of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
works closely with the national media.
In particular, our organization is unique in having an extensive network of media coordinators

spread across 15 districts. Our movement has the ability to present the various programs and
activities in the district not only to the entire country but also internationally through social
media and print media. However, our media network, which was crippled by the Covid-19 virus,
has made great progress today. The district media coordinators and the district coordination of
the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement have a great contribution in the media activities.

Also, the fact that we have a media section has also been a big reason for the media progress of
the movement. However, the media activity of our movement can be marked as a year that
showed a very high progress last year. Because last year was a turning point in the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement, celebrating the 25th year of our movement and also celebrating
the International Year of Minority and Aquaculture, the last year important. The media activity
of our movement operates under several sectors.
1. Facebook NAFSO Sri Lanka

2. NAFSO Blogger
3. Twitter
4. Sindusara magazine
In this way, our movement’s social media is operated through a trinity of platforms. Here, mainly
through publishing the one-day rain face book of our movement, the local community will be
requested and through that the society will be informed. We mainly target the international
community through Blogger and we update all our programs there in three languages. Our media
activity is mainly done through social media and we are also in movement through the printed
newspaper Sindusara. It works to popularize information and programs. The media activity of
the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement is carried out through these sections. Our media
section takes social media as a main section and other social media are also used more or less.
9.7.3 NAFSO Sri Lanka (Official Face book Page of NAFSO)

Face book Social Media Tool is a powerful social media tool used by the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement. As of today, more than 2507 users are working with us through our
organizational Face book page. A group of district 15 members were connected locally through
the official page of our institution. Apart from that, a large number of people are also involved
internationally. We had a large number of subscribers and users with daily updates of all the
work we are doing through the official staff of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement.

Today it is difficult to find a person who does not have a face book. Through the official awards
of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, it has managed to attract the attention of a large
number of people at home and abroad. In the year 2021, when the risk of COVID was
widespread, our organization was able to do a great job through social media such as Face book.
The daily update of the various activities carried out at the district level and at the departmental
level has been done through the official release page of our movement and in some cases through
live technology. It can be stated satisfactorily that we have reached a very large number of
subscribers with our official face book. The reason for that situation is that the Grama sevaka
group is from both Sinhala and Tamil media. Here, our campaign has succeeded in intensifying
the mission of social media by informing the audience about the current problems and crises seen
in the society. We have managed to address various people's problems through the face book and
have managed to attract national and international attention to it. Also, the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement has been connected to the main campaign page of the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement through the campaign page that is active in their district within the district
activities spread across the 15 districts. However, as a powerful social media tool that we operate
in our organization, we can mention the official face book of our business.

9.7.3 Engagements of Partner Organizations on Face Book
9.7.3.1 Matara district- Southern Fisheries Organization
9.7.3.2 Galle district- Southern Fisheries Organization

9.7.3.3 Jaffna district- District Fisheries Solidarity Movement
9.7.3.4 Ampara district- District Fisheries Solidarity Movement
There are 15 Face book accounts for all 15 partner organizations but it has mentioned few of
them only
9.7.4 NAFSO Sri Lanka (Official Blog Site)

The official page of the National Fishery Solidarity Movement is the main media stream aimed
at the international community. This website is used to provide information especially to the
international community as well as the fundraisers who contribute to our campaign.
In particular, the main stream that presents all the activities carried out by the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement is the official page and this is the media stream that brings together all the
activities of our district activities spread over the 15 districts. Anyone visiting the official
website of our organization can get a comprehensive understanding of our organizational vision,
mission, sectors and projects in which the membership of our organization is active. In
particular, we are working with the media representatives of the 15 districts throughout the 15
districts to highlight the social media mission of our intervention.
Our movement spread across 15 districts is managed by the National Convener and the District
Coordinator. This is the mechanism by which people are informed about the work we do and
intend to do in our work. This mechanism works under the supervision and guidance of our
convener and administrative secretary. This mechanism is used by our movement to educate the
national as well as international community through our activities. The media coverage of our

movement has ensured that a large number of the local community as well as the international
community have rallied around our media.
Level of accessing to the Blogger in 2022
An analysis of the media coverage of our movement in the last year 2022 is shown in the above
chart. Also, below is a data description that is required by any party regarding the search of
media information of our work in the year 2022. As the main media source of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement, many international organizations and international journalists
gather information through the official page and today there was a large group of social media
subscribers around our organization. The main reason for this is that we can cover a large
number of subscribers, especially due to the social media tools used by our works. A large group
of international subscribers connect with our organization on a daily basis, especially through the
official website. These include professional journalists, civil society activists and human rights
activists.

The official website of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement in 2022 was approached
through various social sources. According to the chart above, the approach using other social
media sources is shown.
9.7.5. How subscribers access our e-database as countries in the international community

The year 2023 will mainly focus on the USA and Germany as our but is mainly targeting the
international community to the official blogger page. Other countries can also access our official
blogger page as follows.
Visitors of NAFSO Blogger
Visitors of NAFSO from Various Countries
In particular, the media user base of our movement also consists of the international community.
These include mainly Russia, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, USA, Indonesia, Sweden, Germany,
Estonia, China, France, Poland, Netherlands, Norway and neighboring India. International
coverage as well as national coverage was extremely important to strengthen the media activity
of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement. It should also be noted here that through their
comments, they are a strength for our plan to carry forward the media operation. Our movement
provided facilities and opportunities to any subscriber to access the e-mail media of our work
and search and get information through the email address of
9.7.6 Media training:

We always work for more optimal media reporting by organizing media workshops for the future
media activities of our movement. Here, these media workshops were organized based on the
facilities available under various projects. Last year was an extremely important year for our
movement and based on that, arrangements were made to hold a media workshop in Digana of
Kandy for five days on January 06, 2022. There, the opportunity was given to our 15 district

members in terms of social media post creation, video creation and editing, photography and
mobile media. Thus, it should be noted that the purpose of all this is for the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement to work for a more optimal media mission while protecting its own media.
Media training for the district activists & Youth held in Digana, Kandy, during 5-11 January

