Colonial rule played politics with the hills

by Afreeha Jawad

Should we think politicization is a recent phenomenon - it certainly is a misnomer. This then is not to justify its continuation. Its history - ever since the onset of colonial rule is marked by the skirmishes it brought on every aspect of life in this country social/political/economic/cultural not sparing the ecology as well.

In Sri Lanka the British that played politics with the central hills transformed an entire forest cover damaging its wholesomeness while introducing man made aesthetics into it bringing on endless stretches of neatly terraced tea bushes distantly seen as a sprawling green carpet.

However, this enthralling scenic deposit has taken a little over half a century resulting in landslides bringing misery upon many people whose untimely demise is still bemoaned by survivors. That the interference with nature's layout while bringing out the world's best 'cuppa' - a beverage for which Sri Lanka's credentials still remain intact has nevertheless brought on the misfortune of landslides is noteworthy - certainly a case in point of opportunity cost.

Colombo University's political science lecturer Mr. Dhamma Dissanayake recalling colonial politics in Sri Lanka referred to the four pronged attack on the central hills that contributed in no small measure to soil damage leading to the ongoing problem of earth disorientation.

In addition to the white man's damage uphill the furtherance of such by the tobacco business tycoons followed by the privately owned plantations and the ongoing vehemently operative potato cultivations has removed the soil's natural protective surface layer giving rise to soil erosion during times of heavy rain.

"Villagers were even financed into tobacco growing resulting in intense ploughing of soil and inorganic fertilizer usage. In addition trees were felled for firewood to dry the tobacco leaves," he said. What was introduced as a political/economic decision has had unbounded ecological and social impact yet termed as natural disaster.

The hill country's indigenous population engaged in chena cultivation were driven out of here who made landslopes their homes thereafter who continued with their agricultural activities.

Though at one time into subsistence agriculture their damage to the environment was minimal unlike the devastating changes brought on by a mecantilist economy that linked with a world market for which purpose the hill country became most vulnerable.

Playing politics with the country's geographical layout was what Dr. Dissanayake had in mind when he referred to the 1833 constitutional reforms followed by the various ordinances. For instance the land ordinance that enabled private ownership was channelled into fierce economic objectives.

Mr. Karunadasa Dissanayake of the Geography Department noted the hill country as being Sri Lanka's main catchment area which the ordinary villager was mindful of.

"They in fact kept it untouched for they knew its importance in forest cover consolidation," he said adding, "the turning point into destruction came when a self satisfying subsistence economy was transformed into a monetary one." Landslides, he said, "apart from natural factors were aggravated due to imperialist's exploitative political and economic decisions.

This then was an endorsement of a political scientist's view on landslides by a geographer - an outcome of the Colombo University's maiden effort in an inter-disciplinary approach collaborating towards more effective academic output.

Dr. Ranjana Piyadasa, a hydro geologist recalled how pressure brought upon the rocks and soil by the intensity of water flow gave rise to the loud noise during the landzslides in Walapane and Rikillagaskada. Soil over there is red sandy clay and high rainfall makes it more vulnerable in water absorption.

"Landslides," he informed, "is a natural hazard but is intensified with human activity. "There are the geological factors like rock and soil formation, terrain morphology of more than 30 or 45 degrees and climatic factors such as what happened in Walapane what with 250 millimetres of rain coupled with unrestricted and large scale exploitation of land has led us into more and more landslides," he added.

All kinds of agro activities such as coffee, tea, tobacco and sugar cane growing - the latest being potato cultivation have orchestrated into the lessening of soil binding.

In such areas there are no primary and secondary forest cover. Woodlands too have reduced.

Walapane where the two departments conducted research experienced indiscriminate land use. "Buildings and road construction along with agro activities have caused so much soil damage," they said.