Indian-Funded Harbour Project in Jaffna Sparks Local Protests

Representatives of the Suppermadam Fishermen’s Cooperative Society in Point Pedro met with the Point Pedro Urban Council Chairman and the Divisional Secretary to express their concerns over the proposed harbour development project and handed over petitions highlighting the potential issues.

The secretary and treasurer of the Suppermadam Fishermen’s Cooperative Society also held a press conference yesterday at the Vadamarachchi Media Centre in Jaffna.

They stated that the proposed harbour development poses a grave threat to their village. According to them, once the harbour is constructed, Suppermadam would be the first fishing village to face destruction due to coastal erosion on the western side of the project site.

Reports suggest that the Indian government is currently conducting feasibility studies to develop the harbour at a cost of 10 billion rupees.

In 2018, a similar development initiative funded by the Asian Development Bank was abandoned after strong opposition from fishermen’s groups, civil society organisations, and several leading schools in the Point Pedro area. At the time, ADB officials assured that they would never implement a project that would harm the local community.

However, the fishermen’s representatives said that despite earlier rejection, the Indian government is now attempting to revive the project. They further stressed that no consultations had been held with local fishing communities or social organisations, and decisions were being made unilaterally while field studies for the development were already underway.

“This has come as a shock to us. We strongly oppose this project as it threatens the survival of our village and will cause severe harm to the local people,” they said.

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