Some Posters Printed during the commemoration of International Year of Aquaculture
and Small Scale Fisheries - IYAFA 2022
A group of nearly 30 participants participated in this social media workshop and received
practical as well as theoretical training regarding social media. Today, everyone in our
movement who participated in the workshop was able to create posts on the national fisheries
Solidarity Movement’s campaign or internationally important dates and update them on the
social media. In this way, by creating short videos and taking photographs in a one-to-one
manner, this has led to a good support for the development of the media of our movement.
The activities of the media have been highlighted in the programs of land, policy, women, youth
and environment, peace and harmony etc. Also. The existence of a five-member media

committee in our institution, especially under the chairmanship of the National Convener, takes
decisions regarding the future media activities of our institution.
In particular, the problems and crises faced nationally or internationally, the main means of
expressing our position and our unity as a national fisheries solidarity movement is through
media discussions, and on November 05, 2022, the fishermen of the north will face Media
awareness was also made regarding the Indian trawling crisis which was a huge problem and we
have also organized media discussions to inform the media about the rapid increase in the use of
banned trawling, the destruction of mangroves and the land grabbing that is already taking place.
In this way, media discussions have been organized to present their vision of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement. In particular, we have taken steps to cover the difficulties faced
under various problematic situations and public protests through the social media of our
movement.
K. Jamaldeen, Chairperson of National Fisheries Trade Union and Herman Kumara, National Convener,
NAFSO together with women leaders are on the streets in Negombo marching on World Fisheries Day
Celebrations and 25th Anniversary of NAFSO held at Negombo.

Especially the 25th anniversary of our movement which we organized last year was a remarkable
occasion and for that we can highlight the coverage of our media as well as social media, local
and international media.
Also, the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement is working with the mainstream media, which
is in contact with the local media spread across the 15 districts. To obtain media coverage for the
media discussions we organize. Support is also received in the media and it is organized through
social media and through the road system. Also, the social media workshop held by Maradana
CSR Institute's project on October 22 of last year was a great help to the media of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement. Through organizing social media workshops in this way, we
have contributed to improving the media future of the movement.
9.7.8 NAFSO Sri Lanka (Official YouTube Channel)
YouTube can be identified as another social media tool in the National Fisheries Solidarity
Movement. In fact, it is correct to say that You Tube is a communication network that has spread
very rapidly among the youth community. Even finding a person who does not use this social
media tool today is a very complicated task. With the development of the communication
process, it is seen that any person is using this social media tool in a proper manner to popularize
the message to the recipient quickly.

When receiving a message, it is a more appropriate process to take a video of the scene and
present it to the receiver rather than using still images. The National Fisheries Solidarity
Movement has also created a new e-mail channel unique to our organization to quickly and
rapidly disseminate information to the public. Also, the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
uses this You Tube channel to immediately socialize any problem that arises in the society
regarding the fisheries, farmers, women, land, youth and environmental sectors. Below is the
statistical data presented in the form of tables showing how our company's You Tube channel
has been viewed by customers in the last year 2020. Access to the official email channel of the
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement can be used to access the email settings.
9.7.9 NAFSO Sri Lanka (Official Twitter Page)
One more social media tool used in the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement is Twitter tool.
As far as the use of new communication tools is concerned, social media has been ahead of the
curve today. This social media tool is widely used especially among scholars, communicators,
journalists and youth community. Twitter is a social media savvy block service. Academics,
human rights activists, and journalists from different countries have referred to our institution's
use of social media. The National Fisheries Solidarity Movement has provided the opportunity
for people to access the social media. The uniqueness of the media activity of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement is through the Twitter tool because it can be sent very quickly
like a text message.

9.7.10 Publications of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (Year 2022)
The National Fisheries Solidarity Movement does not only use modern technology in its media
mission, but for that the publication is also handled. Accordingly, our institution publishes
various publications on current topics from time to time. Some of the publications published by
our institution last year can be presented as follows.
Biography of John Cyril, a traditional SSF &

Commemoration of IYAFA-2022
Blue Justice Book[Sinhala] Published by
NAFSO Commemorating IYAFA-2022

10. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
10.1 Community Lead Research on NPP and Impacts on Coastal
Communities
NAFSO is working with small-scale fisher communities primarily and also with small holder
farmers, agricultural workers, plantation communities and women in all the sectors to ensure
food sovereignty through land justice, gender justice, climate justice and overall human rights
and social justice approaches. Over the decades of adopting Neo-Liberal Economic policies,
since 1978, more than 45 years the small scale food producers, women and youth have
experienced serious social, economic, environmental and political destruction and degradation of
human rights violations. Once people came forward to prevent, resist and assert their rights, the
ruler’s response was brutal and inhuman and to an unbearable level. Some of the main demands
were to be free from domination, exploitation and also discrimination against humanity.
However, these people’s uprising was brutally crushed through militarily and using war. Over
this period our country experienced two major blood sheds, one in the south in 1987-1989 period
killing or disappearing 60,000 people, youth in particular and there after 2005-2009 in the north
too while killing or disappearing more than 100,000 people in the country.
Immediately after the war ended, the Sri Lankan rulers came forward with a plan claiming we
need to have a vision aiming at 2030 then this was extended until 2050. So, there was a specific
department established which is called National Physical Planning Department and this was the
main institution to plan and design the future of the country. The department came out with a
new plan labeling it as the National Physical Development Plan which is known as NPP 2013-
2030. Once we see the NPP it has not considered the country’s rural economies, the small holder
farmers, fisher folk, the plantation communities, milk farmers, agricultural workers and women
in all these sectors who are depending on the land, water, forests, coasts, lagoons, seas, and in
general the people who depend on the natural resources. The majority are farmers, fishers and
plantation communities affected by the NPP. People agitate in isolation and attempt to
emancipate their situation alone. But, the issue is huge and needs collective efforts to overcome
as a concerned group of people who are working on people’s human rights, right to food, right to
land, water, education, health, housing and many more. In such a situation we were able to
collaborate with the ESCR-Net global research work which is Community Lead Research and to
bring this to national and global platforms to address them collectively.
10.2 Point Pedro Fishery Harbour Construction and Northern Fishers

Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank to “upgrade and improve the
infrastructure and services required for the development of fisheries infrastructure facilities in the
Northern Province under the Northern Province Sustainable Fisheries Development Project
(NPSFDP)”3. The main objective of NPSFDP is to create an all-weather harbor for fishing
activities and an infrastructure to support fishermen's market. NPSFDP claims to increase the
3
https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/49325/49325-002-iee-en_0.pdf

efficiency of fisheries operation and business, health and safety of fishers’ market and assist in
the sustainable development of the economy and improve the lives of those directly or indirectly
affected by fishers.
⮚ The Point Pedro Mega Scale fishery harbor which is aiming Northern Province
Sustainable Fishery Development Project [NPSFDP] in Jaffna district in the Northern
coast devastate traditional Small scale fishing villages of Kottadi, Munai, and Suppra
Madam with 3000 SSF in the villages.
⮚ Point Pedro coastal infrastructure development project of mega scale fishery harbor will
displace communities in 3 villages, dispossess the coastal resources to those
communities, destroy coastal ecosystem of near shore and disturb rich fishing ground and
devastate fish breeding grounds,
⮚ There are only small scale FRP boats, canoes and Vallam operating in the area and
people are wondering why this mega scale fishery harbor which they did not expect was
going to be constructed against people’s wish?
⮚ There are three schools including one national school from Kottadi in Point Pedro that
has been threatened to be removed from the village which will affect the education of
children in those three villages.
10.3 Economic Development Opportunities for Women Headed Households in N/E

districts
Additional income opportunities to be brought into the family unit of vulnerable women in
North and East of Sri Lanka using an inclusive approach. NAFSO, in conjunction with its
international partners, want to explore ways where these vulnerable women can increase their
income through new entrepreneurship initiatives linked to fish harvesting and processing,
with the understanding these initiatives should be aimed at low-income market segments.
The livelihoods of war affected displaced communities and resettled communities have
negatively impacted because of the loss of their land and other natural resources required for
their livelihoods according to previous studies. In addition, the recent outbreak of the COVID
19 pandemic has caused numerous obstacles in the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.
NAFSO is planning to support these families in these communities affected by eviction to
restart and enhance their livelihoods. In order to facilitate the activities leading to achieving
the above target an assessment of the current livelihood situation after displacement and
resettlement was conducted out to identify the vulnerabilities and challenges. The challenges
include the factors that can facilitate or hinder the implementation of their existing and
possible future livelihoods strategies.
With the assessment results, a livelihood strategy which includes elements of food
sovereignty concept and sustainable production to improve the nutrition in the family will be
considered. For six districts under preview i.e.,Ampara, Mannar, Killinochchi, Trincomalee,
Mullaitivu and Batticaloa, several strategic options will be considered. These livelihood
strategic options would be based on enhancing existing livelihood skills or to introduce new
livelihood development at an individual or group level.

Also, with intention to develop effective livelihood strategies to improve their food and
livelihood security, these strategies will be based on aspirations and context of the groups as
well as the current market opportunities and the new normal environment created by the
COVID 19 pandemic.
In accordance with the above background, and the assignment was given to a consultant by
the NAFSO. The report containing the process and findings including the recommendation
for a sustainable and practical livelihood strategy for the war affected and displaced
communities and resettled communities with particular reference to Vulnerable Women of
artisanal Fisheries sector in North and East.
10.4 Feminist Participatory Action Research [FPAR] among WHH in

Northern Province
APWLD is exploring what kind of issues women face in countries such as Sri Lanka, India,
Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, Myanmar, and the Philippines due to globalization,
fundamentalism, and militarization eventually lead to patriarchy which is a hindrance to sustain
peace in the society. Accordingly, this study of Sri Lanka on Peace FPAR was undertaken to
implement through the Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization[SVFWO], the member
organization of NAFSO. The purpose of this study is to explore the current situation in the war-
torn North of Sri Lanka and how women in the region are facing various challenges, how women
attend to address the issues collectively, how the society should collaborate with them to launch
possible advocacy and media campaigns to achieve sustainable Peace in the society. To find out
the possible avenues, we are focusing on 12 villages in 4 districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar
and Mullaitivu as the main players. The steps we followed were to present those issues to
national, regional, and international levels to address them in a collective manner.

11. REGIONAL COOPERATION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF VGSSF
11.1 RAG A&P Regional Secretariat
The performance of the Secretariat of Regional Advisory Group for Small Scale Fishers in Asia
Pacific Region (RAGA&P) During 2022.
A. Key Outputs & the Activities Planned for the Year:
1. Members of the RAG are fully aware and committed to their mandate and work closely and in
autonomy.
 Secretariat initiated in 2021 with countries (India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and New
Zealand) continues to expand its activities with additional countries.
 Ongoing communication strengthened among RAG members through regular Zoom
meetings.
2. Assessment of the Small scale fishers Guideline’s implementation carried out, data gathered
information on SSF collected from social movements
 Survey elaboration and methodology development in collaboration with the IPC working
group on Fisheries.
 Survey Translations in local languages
 Survey distribution in 10 countries of each Region (Africa, Asia & Pacific, Latin America,
Caribbean and MENA) For us in Asia & Pacific
 Data collection through Face to Face meetings in Communities
 Data Analysis and Reporting
 Face to Face meeting of RAG Members
3. Advocacy work: Plan for the SSF Guidelines implementation defined and implemented at
Regional level.
 Identification of priorities
 Meetings and Calls
 Advocacy Plan defined and developed
 Face to Face training at National level
 Info sessions(Webinars) at National & Regional level
 Knowledge exchange among SSF communities
 Communication tools produced, distributed and customized throughout training, workshops
and Meetings
11.2 RAG (A&P) Meetings held
- Scheduled Monthly Meetings on every 1st Friday of the month, total Meetings 10
- Participants: Average 6-10 members per every meeting
- Countries: India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh
- (Attempts to get Pakistan, Philippines and Myanmar are in the process)
11.3. Achievements
a. Face to Face Meeting at Bangkok 9th to 13th May 2022 (link)

