Post-war resettlement and migrant fishers: a case study on small-scale fishery in mannar, sri lanka

Abstract

Peaceful integration with equal economic, political, and cultural rights are crucial for individual and community wellbeing that levy on the government especially in war-affected regions. However, demerits are also possible in relation to resettlement and reconciliation process with a sort of ethnic polarization in certain areas in Northern Sri Lanka after an extended civil war between Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam for 30 years. Seasonal migrant fishers (Sinhalese) from South are experiencing an unfavourable environment in post-war era, is unraveled in this paper emphasizing the numerous obstacles on their migration. The study was carried out in Silavathurei and SouthBar in Mannar District (Northern Province) interviewing 100 seasonal migrant fishers from Negombo and Chilaw (Western and North-western provinces respectively). Focus Group Discussions (4) and Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques were applied for qualitative data collection. Five point Likert scale (1- very much dissatisfied…5 – very much satisfied) was used to glean data on community relationships and satisfactions. The results show that 93.2* percent (mean = 1.59) are not satisfied (* both dissatisfied and very much dissatisfied) about the social condition prevailing in Mannar fishing communities due to ill-treatments and barriers imposed on their arrival. The resettlement with ethnic shuffling was complained by 54.8* percent stating loss of harmony and peace than earlier. Although, they are satisfied about physical security (75%*), the relationships with Tamil and Muslim fishermen, fish merchants, fisheries organizations, and fisheries officers have been badly affected (mean = 2.12). Having all these repercussions 52* percent of migrant fishers are dissatisfied about the overall societal relationships emerged in post war period resulting less achievements (mean = 2.63) in their lives. The study has been revealed that the resettlement and rehabilitation took place in Mannar is least effective as it could not reconcile their relational wellbeing with expected ethnic cohesion but aroused inter and intra community disaggregation.