“Motorists need to be extra careful when driving in bad weather, as even a simple mistake can lead to accidents in wet conditions”, warns Traffic DIG Amarasiri Senaratne. Drivers often turn in various directions to avoid water on the road. Motorists on the opposite side, unaware of these unexpected turns, and unable to take timely evasive action, often crash head-on,” he explains. “It is important motorists drive slowly and carefully on rainy days”.

It is also important to maintain the proper following distance as water reduces the braking power in vehicles. Have an eye on the brake lights of the vehicle in front. Be extra careful when following buses or large vehicles. The water sprayed by their tyres can reduce the vision, which is specially a problem on the expressway.

Pix by Susantha Liayanawatte

Mr. Senaratne further added that motorists should check the vehicles before getting them out these days. Malfunctioning wipers and brittle wiper blades should be replaced, as they decrease visibility. Tyres should also be in good condition.

When driving on the expressway, leave much space between you and the car in front, because it takes longer to stop. You’re supposed to leave a few seconds between cars in dry weather. Make sure you increase space in wet weather, because, if you have to hit the brakes hard, your tyres will lock, and you will hydroplane and will most likely hit the car in front of you. If available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer cars and less oil deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tyre ruts in the lanes.

Whatever you do, it tends to skid on rainy days. You can prevent skidding by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Brake before entering the curves, says Mr Senaratne. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as “steering into the skid,” will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you “steer into the skid.”

The Traffic DIG also calls on motorists to be courteous to pedestrians by slowing down to avoid splashing water on them.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130623/news/taking-the-highway-exercise-extra-care-in-wet-conditions-traffic-dig-49915.html

Concerns over the fate of Sri Lankan elephants in inundated Prague Zoo – where an elephant died in severe flooding in 2002 – have been laid to rest by zoo officials who say the animals are safe despite the zoo being flooded again, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of its denizens.

Safe: Tamara with baby Sita. Pic courtesy Tomáš Adamec

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Prague Zoo’s spokesman, Michal Stastny, said the new elephant enclosure, Elephant Valley, has not been affected by this month’s floods in the Czech Republic’s capital because it is located on higher ground, about 70m above the water level.

Established in 1931, the Prague zoo has been one of the largest and popular zoos in the world. It is located on the banks of the Vltava River, making it prone to flooding. In 2002, the zoo experienced the worst flood in 100 years, resulting in the deaths of many animals.

Among the dead was Kadir, an Asian elephant, which had to be euthanased as it faced a worse death by drowning when rescue efforts failed to get it out from its enclosure. Some of the other larger animals that died during the 2002 floods include a gorilla, hippos and some small animals. A group of sea lions escaped to the Vltava River.

Animal activists have been worried about the fate of two Sri Lankan elephants, Janita and Tamara, recently gifted to the zoo but Mr Stastny’s reassurances have been cheering.

He said that earlier this month some 1000 animals had to be evacuated from the lower part of the zoo to temporary accommodation on higher ground to make sure of their safety. These included big cats such as tigers, jaguars, leopards and lions that had to be tranquillised. The only casualty this time was a flamingo, he said. A gorilla too had to be sedated in order to evacuate it to safety.

Eight-year-old Janita and seven-year-old Tamara were donated to the Prague Zoo in October last year and sent to the Czech Republic by a Sri Lankan Air Force cargo plane. The plane did not return empty to Colombo as the zoo gifted a pair of Komodo dragons, a pair of Przewalski horses and a pair of young hippos to the Dehiwela Zoo.

Submerged direction boards at the zoo

Prague Zoo is now home to eight Asian elephants. On March 30, the little herd, including Tamara and Janita, were moved to the Valley of Elephants, which has a heated pavilion of 1400 square metres and three connectable runs with a total area of 8500 square metres. The elephants are not chained.

Animal welfare groups in Sri Lanka are unenthusiastic about elephants such as Janita and Tamara from the Pinnawela elephant orphanage being donated to foreign zoos.

While some international zoos take good care of their elephants, many others do not have proper capabilities to raise elephants, specially in harsh weather, activists say. In many instances, they say, the elephants are left alone, placing these sociable animals under huge stress.

In Prague Zoo, Janita and Tamara also have company of six other companions. In February, the first baby elephant was born in the zoo, and both Janita and Tamara have apparently assumed foster-mother duties to five-month-old Sita, whose mother is also present. Prague Zoo says it is grateful that the two elephants sent by Sri Lanka could enhance its breeding programme.

Published on SundayTimes on 23.06.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130623/news/flood-czech-our-jumbos-safe-in-prague-49773.html

One January night this year, researchers Ranil Nanayakkara, Nilantha Vishvanath and Taraka Kusuminda were walking along the Laggala – Illukkumbura road studying the bats, tarantulas and other nocturnal creatures in Knuckles. Scanning the canopy of trees along the road with their powerful flashlights, they suddenly spotted an ‘eye reflection’.

Their first thought was that it could be a Loris but the creature had a longer tail like a Giant Squirrel. Luckily it was not very high in the canopy, so they could observe it closely and then one of them spotted the skinny membrane extending from its sides, which indicated that it was a Flying Squirrel.

Sri Lanka is home to two Flying Squirrel species. As the creature was having a leisurely dinner, the researchers had ample time, nearly 30 minutes to observe it. When stationary, including when feeding, the Flying Squirrel holds its tail above its body. They knew this to be a unique feature and other features too matched an elusive creature that had not been directly observed for the last 78 years.
“We were delighted to identify the Flying Squirrel in front of us as the rare Small Flying Squirrel based on features observed in the field,” said Ranil Nanayakkara. The Small Flying Squirrel (Petinomysfuscocapillus) is known as ‘Heen hambawa’ in Sinhala. It is smaller than its cousin, the Giant Flying Squirrel (Petauristaphilippensis) as the name implies and has different characteristics. The species identification was confirmed using the Manual of Mammals of Sri Lanka by W.W.A Phillip and also with the specimens of both Flying Squirrels in National Museum of Sri Lanka.

The Small Flying Squirrel (Petinomysfuscocapillus) is an elusive creature that has not been physically observed by researchers since last reported by W.W.A. Phillips in 1935. According to Philip this squirrel’s home range is the wet and intermediate zones of the island. In 2007, camera traps used in a different study had captured images of the Small Flying Squirrel in Sinharaja but no researcher had observed them directly in their natural setting.

Flying squirrels are rodents like all squirrels, and feed on fruits and nuts. They have large flaps of skin between the front and rear legs called patagium, which they use like a parachute to ‘glide’ from tree to tree. They take a spread-eagled position to trap air that helps them ‘glide’. Though they do not actually fly like birds or bats, they have great skill in ‘gliding’ short distances. The Small Flying Squirrel is a nocturnal animal found in Sri Lanka and India.

