Tamil fishermen in Sri Lanka reject Chinese funded housing scheme

The housing scheme proposed by the Chinese government does not align with the realities of these fishermen face

Tamil fishermen living along the Jaffna coast have rejected a housing project, funded by Chinese government in the region, claiming that the proposed houses are “not suitable” for the families.

Kanagasabai Ravindran, a senior member of the Jaffna Suzhipuram Alaimala Fishermen Village Cooperative Organization told reporters that there must be a permanent housing solution that meets the needs of the local fishing community.

The housing scheme proposed by the Chinese government does not align with the realities of these fishermen face, who reside near the coastline he said. Ravindran expressed concerns about the vulnerability to natural disasters, emphasizing that the proposed housing would leave them living in fear.

“We completely reject housing projects that are not suitable for us,” Ravindran said. “As fishermen, we must advocate for a permanent housing scheme that addresses the unique challenges faced by all affected fishermen.”

The fishermen’s rejection of the Chinese scheme comes as both China and India have looked to increase their footprint in the Tamil homeland on the North-East of the island.

Despite more than 15 years since the Mullivaikkal genocide and the end of the armed conflict, the North-East region still grapples with significant underdevelopment compared to other parts of the island. The legacy of genocide, continued discrimination and limited economic opportunities have hindered progress in this area.