Are the authorities ignorant of the unprecedented damage to Unawatuna due to the man-made breakwater?:

Placid waters of Unawatuna Bay doomed!

By Anuradha Kodagoda

Unawatuna has long been a popular tourist destination in Galle for foreigners as well as locals alike, although, in recent times the town has lost its glory and the golden beaches ideal for swimming and sun bathing has lost its lustre due to unprecedented sea erosion as a result of the man-made breakwater.

The issue is threatening the survival of the tourism industry that has thrived for long years, providing livelihoods for thousands in the area.

Will you believe if we say that the picturesque beach of this major tourist attraction of the South has been entirely washed away and even 'eating into' some of the tourist business places?

According to the people of Unawatuna, a major portion of the Unawatuna coast has been wholly gnawed up by giant waves that relentlessly crash onto the sandy shores hour after hour.

Paloma Scott, who is half Sri Lankan half British and lives in Unawatuna spoke in glowing terms about the Unawatuna beach and his words were tinged with a bit of sadness.

He said, “Unawatuna beach is renowned for its natural beauty and safe wimming all year round.

A year ago the two kilom etre swim to the island reef, directly south from the base of the horse-shoe shaped bay, was through deep water.

I swim every day, weather permitting.

The azure blue water of the Indian Ocean, sometimes cloudy from the churn of the current, reveals the true extent of the effect of the man-made breakwater. Running long, wide and deep down to the ocean floor, across the western side

of the mouth of the bay, its existence has altered the ebb and flow of the sea that washes around the bay.

Now I can clearly see the ocean floor as far as the island reef and water is warmer. The bay is slowly but surely filling up with sand.

The western side of the bay which ends with the spectacular headland, has a long spit of sand, forming day by day. In contrast, the eastern side and running through to the mid-point of the horse-shoe; roughly half of the total area of the beach, is eroded at an alarming rate,”

However, as a solution the authorities were pumping sand to cover the rock strewn shore line which is not a scientifically practical solution rather it is an artificial process to recreate the Unawatuna beach will end up in utter failure. “Sand is being pumped to cover our rock strewn shoreline. This is a short term solution. With the current so strong and the unseasonal rain lashing the shore, the sand will inevitably be washed away.

The root of the problem should be addressed first, before public money is spent.

Rumour, speculation, uncertainty, uneasiness and fatalism pervades. Talk of creating breaks in the breakwater, building groins and growing natural sea defenses swirl around us like the ocean that simultaneously nourishes and destroys our livelihoods,” Paloma emphasized.

It is questionable why the authorities cannot understand the gravity of securing this natural treasure which should be cherished by the nation.

If we ignore the damage being done to Unawatuna Bay, it is at our peril!