First face to face meeting of RAG members of five countries (India, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Bangladesh, and Indonesia) held in Bangkok, Thailand from 9th to 13th of May. It was organized
and facilitated by the IPC Secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Secretariat.
b. Development of People centred Survey methodology to assess the implementation of SSF Guide
lines.
As a result of the above face to face meeting the members realized and agreed to further
contextualized and make more people centred, the already proposed methodology for assessment
(by Carsten, Yifang).
c. Report of the Thailand Meeting/recommendations (link)
d. Planning for the Assessment of the implementation of SSF Guidelines in the region using the
People centred approach (Link)
e. Consultation and development of TORs for the Resource persons Ms. Savita Vijaykumar
(Independent Researcher) & Mr. Jones Spartegous (Consultant on people-SSF centred
methodology) in implementing the regional survey. (link)
Objectives and Output of the Survey
 Collect qualitative data on the SSF Guidelines implementation at national level by disseminating
the questionnaire elaborated by the RAG Asia and Pacific with the support of an external
consultant
 Share the data with the external consultant for the compiling of the Asia and Pacific Regional
Report
f. Carrying out Survey/FGDs/ Case Studies in 6 countries, namely India, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Indonesia, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Number of focus group discussion

Country AG A&P organization coordinating
(FGD)
Sri-Lanka NAFSO 5 [Mannar, Eravur, Negombo, Matara,
Polonnaruwa] with 20 participants in
each FGD
Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation √
(SDF)
India East Coast Fish Workers’ Union √
Bangladesh Coast Foundation √
Malaysia Jaring √
Philippines PAMALAKAYA ×
Indonesia SPI √
g. Validation and Finalizing of the Regional Assessment Report (Link)

Regional Assessment report on the Status of SSF guidelines and its implementation in the Asia
Pacific Region completed and to be launched during the proposed Capacity Building Training
workshop for RAG members.

12. MONITORING PROGRAM OF FAO RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO
VULNERABLE FISHING COMMUNITIES
CONTEXT: The economic crisis has seen a major depreciation of the national currency. The Sri
Lankan Rupee has depreciated by over 70 per cent since it was free-floated on 7 March 2022. A galloping
inflation with headline inflation touching 39 per cent and food inflation at 57.4 per cent (May Y-o-Y)
have seriously eroded the purchasing power of people throughout the country, including farmers and
fishers.
Recent WFP and UNICEF studies have found that nearly 80 per cent of households (HHs) are adopting
negative coping strategies. In April 2022, UNICEF’s nationally represented survey showed that 70 per
cent of HHs have reduced their food consumption, primarily due to the rising cost of food. Seventy-three
per cent (73%) of HHs have had their incomes either curtailed or reduced and the majority, about 86 per
cent of HHs are adopting at least one coping mechanism. The small-scale artisanal marine fishers are
amongst the worst impacted. A March–April 2022 WFP study indicated that almost all HHs have been
using food related coping strategies, of which nearly half have been eating less preferred or cheaper food
on a daily basis.
12.1 Relief work at Northern and Eastern Provinces

Address urgent food security needs of marginal fishers in the most vulnerable districts in Sri
Lanka” is an emergency project under the CERF (Central Emergency Response Funds) to
address the urgent food security needs of most vulnerable fishers in marginalized districts in Sri
Lanka through unconditional cash transfers. The project is implementing by the Food &
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (DoFAR). The project is being implemented in 06 selected districts: Mullaitivu,
Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara (Kalmunai Fisheries district). A total
of 6,898 beneficiaries will be receiving 3 installments of USD 42 each [=15,000 LKR] over a
period of 3 months.
The beneficiary list was provided by the DoFAR, which contains fishers who are (i) permanent
residents in the selected districts, (ii) must own a traditional Non-motorized fishing boat (NTRB
vessel) registered at the DoFAR, (iii) should not have registered boats in the type MTRB –
Motorized Traditional Boat / OFRB – Out-board engine Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Boat /
IDAY – Inboard Day Boat / IMUL – Inboard Multiday Boat.
FAO and the funding partners expected the outputs of increase the nutritional intake and improve
the coping strategies of small-scale artisanal marine fishers in four of the poorest fishing districts
(Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu) through an unconditional cash transfer of
USD 42 per HH per month for three months. NAFSO was invited to facilitate the field
monitoring activities and to verify the beneficiaries selected through in collaboration with FAO
and Department of Fisheries.

NAFSO Conducted following activities among the vulnerable fishing communities
to monitor and verify the reliability and accuracy of the beneficiaries in above
mentioned districts with the facilitation of our partner organizations.
1. Coordinate ground level activities which includes beneficiary cross checking and
monitoring of inputs
2. Convene government-led beneficiary group meetings in each district to coordinate and
monitor the whole implementation process
3. Conduct baseline and end line data gathering
4. Support FAO to monitor the project and ensure through the Fisheries Ministry,
Department, field monitoring by relevant government agencies at provincial/district
levels.
5. Facilitate department-led messaging through village level fisher groups to communicate
the basis of cash transfers, while guiding them towards its effective utilization to increase
food and nutrition security.
6. Monitor any complains that may arise during field visits and direct potential
complainants to relevant authorities, support services in the local area or FAO focal point
for further action, along with necessary contact details. The complaints and related details
will be recorded and submitted to FAO by the project coordinator.
7. Liaise with relevant Government stakeholders.
8. Other related tasks at the field level in the identified districts using FAO approved
qualitative and quantitative sampling approaches.
9. Contribute to final report of the project.
12.2 Relief work at South/ Western, Southern, Western, North/Western and
Northern Provinces
Through this project, FAO supported 5,058 marginal fishers in nine selected districts who use
non-motorized traditional boats by providing unconditional cash transfers. The cash transfers
made in three equal tranches covering a period of three months are paid to enable the targeted
households who are affected by the economic crisis to meet their essential needs, including
immediate food and livelihood requirements. The cash assistance allowed beneficiaries to make
decision for themselves on which goods to buy and which are most essential for their livelihood.
The selection of beneficiaries was done by FAO and its counterpart the Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources. The overall role of NAFSO was to carry out, on behalf of FAO,
activities related to the verification of the beneficiary data, and the collection of data pertaining
to monitoring, and measurement of the project impact through baseline, Post Distribution
Measures and end-line surveys.
A list of the target districts including the corresponding numbers of beneficiaries, and the
sample sizes were as follows;

# District Number of Beneficiary Sample Households –survey
Households Supported in conducted by NAFSO
each DFEO division
1 Tangalle 279 20
2 Negombo 1840 131
3 Colombo 98 7
4 Kalutara 229 16
5 Galle 159 11
6 Matara 223 16
7 Puttalam 576 41
8 Chilaw 1249 89
9 Mannar 405 29
Total 5058 360
The field monitoring activities of FAO relief program conducted through facilitation of NAFSO field
activists and Program Manager of NAFSO.
12.3 NAFSO Experience and Recommendations of the program

