Maalu Maalu brought back Corals to Passekudah Reefs
‘Plant a Coral Project’, a historical Coral Replanting programme, initiated by Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa together with the Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust (WRCT) launched on Passekudah Beach last week. The ‘Plant a Coral Project’ intends to create awareness on conserving coral reefs, biodiversity of the sea and uplift the livelihood of coastal communities. The reefs around the island are destroying or dying due to human activities. This is a historic project and it is happy to see at least some sort of replanting project is being done around the island by WRCT’ said Prof K. B. Ranawana of Department of Zoology of the University of Peredeniya, who provides the know how much needed guidance to this project.
A coral reef is similar to a rainforest under the ocean and if properly nurtured can be re-grown to its prior form. Maalu Maalu Resort has taken the initiative to facilitate replanting corals in the unique coral reefs found along the Passekudah Coast.
‘There is also much educating to be done among the fishing villages as research indicates that coral decay has mainly been caused by incorrect fishing methods and adverse weather conditions. In a proactive effort, unfavourable factors that affect the growth of corals are identified and removed as much as possible’ said Samitha Harischandra of WRCT, who spearhead the main replanting project in Passekudah.
Also present at the launch ceremony were from the UNDP and Tokyo Cement as well as villagers from the nearby fishing villages as well as wellwishers. This is one of many CSR activities that Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa has undertaken in the area. Chandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa has initiated and taken a personal interest in this programme.
‘Planting Coral for future generations as well as a step towards repairing the damage done in this beautiful location will truly make Passekudah a paradise. That’s why I got in touch with Samitha of WRCT, who is a specialist in the subject’, Wickramasinghe said. I wanted to help restore the rich marine diversity of the area leaving a Coral Heritage for future generations’ he added.
After months of research and pilot projects, the first step was taken to create a natural sustainable coral reef through the ‘Plant a Coral’Project last week. Realizing the importance of this task, Tokyo Cement has shown their support by providing concrete boulders, which are used in replanting corals. Coral with a fast growing rate are given priority to be planted with a specialized cement mixture. Secondly, slow growing corals are used in between the first set of corals, which are planted.
Passekudah Bay contains shallow fringing coral reefs towards the outer bay with scattered coral communities within the Bay. This attracts local and foreign visitors in large numbers particularly during the non-monsoonal period from April to November. Visitors can observe the reefs and fish from fiberglass boats operated by the fisher folk.
Two year old Maalu Maalu Resorts and Spa is the very first Resort Hotel to be opened in the war-torn Eastern Province.
The Resort which was spear-headed by hotelier and Chairman, Chandra Wickramasinghe has given back something not just to its guests, but to the whole Eastern Community as well.
‘Maalu Maalu Resorts & Spa’ located in the Passikuda Bay, has 20 chalets with 40 luxury rooms on three acre land overlooking the East coast. The Resort is a combination of refined elegance set amidst a created rustic local setting, a reminder of the past, a blending of the old with the new.
These elegant chalets have been designed in a traditional Sri Lankan style, blending in with the environment in the most natural and picturesque way. Inspired by Sri Lankan authentic traditions and eco friendly architecture, Maalu Maalu reinterprets the ethnic style of a Sri Lankan fishing village – Wadiya.
Maalu Maalu have two restaurants – Karadiya: an open-air restaurant/coffee shop with a view of the ocean and Dheewarayo-Habala restaurant and Ruwala pool bar resembling traditional Sri Lankan fishing boats.
‘Maalu Maalu’ offers the tranquility and the calm and quiet of a holiday resort for those seeking peace; for the more adventurous there is diving, snorkeling, wind surfing and paragliding. A location rich in environmental diversity with mangroves and lagoons in close proximity, canoeing and bird watching are other interests to be pursued. ‘Maalu Maalu’ is a pioneering effort in the eco and family friendly beach resort concept, exclusively designed according to green building guidelines on energy and environment
For more information on the resort visit www.maalumaalu.com
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