The recently dredged and cleaned-up Lunawa lagoon is now teeming with local and migrant birds.
Few people outside Moratuwa are aware that there is a beautiful lagoon bordering Prince of Wales College and St. Sebastian’s College. It has become a popular place for walks and exercise.
If you go for a walk around the lagoon between 6 a.m. and 6.30 a.m., you will see large number of birds. These include terns, egrets, purple coots, cormorants, spot-billed pelicans, purple and grey herons, black-winged stilts, sandpipers and Brahminy kites.
Unfortunately, the lagoon is in danger of reverting to its original polluted state. The Moratuwa Municipality and the authorities concerned should act fast or this beautiful lagoon will turn into yet another garbage dump.
Officials of the Wildlife Conservation Department should visit the lagoon and declare it a bird sanctuary.
Lunawa lagoon can be reached from the Galle Road. It is about half a mile towards the sea from the Rawathawatta junction.
Dr. A. T. W. Guneratne,
Moratuwa |
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