An enquiry into the colour and stench that is the Lake:

Beset by the Beira

by Roel Raymond

Take a walk around the Beira Lake on any given day and you will be greeted with the sight of murky green stagnant water from which emanates a putrid smell. Not all of the attractions around the Lake; and there are many; can detract from the colour and stench that has come to be known as the Beira Lake.

As part of its initiative to invest deeper in the issues of the people, The Sunday Observer headed bravely down to the Beira Lake and its outliers to find out just what the people think about this problem and what they suggest as possible solutions.

A Dutch-built, Colombo-based water body, the Beira Lake was used originally for easy transportation of goods, into what was first a trading post that became cinnamon lands and a military outpost, before its gradual transformation into Sri Lanka's metropolis.

Translucent sheen

Originally 165 hectares in extent, now only 65 hectares, the Lake separates into two main water bodies; one on Nawam Mawatha and the other bordering D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha. The Gangaramaya Temple's 'Seema Malaka', Swan (or, more accurately 'Sawn') rides, a year-and-a half-old Floating Market and various stores selling mobile phones, food and clothes are some of the attractions from around the Lake, which otherwise borders the Pettah Railway Station and Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, the Colombo Rowing Club, the five star Cinnamon Lakeside and a number of warehouses and workplaces.

Walking along the D. R. Wijewardene side of the Lake, directly opposite Lake House, which is home to this newspaper and within a stone's throw from the Colombo Rowing Club and the Cinnamon Lakeside, we found the Lake covered in a strange, translucent sheen on which floated discoloured plastic bottles and other garbage. Passing the Fort Railway Station we saw more garbage floating on the Lake, bright green with what can only be assumed to be algae.

We decided to stop by the Floating Market, to speak to the people there; what did they feel about the stench emanating from the Lake?

Quiet, despite the rush hour outside, the Market was only marked with an odd young couple, sharing buth parcels and fruit juice, fearfully declining comment and invitation to discuss social issues: Quite obviously, they were not there, and no evidence of their presence at that location ought to be captured on film.

Floating Market

Despite the Research and International Relations Division of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority recording tourist arrival at 192, 841 for the month of March, and indeed Colombo being dotted all over with tourists of various hues, The Floating Market was conspicuous in its absence of tourists.

Wimalaratne, of Wimalaratne stores had an answer to this: "Tourists come here, but they cover their noses for the smell and leave - how many times have I pointed this out to officers from the UDA who come here - 'there is another one covering his nose and leaving.'"

"This was not the situation before," he said. "A chemical was used on the Lake during the time of the last government. I don't know who is in charge now, under what authority these things come but we need a solution. This time when we complained, they applied aluhunu(limestone);you can't get rid of the smell with aluhunu!"

"Some people say that during the dry season, the algae, or mud resurfaces and that is the reason for this smell. That is not the point. The point is to find a solution. I think a chemical must be applied, as before, and this place must be cleaned and maintained. Otherwise it will be impossible for us to continue with our business here," he said.

Rohan Daniel, a marketeer passing through the Floating Market in search of coffee and a bite agreed with Wimalaratne that something must be done: "The stench here is unbearable," he said, shaking his head, "Just unbearable."

"There is the Municipality, the Urban Development Authority - so many people supposed to be in charge of this, but the problem is that no one is taking responsibility for cleaning it. This smell affects everything; even the food is affected by the stench - would I ever bring my family here?"

Solution

We wondered what the authorities had to say about this and contacted the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation, tasked with maintenance of the Beira Lake, to ask what challenges they were facing, if any, and what they proposed as solution. Chairman Asela Iddawala said measures were indeed being taken to clean the Beira Lake. However, he said, the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation was looking for long-term solutions to the problem, rather than quick ones.

Adding chemicals to the Lake was a short-term solution, he pointed out, adding that officials from the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation and the Urban Development Authority were currently engaged in research on the issue in order to arrive at a suitable solution.

Whatever the stance of the authorities tasked with maintaining Colombo's urban landscape, it is wise to remember the words of Rohan Daniel, who said in parting, "It's such a pity. Sri Lanka is such a beautiful county. We have so much to offer. It's such a pity we aren't taking care of our resources. We must do something about this. We must look after our city," and hold authorities responsible.