The research paper on their recent observation was published as a short communication on TAPROBANICA. The team also managed to capture the first colour photos of the elusive creature.

Published on SundayTimes on 23.06.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130623/plus/look-its-that-elusive-small-flying-squirrel-49635.html

Rising ocean would drown valuable projects 

Sri Lanka will be hit hard by climate change and is not giving this enough thought when executing development projects, a new report warns. The report, “Turn Down The Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience” builds on a World Bank report released late last year, which concluded the world would warm by 4C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century if countries did not take concerted action now.

Sea-level rise will impact Sri Lanka (c) http://www.churchofvirus.org

The paper looks at the likely impacts of present-day 2°C and 4°C warming on agricultural production, water resources, coastal ecosystems and cities across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia.  With South Asian coastlines being located close to the equator, projections of local sea-level rise show a greater increase compared to higher latitudes. Sea-level rise is projected to be approximately 100–115cm by the 2090s in a 4°C world, and 60–80 cm in a 2°C world, the report calculates.

“In Sri Lanka, we recently witnessed the havoc wrought on communities, especially those living on the coast, by extreme bad weather and this could only get worse with the accelerating effects of climate change,” pointed out Ivan Rossignol, Acting Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives of the World Bank releasing the report.

The World Bank said climate risk mitigation measures were integrated into the designs of its project investments to ensure their sustainability. For example, the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP), which aims at flood and drainage management, and the Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRP), have incorporated climate/weather proofing of water resource management into its project design, he explains.

The report, by the National Climate Adaptation Strategy of Sri Lanka (NCASS), warned that many other development projects, including roads, drainage systems, railways, did not take the risks of Climate Change into account even when such concerns were critical.

Transport infrastructure in certain coastal areas could be under severe threat due to sea level rise. Tourism in coastal areas is also under threat, as beaches and the biodiversity which underpin our tourism product are both at risk due to climate change.

Guidelines and standards for development and engineering of infrastructure currently in use are outdated and do not include climate change considerations, the NCASS report says.

Published on SundayTimes on 07.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130707/news/authorities-heedless-of-climate-change-in-coastal-planning-report-51864.html

Last hideout of shy herd that survives by being elusive – Malaka Rodrigo

Scientists are finding evidence of possible changes in evolution among elephants roaming Sri Pada with a chance to examine the body of an elephant found in the area in the first such sighting. The body was found last week (June 26) in the periphery of the Laxapana Tea Estate in Nallathanniya which adjoins the Peak Wilderness Wildlife Reserve, the last hideout of a dozen elephants that survive in the area.

The roaming herd in Siri Pada. Pic by Anil Vithanage

This is the first time the body of an elephant has been found here, and villagers flocked in large number to witness this rare scene.
The veterinary surgeon of the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) which oversees wildlife issues in the Peak Wilderness, Dr Vijitha Perera, said it appeared the elephant had been dead less than 12 hours, and that the death was due to natural causes. Dr. Perera, who performed the post-mortem on the elephant, told The Sunday Times that, interestingly, the elephant had fed solely on the small bamboos that grow in the Peak Wilderness. No grass was present in the gut.

The elephant’s jaw and ears, and overall the body, was smaller than elephants living in other areas. Dr Perera is of the view that these changes are a result of evolving adaptation to life in mountain terrain. The foot was smaller as well as smoother, unlike the cracked soles of an elephant in the Dry Zone.

The elephant also had well developed tushes (tushes are similar to tusks but do not grow more than a few inches). The white pigmentation on its body (known as kabara in Sinhala) made it look fairer. Dr Perera believes the dead elephant was at least 30 years of age.

The elephants in Sri Pada are elusive, said Nallathanniya Assistant Wildlife Ranger Anil Vithanage who has been studying this small elephant group for nearly a decade. He has been lucky enough to encounter the herd several times and was able to photograph it at Dharmaraja gala a few years ago. There were three sub-adults and a pregnant female in this herd, he said, allowing The Sunday Times use of the rare photographs.

Mr. Vithanage said the Sri Pada elephants roam a large area of the Peak Wilderness but are shy and keep their distance from humans. This has so far spared them from becoming casualties of human-elephant conflict. Fortunately, he said, the local people hold the animals in respect because the elephant is considered to be the bearer of lord Sumana Saman, the deity watching over Sri Pada (Samanala Kanda) Adaviya. Legend says that the devastating floods of 2002 were triggered by a curse over the killing of a Sri Pada elephant for its tusks.

A rare scene: The body of the elephant. Pic by Dr. Vijitha Perera

The elephants avoid the main areas during Sri Pada Pilgrim season and return to the range during the off-season as the noise of the pilgrims recedes.On the wilder pilgrimage paths through Kuruwita/Eratne and Palabaddala there can be seen signs of elephants that had passed through the area.

Mr. Vithanage said climbers who scale Sri Pada in the off-season for pilgrims were disturbing the silence enjoyed by these animals. Proposals such as setting up a lighting system to the peak as well as a cable car system should be considered with care in this extremely sensitive environment.

The Peak area was “a dense and trackless forest, the home of elephant, leopard, and bears” according to an 1862 missionary account. Huge herds were chased away as the Brititsh established plantations in the mountains. To protect the crops and for sport, thousands of elephants roaming the hill country and Wet Zone were killed.

The Peak Wilderness is now a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Natural Wealth and the remaining few elephants are the jewel of Peak Wilderness’ biodiversity. A conservation plan to protect them for future generation is a clear necessity, say environmentalists.

 And then there were two … 

The Sinharaja is home to just a couple of elephants in the Wet Zone, and they are probably the last of their generation. A few years ago, three elephants were spotted roaming in areas such as Pothupitiya, Ilumbakanda and Rakwana but Runakanda Friends of Biodiversity Association President Amila Chanaka says only two were spotted during the past year.

Unlike the Sri Pada elephants, the Sinharaja elephants are in conflict with villagers. They have claimed the lives of a few people in the area and in return, have been shot. Mr Chanaka worries that the missing jumbo was a casualty. He said all the elephants were males, so they are the last of their generation.

The remaining forest patches in these areas have been encroached on, mainly for tea cultivation, so the elephants have to pass populated areas, risking confrontation with humans. Relocation is virtually unfeasible as there are not sufficiently large Wet Zone habitats for these animals.

An attempt to relocate one of the Sinharaja elephants was blocked by some local villagers who take pride in the presence of the elephants. They say illicit liquor makers and timber fellers want to get rid of the elephants in order to carry out their activities undisturbed deep in the forest.

Published in SundayTimes on 07.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130707/news/rare-sri-pada-elephant-yields-valuable-evolution-clues-51896.html

A pair of young lionesses arrived at the Dehiwala Zoo last Wednesday (July 3). They were a gift from Tierpark Hggenbeck Zoo, in Hamburg, Germany.  In April last year the Dehiwala Zoo got down an African lion from South Korea with the aim of breeding lions.