 The reliability of beneficiary lists should be ensured in close monitoring and in collaboration with the
department of fisheries and the ministry of fisheries prior to the engagement of the relief assistance
programs.
 There must be an effective mechanism to provide relief assistance to the proposed and announced
beneficiary lists with the given time frame. Otherwise, the field workers at various stages of data collection
face embarrassments and sometimes harassments from the frustrated beneficiaries. As the immediate
respondents, NAFSO enumerators and the district organizations face the immediate and long term
consequences as we are always touching bases and work with them even after the relief project.
 There should be consistent mechanism to address the grievances of the communities as we had to change
the respondents to the grievance mechanism at later stage. Initially NAFSO Program manager was also
listed as the member of complaint receiver though later it was informed not to respond to the grievances
and direct them to the department of fisheries, which was somewhat unacceptable to the frustrated
communities. Because the names of the notice are still there and no information to fishers the changes.
 The relief assistance was so helpful to the vulnerable communities though the time frame was not adequate
to fulfill the food and other needs of the people. So, people requested to continue to support at least another
3 months in many places.
 There should be a mechanism to provide marketing facilities, fish preservation assistance, to handle the
fish. If the fishers do not want to sell the prices which the middlemen/women demand from them, there
should be a mechanism to handle them and preserve fish to release to the market either next day or the day
they can get high price.
 Fisher women should be provided more opportunities to engage in fish processing, fish preservation
activities as they are the people who run the family with limited income the fishermen gain through their
catch. So, women can shoulder the family hardships more effectively, if they are supported through some
scheme.
 FAO should take appropriate actions to advocate the GOSL to implement SSF Guidelines which will
empower Small Scale Fishing Communities as adopted by the COFI in 2014.

 FAO need to provide necessary assistance to SSF communities to come together in district/ DFEO level to
national level to draw attention of the GOSL. This could be done in collaboration with appropriate CSOs,
Trade Unions and NGOs working in the fisheries sector.
13. 25th ANNIVERSARY OF NAFSO [1997-2022]
13.1 Journey of NAFSO from SEDEC to an independent Movement!

In 1992, an analysis of SL’s economy concluded that the most adversely affected people by the
present neo liberal economic policies adopted in 1977 government, were farming, fishing and
plantation communities, and women in all those sectors as well as in the FTZ. In each sector the
problem faced by women were recognized as significantly different to justify individual
attention.
PEFDA, the People’s Forum for Development Alternatives was formed to search collectively for
viable social and economic alternatives in each sector as an alternative development project
supported in collaboration with SEDEC[Caritas-SL],- APHD- CIDSE. A commitment to
collaborate among sectors for an alternative development is the foundation of PEFDA’s
activities.
The establishment of a network of fisheries organizations in the fisheries sector lead to the
formation of National Fisheries Solidarity which was evolved to the National Fisheries Solidarity
Movement [NAFSO] which represents the Small-scale Fisheries Sector with covering Marine,
Inland and the brackish water fisher communities, women and children.
As a result of the widening of the network among various communities irrespective of regions,
religion, ethnicity and groups, the differences were emerged at SEDEC[Caritas-SL]. Some
alternative way of interventions through advocacy, lobby and alternative development models
widened the divisions and in June, 1997 NAFSO had to move out from its original venue and to
form an independent body of fisher people's organizations. The decisive moment was the critique
and alternative views proposed by NAFSO after analysing the Fisheries Act No. 02 of 1996,
which was clear sign of eliminate small scale, vulnerable fishers from the fisheries and also steps
to privatize water bodies for industrial and other aqua culture practices.
In 1997, the Food and Agriculture Organization had awarded the Margarrita Lizzarraga Award
to NAFSO with the appreciation of its engagement on education and mobilizations of fishers on
fisheries management with educating people on Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
[CCRF]. During tsunami, NAFSO played a major role for people centred rehabilitation,
resettlement and development program through People's Planning Commission.[PPC] NAFSO
was one of the key organizations to mobilize civil society actors on People to People Dialogue
on Peace and Sustainable Development.[PPD] which was initiated after the MOU signed
between GOSL and LTTE.
With the work carried out by NAFSO was able to form a land coalition call Praja Abhilasha in
2005 which work on land issues of the people. NAFSO directly engaged with the partner
organizations of Negombo and around to form the Alliance for Protection of Negombo Lagoon
[APNL] which led to the victory against sea plane project of the GOSL. With the experiences of
the Negombo lagoon protection, NAFSO work was further deepen with the formation of the
People's Alliance for Right to Land [PARL] in 2011. All these work to strengthen the small scale
food producers counted when the Why Hunger Campaign selected NAFSO to award US Food
Sovereignty Award in 2012.

The involvement to facilitate and education campaign of implementation of Voluntary
Guidelines on Land, Fisheries and Forest [VGGT] among Sri Lankan society since 2013.
Since 2010, NAFSO engaged with wider civil society movement of World Forum of Fisher
Peoples’, [WFFP], World Forum of Fish workers and fish harvesters, [WFF], International
Collective of Support of Fish workers,[ICSF] and also International Planning Committee on
Food Sovereignty[IPC] for the formulation of Voluntary Guidelines of Small Scale
Fisheries,[VG-SSF] which ensures the rights of the small scale fisher folk communities around
the globe. The VG-SSF is the first one of this kind of instrument which was adopted in June
2014, by FAO, the inter-governmental agency of UN.
Since 2014, NAFSO has been engaged to translate the VGSSF. To facilitate its adoption by the
government and awareness building are some of important activities NAFSO engages in
presently.
In 2018, NAFSO was awarded “ToDo” human rights award which was awarded by European
Tourism and Human Rights related network which was conducted at World Tourism Fair at
Berlin, Germany.
As a major part of NAFSO, it is presently engaging in to educate wider civil society and
pressurize the GOSL to implement the LLRC recommendations, which are meant to facilitation
instrument to establish democratic society in Sri Lanka.
At the same time, NAFSO was one among 48 civil society organizations, trade unions, political
parties, religious groups, media, artists and cultural groups which formed widest possible
coalition to propose and establish alternative policies through a regime change which establish a
so-called good governance government with reform changes in Sri Lanka.
13.2 25th Anniversary Celebration:

In this background NAFSO celebrated the 25th anniversary, the journey towards achieve food
sovereignty through formation of national fisher people’s movement as an independent
organization, on 20th November, 2022. The major function was held at the town hall Negombo
with the participation of founding member Rev. Fr.[Dr.] Oswald B. Firth, the members of trust
board, international delegates, parliamentarians, NAFSO members, men, women and youth
representing all over the country, well -wishers, CSO leaders, trade unionists, religious,
academia, media journalists, and family members of activists around 600 people gathered at the
Negombo.
NAFSO members, Trade Union Activists, Women, Youth and Activists engage in Street March and
Protest at Negombo on 20th November, commemorating World Fisheries Day, 25th Anniversary of
NAFSO.

