The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development handed over compensation of Rs 7 million to 24 family members of seven fishermen who died as a result of bad weather conditions as well as other accidents last year.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and State Minister Mahaweli Development Mahinda Amaraweera presented the compensation to the families.
The compensation to the fishermen families was provided by the State Insurance Trust Fund and they would be eligible to receive Rs. 1 million if they had Ceylinco Insurance.
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Expressing his views, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the sea fishing is the second deadliest job in the world and pointed out that the fishery community is engaged in a such a risky job and providing the government with a large amount of foreign exchange.
Therefore, the Government has taken a number of steps to ensure a secure fishing industry, he said.
Under the Divi Sayura Insurance Scheme, all registered fishermen are covered by an insurance. Last year, the government has taken measures to grant compensation to 132 beneficiaries under this insurance scheme, the Minister said.
“At present, as a government we have done a great deal of work to safeguard the fisherman engaged in fishing. One of them is the Divi Sayura Insurance Scheme. In addition to this insurance, we ask the fisher community to enroll in another insurance scheme. The government will provide compensation under the State Insurance Trust Fund. But if there is another policy, there is a lot of benefits,” the Minister explained.
“However, the country has focused on the Fisheries industry and it is a good situation,” the Minister said adding that a large number of people are attracted to this sector.
He said the fisheries industry is developing as a separate sector shouldering the development and it is a huge benefit to the country.
