News
Matale drying up
Climate change, accelerated by man-made degradation of the environment, is drying up the Matale District, which once had annual rainfall of 2500mm.
Urgent calls to save Matale District that's home to the Knuckles range (above) and many a wildlife (below). Pix by Mahesh Keerthiratne
Now trees such as teak and halmilla, which like drier conditions, are growing well in areas of Matale that used to be considered wet zone areas – areas such as Raththota, Ukuwela, Yalawatta and Pallethota, which now also host different forms of wildlife.
“Wildlife such as peacocks and weavers birds are coming to this area in great numbers and they can be seen in Raththota, Weragama, Hapugasthalawa, Ukuwela, Warisapulawatta and Kalalpitiya,” environmentalist Gamini Jayatissa said.
Altered patterns of the north-east monsoon winds have played an important part in the altered environment, Mr. Jayatissa said, calling for a thorough study into the changes taking place in Matale.
Paddy cultivation has suffered, and a large area of barren paddy fields can be seen in the district, especially close to the Knuckles Reservation.
Farmers say water needed for both the Yala and Maha cultivations is insufficient. Even the famous “Pandivita Paddy Field” that introduced the seasonal and monthly (“Yalpatha Maspatha) cultivation is not yielding as good harvests as expected.
Mr. Jayatissa has noted that white ants that emerge with rains are only a third of their former size.
He called for urgent protection for the Matale forests, saying the region used to have tall trees with wide canopies that helped create cloud cover over the mountain ranges that brought plentiful rain. Thousands of acres of forest are burned down annually and this should be stopped, he said. Matale town used to have big trees but these no longer existed.
Companies are felling trees for profit and also carrying out mining in the area without regard for the environment, Mr. Jayatissa said.
The region is rich in scenic beauty from the rivers that run through it. The Sudu Ganga flows through Matale town, adding colour to the environment. Another small river, the Kumbiyangala, runs through Pansal Thenna, Ovilikanda, the mountains and Matale town. The Hapunvida Oya that flows through Hunnasgiriya and Alakaduwa joins the Maha Oya in the Knuckles Range and later joins Dativela Oya, Dankanda Oya, Sudu Ganga, Kalu Ganga and the Mahaweli River.
