Warden gripes "But we still have no water"

BY ZAHRAH IMTIAZ

Drought conditions prevail at the Yala National Park although rainfall has been reported in the surrounding areas.
Foundation for Environment Climate and Technology (FECT), in its weekly predictions on weather, reported that up to 45mm rainfall is expected in the South-Western and Southern parts of Sri Lanka from 17-30 September.
FECT reported rainfall last week in Southern and Eastern parts of the country. Meanwhile, on 12 September, 30 mm of rainfall was recorded at the Yala National Park and on 13-14, the entire South-western region had received 40 mm of rain.
 
But authorities said that the rain received at the Park was light, insufficient to have an impact on the sanctuary.
Though rain is being reported in the region, suffering from a prolonged drought, Yala National Park, Warden, S. Saranga however, said though there were light rains, common this time of year, it however, made no difference to the prevailing drought conditions in the park. "We still have no water", he said.
The Park Warden said he continued to use water bowsers to supply water to the Park.
 

"We have installed motors to pump water at two places and four other places have solar pumps," said Saranga.
The Chief Incumbent of the Sithulpahuwa Raja Maha Viharaya, Metaraba Hemarathana Thera said that it had only rained in Kataragama and that most of Yala remained dry. The thera is actively involved in supply water to the watering holes in the Park.
The thera and warden have been told to expect rain after 15 October. Given this scenario, the two parties have three more weeks to find water to maintain water supplies in the Park. That's the period when the North-East (NE) Monsoons are expected to hit the country.

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Weekly Hydro-meteorological Report, 25 September, 2014

Highlights

Monitoring and Prediction

Heavy rainfall is expected in the entire country during the next week. Badulla, Moneragala and Polonnaruwa districts shall receive heaviest rainfall during this period.
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Weekly Hydro-meteorological Report, 18 September, 2014

Highlights

Monitoring and Prediction

Southern and eastern regions of the country received rainfall during the past week. But no rainfall was observed in the north central region. High rainfall was observed in the south western region as expected while rainfall is expected to continue in this region during the next week. The sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka has reduced.
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Weekly Hydro-meteorological Report, 11 September, 2014

Highlights

Monitoring and Prediction

Rainfall was observed in the southern half of Sri Lanka as well as Jaffna peninsula during 2nd – 8th September. No rainfall was observed in north-central region of the country during this period. Highest rainfall was observed in the area surrounding Ampara. Rainfall expected in the coming week is predicted to be below than the historical average.
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Weekly Hydro-meteorological Report, 4 September, 2014

Highlights

Monitoring and Prediction

Below average rainfall was observed in the entirety of the country during the month of July, however during August, the precipitation observed over Sri Lanka was above average. Ratnapura district received highest amount of rainfall during August. But in the past week rainfall conditions in Sri Lanka once again was observed to be dry compared to the week before. The only significant rainfall event recorded this week was observed in the sea west of Puttalam.
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Weekly Hydro-meteorological Report, 28 Aug, 2014

Highlights

Monitoring and Prediction

Rainfall was observed during the previous week, mostly in the south-western region of the country. Highest rainfall was observed in the Kaluthara district. The sea to the west of Sri Lanka also received high rainfall.
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Alarm over rising seas but villagers keep returning to risky shore

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

Ports, hotels will cause erosion near and far

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For Shanthi of the Sri Dharmaarama Road fishing village in Ratmalana and Kamala Fernando of Ransigamawella off Wennappuwa, the coming days are a struggle to protect their houses from the strong waves that are rapidly swallowing up the shore.
Thousands of families living bordering the south-western coasts and north-western coasts are at a growing risk of coastal erosion, experts fear.
The latest danger was reported in Ratmalana where about 20 houses were destroyed with chairs, mats, pots and pans of poor fishing families sailing away with the waves.
Prof. W.N. Wilson, senior lecturer in geography at the Colombo University, said more than half the country’s population lives in coastal areas and the coastline from Kalpitiya to Tangalle is more prone to coastal erosion-related disasters.

Sea erosion in Ransigamawella, off Wennappuwa. Pix by M.A. .Pushpa Kumara and Rekha Tharangani Fonseka

He said the beaches of Mt. Lavinia, Ratmalana, Wellawatte, Wattala, Poruthota, off Wennappuwa, Marawila, Kalpitiya, Weligama, Beruwala, Ahangama, Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna would be more affected by erosion due to human-made factors and natural factors such as the south-west monsoon, disturbances in the atmosphere, rough seas and strong currents.
He said crystalline rocks, corals, beach sand and rock debris found in the coastal terrain acted as natural barriers but these were being destroyed in places.

 “Coral mining, mining in rivers and estuaries, rock-blasting to build harbours, drilling into coastal soil layers to build hotels, apartments etc. are among the leading causes for the increased coastal erosion,” Prof. Wilson said.
If another tsunami struck, the western and southern belts would experience greater destruction due to increased development activities and settlements bordering the ocean
“With natural barriers destroyed and coast eroding one metre annually, strong waves can easily enter the land. Environment impact assessments and vulnerability studies should continue with erosion prevention given priority. Most of the wooden groynes, structures built out from seashore to control erosion, were destroyed by the 2004 tsunami,” he said.
Prof. Wilson said the northern parts of the country were vulnerable due to turbulences and rain disturbances in the Bay of Bengal.
Thousands of families live along the southern and western coasts that are highly vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Swarna Perera, member of a 300-strong fishing community off Negombo, said she is currently living in her ninth house with all previous houses, whether built of brick or wood, lost to the sea.
“Where are we supposed to go?” she asked. “The authorities give us money but that is not sufficient to buy a plot of land and build a house.”
Kamala Fernando, a resident of Ransigamawella, a coastal village off Wennappuwa, said during the 40 years the sea had encroached about 300m into the land.
“There used to be so much space for me to rear pigs and poultry. Now there is no space at all. After the tsunami, coastal erosion.