Letters to the Editor
View(s):A plea to revisit the EIA for Galle sea reclaiming project
This refers to the news article titled “Galle Sea to be reclaimed for major development project” in the Sunday Times.
Galle Bay was used as the main harbour of Ceylon during the Dutch period. Manmade structures in the recent past, have left only the sea beach at Dewata area as a “spending beach” to dissipate the ferocious swell wave energy entering the Galle Bay, Galle Esplanade, Galle Marine Drive and Port of Galle.
Reclaiming of Closenberg beach has closed down all “spending beaches” of Galle Bay except at Devata, next to the rocky areas of Unawatuna. Any attempt to reclaim 45 hectares of Devata beach, will leave Galle Bay without any “spending beach” and the repercussions will be critical for port activities in the Galle Bay.
Oluvil, Gandara, Rekawa, Mawella and many other nature’s treasures have already been destroyed by professional negligence.
The Coast Conservation & Coastal Resources Management Department (CCCRMD) should revisit the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) on the project, and give their professional input on this aspect of the need for a “spending beach” for the Galle Bay.
Bernard Hettiarachchi Dalugama, Kelaniya
Give priority to clean up the country too
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his policy statement at the opening of the new Parliament last month stated the need to maintain a clean Sri Lanka among other matters. It is mentioned in the manifesto of the NPP too. As citizens of Sri Lanka we should adhere to this objective to make our country a beautiful place.
There are not enough toilet facilities in Colombo city and even those that do exist are barely usable. The general public, especially women, who come to Colombo city are greatly inconvenienced due to this.
Today many people do not properly dispose of their wastes. Some throw garbage on to the sides of roads while travelling in their vehicles. Once when visiting the Ella area I saw a foreign lady collecting garbage–plastic bottles, polythene bags and food wrappers thrown away by our people. Such littering should be prohibited by law and those who do so should be punished.
Children should be educated from their Montessori days on how to properly dispose of waste and keep their surroundings clean. Otherwise it will all remain just words.
C.D.J. Weerasena Boralesgamuwa
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