Rebuilding and reconstruction of Sri Lanka

by Dr. P. A. Wirasingha

We are all aware that the islands of East Indies and the Eastern Coast of Pacific are noted for natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons, tidal waves and tsunamis. But it is the first time in the living memory, a disaster of such magnitude occurred in Sri Lanka. Though we are familiar with a periodic visit of a cyclone, that was about all.

However with the present tsunami due to an earthquake near Sumatra opens up a new chapter. Sumatra, Andamans and Nicobar Islands overlie the Indo-Australian tectonic plate bordering the Burma Plate.

The National Geographical Magazine has indicated a defect in the Australian Plate in the Mid Indian Ocean just south of the equate. With that in view it is not safe for us to consider that we are free from future disasters and a preparedness most indicated.

With the visit of tsunami there was an outpouring of good will help and assistance from many many countries of the world. It is true that steps are initiated in taking restorative and preventive measures. But the idea behind the present communication is to point out some details which must be looked at the initial stage in doing the reparative work.

Coast Conservation

It is very wise move taken to prevent the new constructions within 100 meters of Southern and Western Coast of Sri Lanka.

The aim should be not to keep this area barren but to grow barricade plants at the edge of the beach. There are natural vegetations of Hydrophyte family which are suitable for saline soil. Plants like Vetakeyya, should be planted right along South and Western Coast and the waters edge is thus protected.

Coconut plants could take in the balance 100 meters of space. This should be an area of mixed vegetations of jack, bread fruit, mango, mangosteen, duriyan, beli and divul depending on their suitability to the wet zone.

East of Matara area should be open for more dry zone plants and once past Tangalla suitability will be for thorny plants like pathok, cactus and Karamba and indigenous dates. Beyond Hambantota palmyra plant should be encouraged.

Area from Tangalla to Hambantota would also be suitable for kotta pulun, drumsticks, cotton, margosa and suriya. Coconut should be encouraged in the eastern coast and the waters edge fortified with thorny plants such as vetakeyya, eraminiya and cacti.

Many river banks should be planted with bamboo, kubuk, cane and dible plants such as kohila, gotukola and kankun. The selection of these plants should be done in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and botanical gardens at Peradeniya and Henarathgoda Gampaha W.P.

Housing Projects

In the planning of housing projects D. P. C. coat is very essential. White ants will be a later problem which is difficult to solve. The experts at the Housing Ministry will be of valuable assistance in selecting the suitable insecticide to add to the D. P. C. coat. Sloping of bathroom floors is an important matter while cementing the floor. The floor gradient should be in excess of 1:10 for quick drying up of the floor.

If there is to be a ceiling, there should be no space between the roof and the ceiling. This will solve the future problem of pole cats who would otherwise take residence in the above space. Harvesting of rain water is another important matter to look into.

The rain water gutters should have a gradient of 1:10 to prevent stagnation of water which will lead to breeding of Dengue mosquitoes. Space should be provided below the roof level to accommodate the water tank. This should be beyond the area of the roof as well as the supporting walls.

Excess water from the plastic tank would drain into a sump and the overflow from the sump should be to a well so that the ground water level would be maintained. With the installation of a water pump to the well as well as the sump will ensure water supply unless during a very severe drought.

There should be a mechanism to produce manure from household garbage. Keeping a cow or a goat or a few poultry will help in the manure production and the need for milk and eggs also will be solved.

The house garden should be planted with one or two coconut plants of the neum variety, king coconut, jack, bread fruit, mango, beli, divul, goraka, mangoosteen, beling, jumbo, orange and jamanarang depending on the suitability to the locality. Flower plants like bougainvillaea, rose and shoe flower will be selective.

Road Construction

The important factor here is the pavements. There is no point in having pavements if that is used for parking. It is better to have parking bays and 2 feet wide pavement raised at least 10 inches from the level of the road. Central barricade as found in front of Zahira College Maradana is useless.

The barricade should be impenetrable and the pedestrians can use either the overhead bridge at the junction or the zebra crossing at the Deans Road turn.

The central islands of Galle Road should be removed and install movable barricades which could be moved to widen the traffic to one direction or the other depending on the need. The local authority, the Municipal Council should have a team to maintain the shifting of the central barrier. This should apply to all trunk roads and in the large towns. Same rule apply to the parking bays and pavements.

There should be shady trees on either side which could be of timber value. Teak, halmilla, satin, suriya mara, nedun, ebony and mahogany should be planted during the rainy season as avenues. This is mainly for southern super roadway authority. Railway should be planned as double lines with the possibility of converting into fast electric tracks in the future.

Norochcholai and Talawakelle electricity schemes should be expedited. There had been a system of water transport from Negombo to Panadura connecting the Colombo Beira lake which could be revived.

There are consultants visiting this country in large numbers. Britain, U.S.A. and Japan could be consulted for electric trains, Republic of Korea for road development and Holland or Norway for transport by waterways.

The writer is a Consultant Eye Surgeon