Fishermen are gearing up to surround houses of Ministers and the Prime Minister soon, demanding fuel at a subsidized rate, a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP said yesterday.  

SJB MP Dilip Wedaarachchi told journalists that this exercise has been planned to be held after the GCE Ordinary Level examination is completed.   

Mr. Wedaarachchi who claimed that he owns three boats said some members of fishermen organisations have informed him of this plan.

“It will be very difficult to stop the fishermen if they take to the streets,” he said.   

“Some 63,000 multi-day fishing crafts run with diesel and 9,000 single-day crafts have stopped fishing activities since the fuel price hike. In addition the small boats which are run by kerosene have also stopped fishing from yesterday,” he added.( Yohan Perera)