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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Natural barriers to preserve coastline by Elmo Leonard A pilot project was launched in the Galle district last week to strengthen natural coastal barriers and preserve the coastline from natural and man-made calamities. The benefits of this operation, will also enhance the socio-economy of the people in the coastal areas. Some NGOs currently working in the country to counter the damage sustained by the tsunami, have readily pledged funds and other assistance, director, Department of Coastal Conservation, Dr. R.A.D.B. Samaranayake said. The natural barriers to be set up include the re-establishment of sand dunes along the coasts, the protection of mangroves and the cultivation of a range of plants which grow along the coasts, including coconut, kotamba, wettikeya and other useful plants. The DCC held discussions in this regard with the Central Environmental Authority and The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) representatives of the Botanical Gardens, Dr. Samaranayake said. The CCB will provide the coconut seedlings needed for the purpose. The Galle district was one of the worst hit by the tsunami and the schools along the coasts of this southern coastal stretch had readily agreed to maintain the natural barriers which will be developed. The development of natural barriers and consequent handing them over to the schools of each locality will be extended to all tsunami hit areas, and in time around the country's coastline. Stretches of beach where naturally occurring dunes were untouched by man, including Potuvil and parts of Yala, suffered very little or no damage when the tsunami struck, Dr. Samaranayake said. The island is ringed by 1,280 kilometres of coasts. There is much biodiversity in the coastal belt in estuaries, lagoons and marshes amounting to 120,000 hectares of which 80,000 hectares consist of deep lagoons and estuaries. The rest are shallow lagoons, tidal flats, mangrove swamps and saline marshes which must afford benefit to the people. Since the tsunami the DCC has repaired man-made coastal barriers such as boulders, groynes, revetments and breakwaters built in the sea. To date Rs 50 million has been spent on reconstruction and a further Rs 70 million will be spent during this year, Dr. Samaranayake said. |
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