The lion family whose cubs were sent to the Dehiwala Zoo seen in the zoo in Hamburg

Dehiwala Zoo’s education officer, Nihal Senarath said the lionesses would be ready for public viewing in a few weeks time after the quarantine period was over, adding that they were about two years old and in good health and adapting to conditions here very well.

Before these new arrivals from Germany and South Korea the zoo was home to 6 ageing lions. They are between 15 – 20 years and are sick and weak. The zoo’s director told the Sunday Times a few months back that the old lions would be moved to an off-exhibit section of the zoo once the new arrivals came.

Other sources said the new lions would be sent to the Hambantota Safari Park, once it was completed, adding that another pair of lions are expected from a zoo in China soon.

Published on SundayTimes on 14.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130714/news/young-lionesses-from-germany-will-soon-be-on-view-at-dehiwala-zoo-52900.html

Sri Lanka’s modern farming use of rainwater stored in ancient tanks is a best practice strategy to combat the effects of climate change, says CGIAR, a global partnership of research bodies – but an expert warns that we are ruining this precious legacy. CGIAR’s research programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) outlines methods for farmers to adapt to shifts in climate despite uncertain growing conditions in coming years.

Above and below: Tanks built by our ancestors a rich heritage of water storage 

Research carried out by Colombo-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) a CGIAR partner with CCAFS, was a key contributor to the study. “We have a rich heritage of water storage in Sri Lanka,” said Nishadi Eriyagama, a water resources engineer at International Water Management Institute (IWMI) who also contributed to the study.

“But according to recent research, half of all the 18,000 tanks in the dry zone are abandoned or in need of repair. So there is both a huge challenge and a great opportunity to revive these systems to help us adapt to climate change.’  The CCAFS report ties in with Sri Lanka’s own National Climate Change Adaptation strategy (NCCAS) prepared in 2011 which, among several other strategies to battle climate change, recommends returning to ancient water storage systems.

Professor Andy Challinor of Leeds University, who co-leads research on climate adaptation at CCAFS, said getting farmers and other stakeholders to embrace various adaptation strategies could “end up being equally or more important than seeking higher levels of scientific certainty from a climate model”.

“In Sri Lanka,” Dr Challinor said, “adapting without regrets started with knowing farmer capabilities and vulnerabilities. “Despite limited resources, the government’s adaptation plan is giving farmers a head-start because of its practical approach. Better water capture and management on the farms is translating to better preparation for more extreme weather conditions; better food security for the nation is the result.”

The report notes that the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka, which accounts for almost one-third of employment and one-eighth of gross domestic product, “faces uncertainly in the near-term as projections for precipitation and temperature vary dramatically”.
It goes on: “Instead of delaying a decision until more certainty emerges, government planners looked at the frequency of historical exposure to climate hazards … and identified the need for improved water management as an agricultural adaptation strategy that would be beneficial regardless of how climate changes shaped the precipitation in the future.

“The government then worked with smallholder farmers on a range of adaptive measures that have addressed agriculture water usage for centuries. Ancient Sri Lankan kingdoms used large above-ground tanks to collect and store rainwater for use in drier times; farmers implemented this solution with great success.”

Data published in Sri Lanka’s second National Communication on Climate Change shows a trend in decreasing rainfall and predicts that climate change will make the dry zone drier and the wet zone wetter. Unfortunately for us, several crops, including paddy, are cultivated mainly in the dry zone and could be directly affected by uncertain weather patterns.

Despite the huge amount evidence pointing to man-made climate change as a reality, there is a great deal of uncertainty among researchers about its effects.  That’s a problem for policy makers who are looking for firm recommendations to guide them, hence the development of CCAFS’s “no regrets” approaches that will help farmers whatever the outcome of climate change.

“Climate projections will always have a degree of uncertainty, but we need to stop using uncertainty as a rationale for inaction,” says Dr Sonja Vermeulen, head of research at CCAFS and lead author of the new study.

Published on SundayTimes on 14.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130714/news/modern-use-of-ancient-tanks-a-world-best-practice-model-52847.html

Millions of years ago, lions, tigers, rhinos, hippos and, perhaps, even dinosaurs, roamed our land, but unlike man-made archaeological artifacts, sites where fossils are buried do not get enough protection, experts have lamented. They expressed their concern at the recently-concluded Archaeological Congress of Sri Lanka where the Sri Lanka Biodiversity Secretariat handed over a proposal to the Archaeology Department on the need to amend the Archaeological Act to protect fossil deposits of Sri Lanka.

Fossils found in Sri Lanka: From left, a part of a fossilised Nilssonia Fissa plant belong to the Jurassic era, Fossilied Conus, a species belonging to the Miocene period and a fossilised tooth of an animal that lived in the Pleistocene era.

The congress was told that millions of years old fossil deposits belonging to the Jurassic, Miocene and Pleistocene periods had been unearthed at Tabbowa in the Puttalam district and other places by archaeologists, but many of these sites were left unprotected and vulnerable to the elements.

The experts said that just as much the way steps were being taken to protect archaeological sites from criminals, millions of years old nature’s creations should be protected before they got lost without anybody’s knowledge.

According to Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, one of the few experts involved in palaeobiology and palaebiodiversity or the study of fossilised animals and plants, the Tabbowa Jurassic fossil deposits are of the animals that lived some 213 million to 144 million years ago. They had remained preserved in mud and silt stones underground while one deposit was found on the surface of the earth near the Tabbowa tank.

He pointed out that deposits found on the surface should be protected particularly as they were vulnerable to the elements. They included fossilised plants such as conifers, cycade and ferns belonging to the Jurassic era – the period during which dinosaurs roamed the earth.

“So if there were plants from the Jurassic era, there is a big possibility that dinosaurs too roamed this land millions of years ago,” the palaeobiologist said. “Therefore, these fossils need to be protected,”Mr. Manamendra-Arachchi said. Fossils that belong to the Miocene period 25 million years ago are also found in Sri Lanka. Jaffna, the North Western and South Eastern regions are known to be containing Miocene deposits. Fossilised remains of several marine species belonging to this era have been found in the Aruwakkalu areas in Puttalam during excavation for lime for cement production.

Jaffna’s limestone rich areas also contain Miocene fossil deposits. These fossils range from gastropod mollusks to fossils of ancient turtles, sharks, dolphins and even whales.  However, the most interesting fossils from Sri Lanka belong to the Pleistocene era that dates back to 2 million years.