NAFSO Founding Member Rev. Fr.[Dr.] Oswald B Firth addressing the gathering and the religious leaders
attended the Ceremony at Negombo Town Hall
Delivering Welcome Speech by Ms. Deepa Subashini, Key Note Address by Prof. Oscar Amarashinghe,
Chair, SLFSSF Special Guest’s Speech by Ms. Jesurethinem Christy of NFF, India.

Ms. Nelumka Weerakkody, Chair NFWF, MR. Francis Joseph, Vice Chair NPFPU, Shehan Yenuka, Chair,
YMESOC addressing the gathering at 25th Anniversary.
Welcome and Women Dance by SVFWO & Women Dance by Palliwasalpadu Women
Groups
Special Performances from the PoCs, the people living in Negombo area coming from various neighbouring
countries.

Setting Objectives by Pradeep Wanigasuriya, Admin Secretary and Fisheries Day Annual Speech by Herman
Kumara, National Convener of NAFSO.
A B C
A. Poster prepared by Puttlam Youth Group to Greet the NAFSO 25th Anniversary
B. Commemorate the departed leaders of fisheries sector including Fr. Thomas Kocherry, Sarath Fernando
and NAFSO activists,
C. Launch the Blue Justice Hand book [Sinhala] published by NAFSO in commemoration of International
Year of Aquaculture and Small Scale Fisheries

13.3 NAFSO Felicitation to John Cyril Fernando, SSF of Negombo, one of the
oldest traditional Small Scale Canoe fisher Member of NAFSO.
Commemoration of IYAFA and Felicitation to Mr. John Cyril Fernando, a traditional Canoe fisherman of
Munnakkaraya, Negombo, presenting the NAFSO published book on him, “John Cyril - Dheewara Purawatha” at the
25th Anniversary of NAFSO.
14. CONCLUSION
The year 2022 was one of the most difficult year on many ways after the
independence of Sri Lankan history. The economic, political, social and energy
crisis lead to bankruptcy and social unrest of the country. The farmers, fishers,
teachers, plantation workers, and women in all the sectors came to the streets and
demanded a decent living conditions and just wage for their survival. The youth
began continuous campaign demanding “Gota Go Home” which mobilized the
whole country. Our members whole heartedly joined the campaign and somewhat
slower down our main activities in relation to the programs during this period.
However, due to the importance of the engagement of people’s issues, the

