Due to adverse weather conditions and increasingly rough sea conditions around the island, the Director General of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Mr. Susantha Kahawatte, has issued a special notice to ensure the safety of the fishing community.
According to information provided by the Department of Meteorology, wind speeds in the sea areas extending from Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, Mannar to Kalpitiya may increase up to 60–70 kilometres per hour. As a result, sea waves are expected to rise significantly. Therefore, the Director General strongly advises owners of small fishing boats and traditional fishing vessels operating in the coastal waters from Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, Mannar, Puttalam to Kalpitiya to refrain from venturing out to sea until further notice.
In addition, there is a possibility of increased wind speeds and rough sea conditions in the waters stretching from Kalpitiya to Chilaw, Negombo, Colombo, Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Pottuvil. Fishermen operating in these areas are urged to closely monitor prevailing weather conditions before going to sea and to engage in fishing activities only when conditions are safe. They are also advised to halt operations immediately if weather conditions become dangerous.
The Director General further emphasized the following message to the fishing community across the island:
"We once again remind all fishermen that wearing life jackets at all times is mandatory—from the moment they leave shore, throughout their fishing operations at sea, and until they return safely to land. Recent incidents have clearly demonstrated that fishermen who wore life jackets correctly were able to save their lives, while those who failed to do so tragically lost theirs."
The Department also requests the public and the fishing community to remain attentive to weather advisories issued regularly by the Department of Meteorology and the Department of Fisheries, and to act responsibly to safeguard lives and property.