The Pleistocene era is the last ice age and marked the arrival of modern man and other modern biological diversity. Fossilised bones belonging to a lion, a crocodile, two species of rhinoceros, a hippopotamus, a gaur, a tiger, a wild boar, a bull, a wild buffalo, a deer have been found in various parts of Sri Lanka,

The remains of a species, a close relative of the modern elephant, have been found in gem pits in Ratnapura and they are internationally knowsn as ‘Ratnapura Fauna’.  “Ratnapura is surrounded by mountains. So the animals that died millions of years ago must have been washed into this area, remain buried under mud and got fossilised,” Mr. Manamendra-Arachchi said explaining why there were high incidences of fossils discovery in the Ratnapura area.

An extinct Hippo lived in Sri Lanka (c) Kelum Manamendra-Arachchie

“These fossils have been preserved in this alluvial plain which is a landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period by one or more rivers coming from highland regions. There could be animals that lived in other areas too and their bodies had washed into the ocean over a long period of time or decayed owing to the influence of natural elements,” the palaeobiodiversity expert said.
All living beings have scientific names and even these fossilised animals that lived millions of years ago have been given interesting names.

Mr. Manamendra-Arachchi explained the process of scientifically classifying a fossilised animal. Usually the fossilised bone or the part of it is first compared with a living animal. If a match cannot be found, then it is compared with similar fossils found from the region. If no match is found, then the fossil is considered to be a new species and is given a scientific name. The pioneer of this field is P.E.P. Deraniyagala. His effort has made Sri Lanka an internationally important destination for the search of missing links of biodiversity.

A Rhino lived millions of years ago (c) Kelum Manamendra-Arachchie

Palaeobiodiversity

Fossils are evidence of past life. This broad definition includes standard shells, bones, petrified wood, and leaves. However, there are many more things that can become fossils: footprints, pollen, feeding traces, worm burrows, even fossilsed faeces.

The study of ancient biological diversity is known as paleobiodiversity (pura jaivavividathwaya in Sinhala). The word paleobiodiversity itself is a tongue twister and a new word for our vocabulary. The Biodiversity Secretariat that operates under Department of Environment has been doing a commendable work in popularising paleobiodiversity. It recently organised a public lecture by Mr. Manamendra-Arachchi.

Published on SundayTimes on 21.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130721/news/protect-sri-lankas-jurassic-park-53731.html

It was a normal day on Sydney’s picturesque Bondi Beach. Bishan Rajapakse, a Sri Lankan born medical doctor was with his friends enjoying the waves and the sun on his surfboard. At about 9.30 the surfers were suddenly surprised at the sight of a dark patch that approached them. “It’s a whale” somebody shouted.

Bishan Rajapakse at St Vincents’ Hospital in Sydeny

The giant whale was only few yards away and Bishan turned to have another look while trying to catch a wave. ‘Bang’ was all he remembers, but a video someone shot from the beach shows Bishan’s surf board going up in the air like a toy having been hit by the whale’s large tail.

Bishan lost consciousness but thankfully for him his friends were close and the lifeguards quickly came to his rescue. Bishan was rushed to the hospital and received treatment for shoulder injuries. The incident, which happened early this month, soon became hot news, being picked up by the international media. A video of the moment the whale hit Bishan went viral on social media.

The Sunday Times caught up with Bishan via Skype shortly after he left hospital. Bishan says that he saw the whale approach and the next thing he knew he was waking up on the beach. “I just remember this magnificent whale slowly coming to the right of me and coming for another look. I just kind of felt like talking to it like a dog or an animal, and saying ‘hey’, and that was it.”

The whale was a Southern Right Whale, a common sight from the Sydney coast at this time of year; but they rarely come this close to the beach. “I’ve seen whales in this area, but this is the biggest I’ve ever seen. It looked so massive at close range,” said Bishan, likening its size to that of a mini bus.

Spotted: Surfers get close to the huge Southern Right whale, a common sight from the Sydney coast at this time of year; but the whales rarely come this close to the beach (Reuters)

Several people who witnessed the whole episode from the beach were amazed that Bishan survived with only minor injuries. Bishan however stresses that the whale was not aggressive. “The whale was floating and would never have meant to harm me. It was purely an accident,” said Bishan who adds that they were too close to the whale. He also points out that this is a good lesson for others, for attempting to get closer to these gentle giants is not safe as their movements can be unpredictable.

A 38-old- medical doctor by profession now based in New Zealand, Bishan was born in Wellawatte, Colombo. His father, also a medical doctor went abroad for studies and then on foreign assignments. He was just six months old when they left, but Bishan has nurtured a strong love for the country, coming back in 2006 to do post-tsunami work. He was in Sri Lanka until 2010 doing research on improving mortality and morbidity from pesticide self-poisoning in many areas in Sri Lanka.

Having travelled extensively in Sri Lanka, Bishan is fascinated with the country’s wildlife.

A good lesson for Sri Lankan ‘whale watchers’

Bishan’s ordeal is a good lesson for Sri Lanka too where reports of whale watching boats getting too close to the whales have been rife. Whales are gentle giants and usually not violent, but if they make a sudden turn or dive, an accidental touch could easily topple a boat. Regular whale watchers have complained that although some boats now provide life jackets, they are not in good condition. Such an unfortunate accident may endanger Sri Lanka’s reputation as a top whale destination.

Last year Whale Watching regulations that laid down the minimum distances to get closer to a whale as 100 metres and that stipulated that a boat should not ply in front of or behind the mammals, or block the route of the whale were passed by Parliament. But how they will be implemented remains to be seen.

Published on SundayTimes on 28.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130728/plus/knocked-into-a-tailspin-54559.html

An arial image taken few minutes before the accident (c) ABC/Flickr

July seems to be the month for new arrivals. As the world rejoiced at the birth of a Royal baby in England, here at the Dehiwala Zoo there was much happiness at the birth of a Zebra, baby Anacondas and Albino Cobras. It all began on July 7 with the arrival of a baby Zebra. Its mother had come from far away Xianjiang Safari Park in China and her little one is in good health and up for public viewing, Zoo sources said.

The proud mother and a calf

The other births were among residents of the zoo’s Reptilian. The birth of Green Anaconda babies on July 17 was followed by White Cobras the next day. Anacondas do not lay eggs and this time there were 31 little Anacondas. One died at birth but the rest are doing well according to the Education Officer of the Zoo, Nihal Senerath. The adult pair of Anacondas arrived in 2003 from the Czech Republic and this was their fourth brood. The birth of the first baby anacondas, 23 of them in 2008, was greeted with great media hype, but unfortunately all died. These were followed by 22 in 2009 and 18 in 2011. Some of them survived and some were sent to a Zoo in India.

Zoo keeper showing a baby Anaconda

The baby Albino Cobras

Pointing out that the female Anaconda is now about 18 feet long and can grow up to 30 feet, Mr. Senerath said it was not feasible to keep a big family of Anacondas at the zoo. The adult anaconda pair have to be given 10 to 15 chicken once in two weeks and space would become an issue when the little ones grew into adulthood. To overcome this problem zoo officials are looking at exchanging these reptiles with snakes from zoos in other countries.

