National Microfinance Study of Sri Lanka: Survey of Practices and ...

Large tracts of land have become too dangerous to farm in disputed areas between
the protagonists and the risk is compounded by the placement of landmines and a
high incidence of unexploded ordinance in these areas. 36
The once thriving dairy industry has suffered from livestock depletion and the
goat and poultry industries are not able to provide sufficient stocks of animal
protein that are necessary for the communities as a whole. In the fishing industry,
time curfews and restrictions on the areas where fishing is ‘allowed’ have reduced
overall catch sizes.
For example, Jaffna’s fish production has fallen from over 21,000 metric Tonnes
in 1990 to less than 3,000 metric Tonnes in 2000. Elsewhere in the region,
Mannar, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Batticaloa are suffering similar reductions
in catch sizes. The present severity of the fishing restrictions and the resulting
impact on these communities has forced fishermen in the region to break the
restrictions in the face of military reprisals. It was reported that, in one fishing
village alone, five fishermen in Mullaitivu lost their lives in the last year.
Governance
In 1996 the GoSL established the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Authority of
the North, (RRAN), covering the northern districts of the recently created North
and East Province. RRAN assists in the overall coordination of resettlement and
rehabilitation programmes in the north. Provincial government offices are in
operation and two separate central government ministries have recently been
created that are concerned with the resettlement and rehabilitation of North and
East (RRAN, 2001)
The present mix of central government, provincial government and ‘special’
government bodies and interest groups is a cause for concern through the increase
in bureaucracy and overlap of responsibility. There appears to be any amount of
administration and clerical endeavour, however the practical extension and
support services essential for the support and development of the primary and
service industries are literally absent from the region.
The Government Agent Offices (GA) in each district act as the local coordinating
body for resettlement, relief and rehabilitation activities undertaken by
international and national organisations and GoSL ministries and departments. It
was found that the GAs and their committee structures in each district are by far
more knowledgeable and responsive than any other GoSL organisations in the
region and are an excellent focal point for relief and rehabilitation activity.
36 Hundreds of thousands of landmines and unexploded ordinances (UXOs) are present throughout
the Jaffna Peninsula, areas of the Batticaloa District and the area known as the Wanni. The risk of
injury and death is high with some 10 incidents reported monthly in Jaffna alone during 2001. A
mine action programme was started in Jaffna in early 1999 but was terminated due to an escalation
of the conflict in mid 2000. The LTTE have reportedly cleared 79,000 landmines in the
Killinochchi town area and over 150,000 in other areas of the Wanni. The Sri Lankan Forces have
also undertaken landmine clearance in some areas.