Resource Library

Lanka Monthly Digest (LMD)

The Gleaners of Kinniya

Author : Lokuge, G.

Publisher: Media Services (Pvt.) Ltd

Place of Publish: Sri Lanka, Colombo

Year: 2014

Series: 14-Aug

Acc. No: 254-J

Category: Journals

Languages: English

The article is a contribution by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), published in the August 2014 edition of business magazine, LMD. The article describes how a research team discovered, by accident, a group of women wading shallow waters looking for clams and scallops. A primary source of livelihood for residents of Kinniya is the fishing industry. The women have now come to play a significant contribution to the fisheries sector and the article highlights how the inclusion of women is essential in these sectors. The lack of market linkage and the fact that this could turn out to be an income-yielding part of the fisheries sector, is yet to be known widely. The women consider the activity as a low-cost means of generating income for their day-to-day survival. The article also points out that these women are quite clearly the decision makers, in areas concerning their own livelihoods. Giving these women recognition and minimizing marginalization would give much needed support to this sector and community, which is an important contributor to the Sri Lankan economy.