After setting up cots for the new born Anacondas the keepers at the Reptilian couldn’t take a well deserved rest as more babies were expected the next day. These were 11 fairy white Albino Cobras who had to be handled with caution, as they were venomous. The Dehiwala Zoo currently has six adult Albino Cobras and one pair had laid eggs on May 1. Reptilian keepers put them in special hatching pots with adequate warning.

Albino Cobras belong to the same species as other cobras, scientifically known as Naja naja. They become albinos due to a lack of melamine in their skin. They have red eyes that are sensitive to sunlight and prefer to hide in wooden boxes with holes that provide ventilation. Many of the Albino Cobras at the Zoo’s Albino cobra family were caught in the Piliyandala area according to senior zoo keepers.

Published on SundayTimes on 28.07.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130728/news/zoo-keepers-have-hands-full-with-baby-boom-54642.html

Monsoon rains have clearly increased in intensity, experts said, as continuing bad weather damaged at least 132 houses and causing a death – and the government warned that the economy would be a victim of our changed weather patterns. The country experienced heavy flooding in 2011 and 2010. Prolonged drought affected 2012, and floods returned over the past few months of this year. The resulting damage has not only affected agriculture and livelihoods but also infrastructure.

Treasury Deputy Secretary Dr. Suren Batagoda said recent changes in weather patterns had caused billions in losses. “Newly done roads and bridges were damaged due to the unexpected and intense rainfall. The Treasury had to allocate Rs. 60 billion for flood control and flood damage in 2010 and 2011,” he said.

“In 2012, due to drought we could only produce 18 per cent of electricity through hydro-power. Using fuel to generate electricity is expensive, so this has become an additional burden to the economy,” Dr. Batagoda added.

The Deputy Secretary of Treasury made these revelations last week delivering the keynote address at the Symposium on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change, organised by the Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) of UNDP with support from AusAid.

Other climatic experts addressing the symposium also stressed that frequent weather-related disasters and climate change could seriously set back development targets set for key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and even services such as tourism.

Most infrastructure projects, including roads, drainage systems, railways, etc. have not been factored in weather change considerations, the National Climate Adaptation Strategy of Sri Lanka (NCASS) emphasised in a recent report: “While in some areas it may not matter, in others this is critical”.

Vegetable plantations have been badly affected in Nuwara Eliya

“Transport infrastructure in certain coastal areas could be under severe threat due to sea level rise. A systematic investment program to adapt infrastructure prone to weather change risks is not available and this will necessarily have to follow after a detailed study, but the investments involved could be substantial. However, incorporating these additional elements to face risks of weather change impacts is important as otherwise, the whole investment will go in the water,” the report points out.

The impact of weather changes on agriculture is evident in the hill country. Nuwara Eliya and its suburbs have been experiencing gloomy weather since April, with some areas receiving doubled rainfall. This has badly affected the tea yield, where some of the estates are recording losses in millions of rupees.

“The tea bushes in hill country have not received enough sunlight so they are not producing buds at the normal rate. Some estates that pluck buds once a week have had to wait more than two weeks and even then those buds are not up to the usual yield,” revealed Dr. Wijeratne of the Tea Research Institute. “This kind of bad weather is not (so far) prolonged in the hill country but these abnormal weather patterns could be indicating a changing climate,” he said.

Between 1974-2008, the highest number of people affected was due to floods and the next highest number of people affected has been due to drought, according to statistics contained in the Sri Lanka Disaster Profile. Compensation is an additional burden to the economy. Preparedness will be a key to face a future disaster.

Published on 28.07.2013 on SundayTimes http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130728/news/monsoon-rains-intensifying-over-time-54680.html

Sri Lanka’s Hill Country has experienced heavy rains this week. According to Disaster Management Centre, Watawala, Dikkoya and Ambagamuwa DS Divisions in the Nuwara-Eliya District were under flash floods. (http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/33312-met-warning-heavy-showers.html) Experts point out that areas like Watawala had been rarely under the flood in the past, despite area receive highest rainfall traditionally. This surely be hints on that Climate Change is on our doorstep. 

Last month, India’s Hill Country Uttarakand has received over 400% rainfall in some parts bringing a disaster killing thousands, What Sri Lanka can learn from Uttarakand floods..? Here is my article published on SundayTimes on 28.07.2013 

Devastating force of Uttarakand floods (c) http://www.dnaindia.com

A few weeks ago, the Himalayan region faced a flood so devastating it was called Himalaya’s Tsunami. TV footage showed horrific images of large buildings being washed off hillsides by the floods. The official death toll topped 1000 but it is believed to be many times that as the number of people missing is high and rescue attempts are still being carried out in remote regions.

The Uttarakhand disaster was the result of extreme rains and haphazard development, Indian environmentalists said. The area received unusually high rainfall, causing rivers to swell. India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in its journal Down-to-Earth, states, “The area has been denuded to a great extent due to deforestation and tree cutting for road construction, and other activities such as building construction, mining and hydro power projects. It has also resulted in increased surface flow and rise of river bed due to disposal of debris in the rivers.”

Some areas in Uttarakhand received more than 400 per cent of usual rainfall. What if Sri Lanka received such rainfall?
Watawala was flooded in May for the first time in recent history, so the possibility of floods in Sri Lanka’s own hill country is not remote. Centre for Environmental Justice spokesman Hemantha Withanage says such a situation would spell great danger. “We have cut down trees even on slopes of the mountains. Unplanned developments are being carried out in the area which has doubled the risk of landslides,” he pointed out.

The report on the Uttarakhand floods stated that the “floods turned into a major disaster when people, along with their properties and infrastructure, occupied such areas without adequate information, knowledge, awareness and preparedness against the potential disaster”. This could also be a lesson for Sri Lanka too. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Media Deputy Director, Lal Sarath Kumara, pointed out that the intensity of rains created floods unexpectedly in many areas. In March, for example, the Deduru Oya flooded areas from Kurunegala to Chilaw after more than 100 years.

Mr Kumara said the DMC was ready for any eventuality and that a network of district-level regional centres had been set up with village-level disaster relief committees. If there were signs of a sudden disaster such as floods, the information would be passed to these regional units to take necessary action.

A horrific scene – a building collapse in Uttarakand

Risky rescue operations at Uttarakand

Recent floods in NuwaraEliya (c) DailyMirror

Published on SundayTimes on 28.07.2013

Two species of mosquitoes belonging to a genus new to Sri Lanka have been discovered, scientists at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) have announced. The mosquitoes of this genus, known as Topomyia, are found in countries like India and Thailand. These species are also known to feed on the larvae of other mosquitoes, therefore they have the potential of being used to control the dengue mosquito, a senior Entomological Assistant at MRI, N.W.G. Premaratna said. However he said more research would have to be done in this field.

