Turning the Tide

The waters surrounding Trincomalee are well-stocked with ocean life. This area is a boon to those involved in the fisheries industry, giving rise to the Kalaimahal Fisheries Cooperative Society. This society worked towards the welfare of the fishermen in the area, until the civil conflict began on the island with far-reaching negative impacts on the lives of the fishermen and many others. 

The President of the Kalaimahal Fisheries Cooperative Society, Senthilnathan Ponnathorai, can attest to this experience. 45-year-old Senthilnathan resides in Alas Garden, Trincomalee, with his wife and four children. Established in 2003, the Kalaimahal Fisheries Cooperative Society has 43 members and 18 boats. During the conflict, most of the society members went to India in 2006; they returned to the island in 2009 and resettled. Once resettled in Sri Lanka, the members reorganised the society in 2011.

Speaking on their struggles during the conflict, Senthilnathan said, "We had to obtain a pass from the Sri Lanka Navy each time we went out to sea. Our minds were never at ease as the situation within the country was difficult and tumultuous."Even though Sri Lanka was our motherland, we felt as if we were living on rent in our own country”.

Even though Sri Lanka was our motherland, we felt as if we were living on rent in our own country”, said Senthilnathan Ponnathora

Catching A Break

With the support of two projects, Kalaimahal Fisheries Cooperative Society has been able to bear the weather.

UNDP Sri Lanka's flagship portfolio on SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) and other partners, supports the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee returnees across Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts, providing them with durable resettlement opportunities including access to essential basic services, sustainable livelihoods and income generation opportunities.

The Support for Durable Resettlement (SDR) project has also helped many, similar to Senthilnathan, to re-establish their lives in the aftermath of the civil conflict. Intending to bring societal peace, the SDR project supports the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee returnees, providing them with durable resettlement opportunities including access to essential basic services, sustainable livelihoods and income generation opportunities.

The SDR project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Sri Lanka together with the Government of Sri Lanka with funding from the Sri Lanka SDG Fund, which is funded by Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada across the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.