difficulties people faced, our activists did not have any option to engage with
people and their needs. So, we accelerated our work after August and
accomplished the targeted activities and with the spirit of the experiences and
learning of the struggle, both people and the activists. We commend our members
for their engagement on the campaigns even after the breakdown of the struggle.
The people engaged in the people’s day today life struggles received the
continuous support from the CSOs. So, NAFSO was also engaged with the CSO
networks both, national, regional and global levels through various campaigns.
Those campaigns were focused the Blue Economy paradigm, searching
alternatives to the existing economic situations based on food sovereignty, Social
justice, Transitional Justice and gender and environmental justice campaigns. We
experienced some positive changes of the lives of the people and we their
environment. So, we are happy to see the changes though they are not significantly
impacted to the lives of the people, due to the factors hindrance to the communities
progressing changes.
We are thankful to our partners, both advocacy partners and also our funding
partners, for their cooperation and understanding of our engagements amidst the
multiple crises the Sri Lankan society faced. We expect this cooperation even in
the future of the work. We continue our work amidst the challenges as we did
during the past because, we are working in a challenging environment throughout
the period.
15. ANNEXES
Annexes 01: Face book links
https://fb.watch/iSX037SFbg/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0FwMrzbvrNPGkUNoVTgxDk2fJiyqPL2J2
nciMJhKskf4Dca3eRskYL1BSw4Erwd5Nl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Aznu3ac4ttbap3nqp83v1ovZL6X2PeZakG
yghiz26ydnGqMVKPRMa8rWw4dLVxUEl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Xm3yEQ4t2ZXpVYx4inNXeWsnoZRicdj
bb8seAeU5LLayurukJ7at3yTmppVxBWuFl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0cFX4gz1XcxC9ofuKndakeTdQH9oH4Mq3
1AeuqU3MtHw6y15oGYdCcX6FxQmYKtv4l&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://fb.watch/iSV0ycPrBW/
https://fb.watch/iSV8IgzWm2/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0mQVstMXmMUwDbiTNL2c372QJQxC4
WX5nHeuh9R4uLcHSFsjQMvCkxAjNLpMEHRubl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ct6xTewsC6Ko9zHJyuz7t37GuNUmsVnR
yRgVKhwWL9VykVpAvQmEUu9MZJDs7K9dl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02CvWmeuhWcncmFC2kuiT7yhNLPfk8ru9
jkQprPPdXvboJJbCKYUNp8rVNNHzDJZt7l&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02s2GUQaFQh29EL37g4s8FyY9LbtfL2YA
NE2kDtP5JHvLwVE9f5FgDttC8g41DJ6GLl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://jaffnazone.com/news/39282
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0i2u9oVgbvnKKQ9vHc4wG9LomzA1BEZd
Cc6cnULMT6z418cKdqgeqFvveiNiNEZXWl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://fb.watch/iSX7S7Zg0q/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jNDjPkPwNVS22qNjnDWRRNupphadbM
vV2tBMqXMe9mmPrEJt3CHiEUp23Z3NSrHsl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0okMMk82PrGzrHQTazPyTJc7j3wWjVK3
KkAfzaEEkqLJBCwBPvbiXb7KTW7KkS4jbl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0KjrLXSLpMGinxBFP8MRLsEz6mnboE5G
HNPqYq3KFfPH5NfRj6HYsE7qJ7zd4jHQal&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid06bZjz3w2Ax4Gu6FMdqXZzvDjz9rUZRU
VDZgza5VCHEGJVEr9vDmHF35uVwd6ZnN5l&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0KsAkcFYpPeeUxyshPT92zwNejr2rLj2BN
pLNyhSueABSWqr1S7a3k3zNbi2wqxUpl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Xz3aLd2KNswjUKuv2tGSGxrCsqDh3PQo
qtbUDRTWcucBFZrmuZgTpyQMH3U5cg8Zl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0at1Z6KohDFdQ7BHW7YDBxSvyXwk29T
C6zDtvm7VCMyAcKbGpSgKbM15XDTTexNQLl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid033b3bKk4qmjWwVH4fgckLK3Aad1mkbZ
v9rFjnijY71wugyphHRnzybM4opbiji4dxl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Y4JcGXTXanLoom1dJ9FgkzyMXxHAkrD
JE2K7ZSZi9V2ExbiYoF9W9v3sXTk6mimsl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0QNBTWdNBCH21AsnA2k9Ho97QWrMh
A21HKEEQRGYZN6xdorJTWbom7HW2ruTDpJ3Wl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5o
z
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0MzMiQrtbbPzWq6zUcjyCwJurogCunPrMd
vYxgA9mHyLdSVWznoGWLxXHFUw86T2Fl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZeuwRAaFQkDfcLsbtSE7EYqMaNHxa1
EDkhGgUSQTPgqBiRt4HX55WM8WyvacXHgcl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jiyE8Fo7mFFufPpGLNRXJUqdotZRbLXF
mbDArrwnPPPeHVVfX92EmVmr5EEW4sAQl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0HVtgRVr7RzBVsChkieLWifUh4yPFekRS
xEb9EUF2S1PtjBCsAen6QY2sajR3UKk3l&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wrwMefZJSZ9PeLA9xY5Grz9cFumqYiz
hd76NP9zxUGKtCUzEbGSiN2Peqt3LsGWBl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02bm7tmx84Fk9doLdY2wLnpdjgM15wd77
1jsU9HCE9kzTB6yKxUU9a1GZPbt5rkpKfl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid036LAW52iUQhYB4MPAwVuHUqyGJb3Y
heaaRHzLmS7YZnndfYPzobJSmn6TitCGg6QEl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0BznBsJWejh2CnzV1trfps1PQchiBtwoWtyk
9eeyt7qCqAMyTrTstnT2Qx6NdVPoxl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02XFZWxZXpp3WGXzLEE7CRHJY6Ga6
mk5Uibn5rCGHsCu8HKTo6VfaAoHL2mTvG1DzTl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fvh8yVEdehZkAX5RbWzgJ8XVqnmk3D
jj9AW5kDfEE1yseLJc2gPh1PQDh7vsQErSl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02gJRciangZ7d2x49MJmyxnG1NEddk6TQ
MxbEtyKJx16Z8CWn1ivi5xHdEAwfB4kzPl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02oknfEwnRy8c8trxtFYWE6HHmovMMLZ
BZvbdCWt6Fch3MbNZcRaJjwTrbihf9oAzzl&id=100064382424098&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02utGSGdSqp8WZmPEdDEJJxAurDF6e82
KBR47HJonCzC7uzjUs3STdHq44zwjjALMsl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02XGsXYzb7xED6yypf89sAWvWbyhwch5
9chh9pftMjimniUzduKNPgbxya7PjS6SzMl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid032Uq6EaHMthAZ8LnzW2YdUyu4zMLLg
pUQyDH6pxC5UoWEuHLDCDNpbQGyRWDwig1kl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5
oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0SeeprTroJihvrfyARq8XSYPFfXFfzW5s4jr
B8wou324cMh66JuFb78fzqCoCGrHxl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0nMKR8yeiqgxCnQH1yRCWhbq93SQxma
H7WU3Bov7F7SVUj3LeG1jQhUTbErue8PiXl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035a3WrPSdBmxPPUsYRwwBdZZKwPheJ
cx1P4rw8AZEAFDP1akF6hZLDRZe6za67YSCl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ETdJaPhs3XwwULDrBN6Dem82VZFXfg
TUdTPsy62mGA3LmiYSJcmLS4t3Mab8X1gNl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0pLKKEPPQQjgcdE2cLvXsJYQcXCemkeU
zd5FXNu99oBi4wGF5xTeVcaTbZLnhnUnkl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0khYLREkNf8MC9tFYshJPmDxJ1Kc8UNf
R98PmC9HPiAfkcdAoFG1fc5R5cDqqKhMVl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://fb.watch/iJV-hZSwmL/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0c5MmB24aj2ayR6ZxysCdmpejSM4Yj59jd
Jm9uiya4HKPWyvp9TT7hntXRvXG84dul&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02D5uHfDrDuHfQc8fjwAE7L8SPEu4m7dx
Zw8vi88epaQ7LJgZEaehJxzxwy8xKJz2Fl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02MXVSmnKsnP8Zx2XXoda7X63QWobC
gWmu8CPSWarJKiJxCmyNcyETuqiTnuPVkoyCl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02mZn13F2YH1h3QCuvMuGFPgNhGajLC
RG7o41XypZpr4rdcK3iuWFgGjgrpnc2mgiGl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5ozhttps:/
/m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02mZn13F2YH1h3QCuvMuGFPgNhGajLCRG7o
41XypZpr4rdcK3iuWFgGjgrpnc2mgiGl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0fdSNXTFJZNWAYYfnkTk4w8jnhZTHeW
bji36qHUoLPYHgEpusEKgEbyimMMwvaSCtl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0owGoTd8xXRxW49XuQ5Rwg4RaC7sYK
YybYjfR8hVEcivVMJtZv7Q9MfDxboJcs6bZl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0oD1UKC4BFEj2wtbB8C4HBcJVVpLueFL
VT2dHSyfFuk3D7xVuETCkdfUpmUSoBJEBl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0tcSaxr9MfjHu4iD7uMAo5jdEZysDh7m1W
ANN9k5nBpSz2FnTDNLwVFVZznsSNnyCl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02M3yCsUVZzaB18zk3DDeo89LsKnsZLgs
cWYj4e51LavdvC7mKk7ikkugiVWtt26Rpl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02DfDDR33V47GqzoBhp9P1ZzZyWDUFH
TLewbQsksd9KFX5uVfzKHXpxcqMmPjuRPy3l&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0SW8jZRMH47fWypxPEBzK4nvG95KcH2
8umvtwTGNkaQLEehu2dqVEkQhdeTjJJ7tal&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid028byvasacP7xeUCWuf3kAAmY51hjMeq9
v11VgwH8QVzVk2uU7YD7M1Ep9JAeS6zQAl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0QBv3XaRMvkqsmaYPxLn6aWu4kmoVzH
dkRs3f2ACxXouRbJDeJPxgD4mUWswff775l&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02H41REF5MyVxcseB7yboG9SdBDMRX5
oQgngdU6VCaCQqigpo3ixuuW3cSHB7G7bYRl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid026Cjrwhw4Ynhg1bb996ciL6bgDH3Ct6dJb
T9QymiS3rmX65882MqsQQsTsia8WfD5l&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02hKHicax778zN9UHBx48UV18AQ2nYoX
EkesKTMPmvCXe2auCNn8vrr4htJpXVtrgfl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02XjC4oqUognyDcFDYZNz3VK394tE9c1Z
bp9Z7PtbUi8rkZZgD1LV9N1TNH1rdHwNDl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid035h2sv876m4N4o94iS5fpd82XBPU2cRi7
Que1Wmr31PcMJwgDeqLaEquVJt8KEC5yl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0pVi49pJ2FdfK1LJGWTu8ZpbEqjpKSGXX
6pN7KmudTPNWZtecoNSjLpkvGvJTfk9El&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid034skBANJgn5QzuU6EBrJZF8YnXzkQSjv
W9fCSxTgzZ6banCLpgMBTpa8noUWvJz3ml&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02WjJwvRUFekz4TyDbvHnGu7fFd1MGBT
X19qEtZT1p9WCH8RYT2Pc94BnfMdtxzxsVl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0nyuNNsVDqpp9ER1xthBdnSE5goXmTFR
bRfSk74Pacz7DXfNyFphqtMX1VJvN4QjUl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fW7wqtRLmTHJDiceNw3ghSdFph4xJqQ
3PXP8FeumEjHqaSDKtkTTZWe32zynsDK7l&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid079TKmEKDFhgVUGmpon78fNMj6nzkeH
BdEAhDR4o6RwiibTNyfuUx3MeMHFbv1pVAl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02SANDEkV1RoVtf7xzcyYzSspymmh8yJK
sLDf5jASys4hdeKVzdNJSyqWSVY97xhxol&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0JUa86gZ9FjA1WVUZhBhrmpFJeDBhW7g
hCEmpDQMQ64P5cTf37SNEEEA15zYSaG8vl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02EQnZ9uBZUN2ggqJnBYVmiSSzsTJFhS
UCCjkpgfnGGkKZ4JYQeyj75S2TfHfJs7Q9l&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Q2QwBxVuZvjfdhT9kiBHQLcRUhaQkh
QTfUzXgtk8J5zRH6wjKGfL2ctkDEMyw9Dkl&id=1420065471642225&mibextid=Nif5oz