Larvae that revealed new discovery

These specimens were collected from water collected on habarala leaves in the Agalawatte area in Kalutara district. The water also consisted of dengue-mosquito larvae. The researchers therefore believe this could be nature’s way of controlling dengue and other disease-carrying mosquitoes. Mr. Premaratna said the MRI team would conduct more scientific investigations before publishing their discovery. They also pointed out that there was very little research done on mosquitoes like many other insect species and that made the task of identification more difficult.

Although people are mostly aware of the existence of mosquitoes that spread diseases such as dengue, malaria and filaria, about 140 species of mosquitoes inhabit Sri Lanka. The Topo myia genus would be the 17th genera of mosquitoes in Sri Lanka. The researchers say based on studies done in other countries, Topolmyia mosquitoes are not known to carry any diseases. Therefore, if the researchers succeed these species could be used as a means of bio control of dengue mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes have been around for more than 30 million years and there are 3,500 named species of mosquitoes, of which only a couple of hundred sting or bother humans.

One of the newly discovered species

Published on SundayTimes on 04.08.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130804/news/two-new-mosquito-species-found-here-55764.html

An international study has placed Sri Lanka among top 20 countries that catch sharks.

Noting that these 20 countries account for 80% of the world’s annual shark catch, a report based on the study puts the survival of many shark varieties in their hands.

Shark fins laid out to dry in Negombo

This report titled “The future of the Shark: A Review of Action and Inaction” was produced by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, and the Pew Environment Group. It analysed shark, ray and skate catch data provided by countries to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

TRAFFIC’s Global Marine Programme Leader Glenn Sant said, “Countries need to take action to stop the decline in shark populations and help ensure that the list of species threatened by overfishing does not continue to grow.”

Placing Sri Lanka in the 14th place, the report says Indonesia, India, Spain and Taiwan account for more than 35% of the total shark catch. Though Sri Lanka’s contribution to the global catch is only 2.4%, it is still a significant quantity, given the size of the country and its fishing fleet.

Sharks are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation because of their biological characteristics of maturing late, having few young and being long-lived. Worldwide, shark populations are in decline due to unregulated fishing, much of it to meet the high demand for fins.

About 60 species of sharks populate in Sri Lanka’s waters and its exclusive economic zone. According National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) fish expert Rekha Maldeniya, silky shark leads Sri Lanka’s shark catch. About 70% of the catch consists of silky shark, followed by thresher shark and hammerhead sharks.

Thresher shark, identified as a threatened species, was caught despite a government ban.

Oceanic white-tip shark, blue shark and mackerel shark are the other common species with commercial value, according to the Fisheries Department.

The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) held in Bangkok, Thailand in March this year declared the oceanic white-tip shark, three species of hammerhead sharks and manta rays as protected species. Accordingly, trade of these species requires a CITES permit. As a signatory to the convention, Sri Lanka will also need to take measures to regulate fishing of these species.
In Sri Lanka, the sharks are mostly a by-catch, says Dr. Maldeniya. But there are dozens of fishing boats particularly targeting sharks for fins which have a big export market. The long-line fishing method — that has several hooks attached to a line — is being widely used for shark fishing.

The Sri Lankan section of the report says that sharks are also caught as by-catch in bottom-set gillnet fishing, the bottom-set long-line fishing and the beach seine fishing.

Dr. Maldeniya says Sri Lanka has started a National Plan of Action for sharks. This has been initiated with assistance from the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project. The project aims at identifying shark species, their composition, possible breeding grounds and other factors which are relevant to shark conservation.

The NARA expert says the project also recommends policies to protect not only sharks but also the livelihoods of fishermen.

Sharks play a crucial role in sustaining the ocean environment. Where shark populations are healthy, marine life thrives; but where they have been overfished, ecosystems fall out of balance.

Published on SundayTimes on 04.08.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130804/news/lanka-among-worlds-top-20-shark-killers-55833.html

Hammerheads sharks caught at Negombo (c) Malaka Rodrigo

The agitation for clean water in Rathupaswala has ended with deaths, injuries and damage to property. A joint investigation is being conducted by related government agencies to ascertain who is at fault for the water pollution. However, environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara of Environmental Conservation Trust points his finger directly at the factory, for the improper release of industrial waste, as a cause for this catastrophe.

He alleged that the factory has been releasing waste water into the environment without being properly treated, which rendered the area’s ground water acidic. He also blames Central Environment Authority (CEA) and Board of Investment (BOI) for not properly monitoring the factory’s process.

The problem in Rathupaswala emerged when villagers requested the Water Supply and Drainage Board (WSDB) to test the water, after several of them had fallen ill, as they felt something was wrong with the quality of water. Results revealed that the pH level of the water was lower than 7 (normal), which means it is acidic. Pure water has a pH very close to 7; but the water in Rathupaswala had a PH level around 4, as alleged by the villagers.

Villagers then lodged a formal complaint at the regional office of the CEA in Gampaha. CEA Director General, Dr Saranga Alahapperuma talking to the Sunday Times confirms that the agency’s Gampaha regional office has received a formal complaint on July 16, and next day they sent a team to investigate. Later, a BOI investigation was started. The DG said that an investigation of this nature takes at least a fortnight for the results. Unfortunately, events unfolded on August 2 taking 3 lives. Now a joint investigation is being conducted by the CEA, the BOI, the WSDB, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and experts from several universities. He said the results would be released by next week.

The factory at the center of the controversy is Dipped Products Ltd (DPL) owned by the Hayleys Group. which was set up in 1994 in Nedungamuwa, Weliweriya, as a BOI project. The plant manufactures Latex Gloves by processing natural rubber, which involves many chemicals. As a result, the processes generate many harmful industrial waste that require treatment to dilute their harmful nature, before release into the environment. There is a provision that the BOI can issue Environmental Protection Licences (EPL) under the National Environment Act, after obtaining concurrence from the CEA, and the factory has been offered initial EPL.

Weliweriya protesters with Handwritten Placards – one says Nadungamuwa Raja – a tusker honored by carrying Dalada Karaduwa that was stationed in close proximity stopped drinking well water for few weeks as per villagers

CEA DG admitted that approval for the EPL’s renewal, which is an annual requirement, is usually granted on reports submitted by the company seeking same, unless there is a complaint, when the CEA then conducts investigations. He also admitted the importance of having independent analyses from time to time, which mechanism the agency is looking at in the future.

Meanwhile, it is also alleged that the sludge – or residual materials left from industrial wastewater – has been dumped in the area sans any precautions. When the Sunday Times queried about this, from DPL Managing Director Dr Mahesha Ranasoma, he said that, prior to January 2012, the factory was disposing solid waste at landfills known to the Pradeshiya Sabha (PS). From January 2012, the company entered into an agreement with GeoCycle (Holcim Lanka Ltd.) whereby, GeoCycle disposes the solid waste, with the exception of wood ash, unutilised wood chips and waste cotton, which are disposed at PS approved sites.