07.23 Annual Report 2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

07.23 Annual Report 2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ANNUAL REPORT

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, [NAFSO]

No.10, Malwatta Road, Negombo. Sri Lanka.

Tel. +94 31 22 39750 Fax. +94 314 870 658

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

02. Basic information of the organization....................................................................................... 7

09.1 Fisheries Policy Dialogue and Youth & Environmental Dialogue

09.1.1 Sustainable Fisheries Policy Dialogue ............................................................................... 16

09.1.3 Youth Movement Building…………………………………………………………… 23

09. 2 Land Rights Campaigns - Praja Abhilasha………………………………………………..24

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

10.1 Community Lead Research on NPP and Impacts on Coastal Communities………………….

10.2 Point Pedro Fishery Harbour Development in Northern Province……………………………

11. Regional Cooperation on Implementation of VGSSF………………………………………89

11.1 RAG A&P Regional Secretariat………………………………………………………………

11.2 Regional A&P Monitoring program………………………………….....................................

12. FAO Relief Assistance Program……………………………………………………………91.

12.1 Northern and Eastern Provinces………………………………………………………………

12.2 South/ Western, Southern, Western, North/Western and Northern Provinces………….……

12.3 NAFSO Experience and Recommendations of the program………………………………94

13. 25th ANNIVERSARY OF NAFSO [1997-2022]……………………………………………94

15. ANNEXES……………………………………………………………………… …101-105

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Name of the Organization - National Fisheries Solidarity Movement

Telephone Number - +94 031 223 9750

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

MISSION: To ensure equitable sharing of natural resources through empowering small

CORE VALUES OF NAFSO:

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

● Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaithivu and Mannar districts in the Northern Province;

● Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the Eastern Province;

● Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in the Northwestern Province;

● Gampaha and Kaluthara districts in Western Province;

● Galle and Matara districts in Southern Province;

● Monaragala district in Uva Province

● Polonnaruwa district in North /Central Province.

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

3. Kalutara District Marakkalamul D.D.SushilaDama 0773858557

4. Sri Vimukthi Fisher 115, St. Subashinee Deepa 0721383334 subashinidp@

5. Puttalam District No. 262/D1, S.Pathmanathan 0771529507 -

6. Mannar District No. 75, Salt Benedict Croos 0778708568 benadictcroos

7. Rural Labour UrumbiraiNort N. Inbanayagam 0777043635 inbam.nayaga

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

9. Trincomallee NO. 417, Nisaka Rangani 0768215786 nishakarangani

10. Batticoloa District No. 15, Fathima Sharmila 0776539393 sharmy2008bp

11. District Fisheries Media Road, Kalanthar Isadeen 0752417010 kalantharisadeen

12. Miridiya Deewaragama, Manoj Silva 0776916640 manojmeredeya

[NCP/TK/NGO/148 Polonnaruwa hanie

14. Kilinochchi District 4th, Mile Post, A.Satheshwaran, 0766237962 satheess864@

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

8.1 Members of the Board of Trustees

8.2 Members of the Advisory Board

8.3 Members of the Management Committee of the Year 2022

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]

09.1 Sustainable Fisheries Policy Dialogue and Building Youth

Annual Report 2022- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement[NAFSO]