Denying all the other allegations, Dr Ranasoma said the factory complies with CEA and BOI standards for releasing rubber industry effluents to the surface water, and operates under the renewed EPL. He pointed out that for the processing of rubber, Alkaline chemicals are mainly used, not the acids. So the pH value always remains higher than 7, should pollution occur. He added that, DPL does not use any acid for the manufacture of rubber gloves. However, they use a commercially purchased acidic material (10%-30% mixture of Nitric and Sulphuric acid) for mould washing. This acid is always re-used by topping up with fresh material. If we do need to dispose it, we treat it the same way as the mould washings described above.

Dr Ranasoma also said that their effluent water quality is regularly tested by the National Building and Research Organization (NBRO) every three months. He said they are disposing the treated effluent according to EPL standards, to designated soakage areas which is their coconut land. Their treatment plant is designed to cater to up to five plants, according to Dr Ranasoma.

It is claimed that Nedungamuwa, Weliweriya, is an area where shallow water could have a natural pH less than 6.5. Chemistry professor O.A. Illeperuma says there is a possibility of the soil being naturally acidic in these areas due to the presence of laterite, which is an iron rich mineral.

The red soil resulting from the disintegration of these lateritic rocks is fairly widespread in the Western province including the Gampaha district and also around Nugegoda and Maharagama. Hence, the village derives its name “Rathupaswala” from the presence of the red soil, opines Prof Illeperuma. Such soils have high concentrations of iron- in the ferric form – by bonding with water (hydrolysis), which renders it acidic.

Prof Illeperuma too says that he cannot understand how this type of pollution has arisen all of a sudden, if this theory is true. However, in order to verify this, it is necessary to do a comprehensive water analysis programme of the affected and surrounding areas, points out Prof Illeperuma. So, there seems to be more questions than answers at Weliweriya as to who the real polluter is. But whoever it is, the fact of the matter is quality of the water has deteriorated, to the detriment of the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Rathupaswala.

Industrial water pollution a regulatory failure: Environmentalists 

Hemantha Withanage of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) reveals there are hundreds of such cases of pollution linked to industries in Sri Lanka, and highlights the need for preventive actions through regular independent monitoring.

Whoever is responsible for the water pollution in Rathupaswala, the incident is also a clear indication that regulatory measures are not being properly implemented, making it a dire need for its strengthening to prevent future pollution case, points out Mr Withanage. He said the issue of environmental licences also needs to be evaluated, and the water sources in the vicinity of factories, notwithstanding their effluents, regularly monitored.

Mr Hemantha insists that Water Quality undergo comprehensive testing for an accurate extent of pollution. For example, Tolerance Limits for Industrial Wastewater in Sri Lanka lists 22 parameters including harmful chemicals such as arsenic, and pH level is only one of them.

He says these tests have to be conducted independently, which, if the CEA had done, this problem would not have gone this far. He also was displeased with the process of issuing EPLs, pointing out that the process is not properly governed due to corruption.

Environmental Organisations too have a role to play, some concerned citizens points out, taking India as an example. Some of the green NGOs in India, such as Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) conduct their own investigations in air and water pollutions. These kinds of independent investigations should be done in Sri Lanka too.

However, these tests are costly, and to check all the parameters, the test costs Rs 39,000, added Mr Hemantha. 

Published on SundayTimes on 11.08.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130811/news/dpls-csr-dips-as-the-gloves-come-off-its-operations-57410.html

In the wake of the ongoing annual Kataragama Esela Festival, environmentalists and officials have called upon pilgrims to be mindful of not polluting the sacred city with garbage.

Anything for me? A monkey in a garbage bin full of polythene bags

Shasheendra Rajapakse, the Kataragama Basnayake Nilame told the media that the festival that started on August 7 and continued till the 20th annually attracts thousands of pilgrims. He said although additional garbage bins are placed in many places pilgrims dump their food and the more harmful non-biodegradable polythene bags wherever they want, even into the Menik Ganga.

He said, about 50,000 pilgrims are expected for this year’s traditional ‘pada yatra’ where pilgrims from the north and east cross the Yala National Park to worship at the Kataragama Devale. He said the park tracks were being polluted.

About 900 kg of polythene was collected in the Kumana area in a programme conducted by the Young Zoologists’ Association last year its president Sachindra Deepankara said. The team had distributed cloth bags among pilgrims as an alternative to polythene bags.

Cleaning operation at A’pura organized by WildReach

The problem of pilgrims dumping garbage is not only peculiar to Kataragama. Other sacred areas too are facing the same problem, Sunil Gunathilake, who has been in Polonnaruwa for over 30 years studying the primates said. “Polonnaruwa is protected by 2 Acts – Archaeological and Wildlife – but it is sad that no meaningful effort has been taken to prevent pilgrims dumping their polythene. He further said the monkeys at least were intelligent enough not to eat it.

Meanwhile a two-day Shramadana was conducted last week by the WildReach Environment Trust in Anuradhapura. About 1000 kg of garbage spread over an area of 800 acres in ‘Mahamewuna Uyana’ had been collected. The trust’s chairman Nilupul Rangana said in some instances the matter was made worse by monkeys who rummaged open garbage bins in search of food, with polythene bags being scattered in areas that were sometimes inaccessible.

Published on SundayTimes on 11.08.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130811/news/mounting-garbage-a-problem-as-pilgrims-flock-to-sacred-cities-57322.html

It is reported that the President has ordered the Rathupaswala factory be relocated in an industrial zone. Environmentalists agree that industries which have the potential to pollute the environment should be located in industrial zones.

“It is better to set up polluting industries in industrial zones instead of in populated areas that are environmentally sensitive,” stressed Hemantha Withanage of Environment Justice. He pointed out that the first level of waste water and other pollutants needs to undergo primary treatment by the factories themselves, and another secondary process before releasing the effluent into the environment. Locating all the industries in a central area also makes it easier to regulate and monitor the process.

However, it is noticed that some of the non-polluting industries too are set up within industrial zones, which is a waste of resources, according to Avanthi Jayatilake of EML Consultants. Being an Environment Professional specialising in Waste Management, Avanthi lists out rubber processing, chemical processing, paint industry and garment dyeing as some of the industries that have a large pollution footprint. These should be located within industrial zones, he urged.

Avanthi also points out that some of the small scale facilities – such as electroplating – can emit harmful substances such as heavy metals. Even service stations and petrol sheds could cause environmental damage in the long run. So he suggests setting up ‘Mini Industrial Zones’ for polluting facilities. Avanthi who previously worked under the Central Environment Authority (CEA) is of the view that the CEA alone would not be able to monitor every industry in Sri Lanka, hence his suggestion to set up mini zones – perhaps one for 4 or 5 villages – which will facilitate greater reduction in pollution by small-scale operators.

However, there are also complaints regarding waste management within these industrial zones. A Sunday Times report on Moratuwa University’s Civil Engineering website titled ‘Industrial Waste Management: Free Trade Zones in Sri Lanka’, mentions of continuous complaints reported from the public, as well as ministries, on improper waste management practices prevailing within the free trade zones.

The report lists inadequate knowledge on industrial solid waste recovery, processing and disposal, profit oriented private sector, lack of coordination among internal bodies, loopholes in legal provision as some of the issues leading to failure in waste disposal.

Unawareness of new industrial waste management strategies too leads to not having efficient waste management system. “Monitoring is the key to avoid pollution by industries, whether they are within industrial zones or outside” says Institute of Environmental Professionals of Sri Lanka (IEPSL) President Prof Hemanthi Ranasinghe.

Published on SundayTimes on 18.08.2013 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130818/news/setup-polluting-industries-in-industrial-zone-environmentalists-58342.html

Not just Rathupaswela, many more areas polluted by factory waste

A resident in Ekala shows the yellow water that comes from his tube well

When the Sunday Times visited the Kadalawala area where charges have been levelled at a palm oil company for polluting the environment people complained of breathing difficulties because of the black fumes emanating from the factory. “My wife and son have severe phlegm. They have been to many doctors and they all say they are being affected by some pollutant in the air,” a resident who didn’t want to be named said.

He said vllagers had protested against the factory urging authorities to move the factory to another place. But the protests came to a halt when the villagers were threatened by unidentified groups. He said the soil too in Kadalawala area appeared to be contaminated as crop cultivation especially banana and coconut had been affected. “Even tube well water is contaminated. We cannot use the water even to wash clothes unlike three or four years ago.

One could get the heavy pungent smell of oil in the air. “Previously the factory used gas to boil the oil but recently they have been using firewood to bring down the cost. After they started using firewood air pollution has increased and the smell is very strong,” the villager said.

According to villagers India had rejected a proposal to set up this palm oil factory therefore it was built in Sri Lanka. Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam too confirmed this. Meanwhile another resident complained that the factory recycled waste thrice a month causing severe air pollution. He said the activities were carried out late in the nights and early mornings.

In another instance a paint factory on St. Anthony’s Mawatha in Ekala has been found to be dumping effluents that are allegedly polluting the water in the area. Most of the residents in this area depend on well and tube well water. According to the residents living in the vicinity of the factory they had found yellow water in the wells and tube wells.

The residents said they had agitated against the company and had lodged many complaints with necessary authorities. Following this the paint company had provided area residents with drinking water in huge tubs.  A year ago the residents had obtained a waterline from the Water Supply Board. But the people say they cannot pay for the water as they are low-income earners. Therefore they continue to use the ‘yellow water’ for their day-to-day activities like bathing and washing except for drinking. Sarathkumara a resident said some people had loss of teeth, skin allergies because of the yellow water. The water also has a bad smell he added.

The Palm oil Factory. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte

In another case in Galle, water contamination has been reported due to chemical waste released from shoe factories. The well water had turned black affecting more than 30 people who are reportedly suffering from cancer, the Sunday Times learns.  According to Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam, National Coordinator, Centre for Environment and Nature Studies, sme 200 families living in Imaduwa and Dorape in Galle have been affected by this ‘black water’. A complaint has been lodged at the Central Environment Authority to test the water and soil in the area.

Mr. Kariyawasam said the factory owners have promised to solve the problem if the contamination was found to be due the effluents from the factory. Hemantha Withanage , Director Centre for Environmental Justice said although most of the factories in Ekala and Jaela hold an Environmental Protection License they dump asbestos and other kinds of waste in the marshy land in the area.

“Many of the residents in these areas are unaware that asbestos has been used to fill their lands but assume it is being filled with cement. They are unaware of the contamination. Ordinary people don’t know about PH levels in their drinking water,” he said.
Mr. Withanage stressed that the water and soil should be tested by Public Health Inspectors in affected areas to test the PH levels. But this is not carried out. Even the CEA has district level offices to examine environment issues yet this does not happen.

Mr. Withanage added that the Environmental Protection Licence is renewed every two to three years but it should be renewed every year and the CEA should inspect it.  He charged that the law enforcement aspect of the CEA was not strong enough.

However Dr. R.M.S.K Rathnayake Director of Environment Pollution Control Division attached to the CEA, said that the National Environmental Act was being amended to bring in stronger regulatory powers. “Now an order has to be obtained by the court to take action against an alleged factory, but after the amendment the laws will be stronger and the CEA would be able to take action directly,” he said.

According to the National Environmental Act a six month imprisonment or a fine not less than Rs.10, 000 or both is imposed on those found guilty. CEA statistics reveal 72 complaints relating waste-disposal have been reported so far this year

It is reported that shots were fired inside Yala national park to scare its iconic tusker Gemunu on saturday. Later reports confirmed that Gemunu is in good health and the shots were fired to the sky by an Army officer as Gemunu put its head to a Safari Jeep trying to grab some food scaring off the visitors in it.

With Yala closure is few weeks ahead, it is interesting to know how Gemunu will response to the closure of the national Park as he will loose his snacks being looted from the safari jeeps. He may go toward Sithulpawwa temple or move toward hotels in the vicinity. There is also change that it might go toward Army Camp set up in Yala which could be dangerous. If Gemunu appear suddenly, then a panicked soldier could fire at the animal getting panicked. Shooting by a Civil Defense (Grama arakshaka) has resulted in death of iconic  Kumana Cross-tusker, so something like that will be tragic. So wildlife enthusiasts warn the need of doing something as it is a ticking ‘time bomb’ or a disaster waiting to happen..!!

Meanwhile few weeks ago, a video emerged that Gemunu puts its head into a safari jeep full of foreign tourists in an attempt to get a snack. Feared that Gemunu might overturn their Jeep, the tourists started getting down from the jeep. One had just jumped out from the wrong side landing only few inches from the Elephant. They had been picked by the Jeep coming from behind. (Click on the link for video video showing panicked visitors getting down from jeep)

from the video – tourists jump out from the jeep. One was just few inches away from wild elephant.bmp

Gemunu’s habit of getting food has been reported for a long time and still he is gentle and no violence has been reported. However he is a male elephant and at time of musth; he could anyway be dangerous. It is believed that the visitors had initially offered food to Gemunu; to make him brave now to stop jeeps and even put his trunk and head inside in attempt to loot food, if not given. The best thing you can do is avoid the elephant and If you see him in the distance, turn around and drive off. Also, seal or tie up any boxes or bags containing food; calls experts.

Gemunu sniffing for food (c) Riaz Cader

Also read this article “Feeding wild elephants is high-risk entertainment”: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130113/news/feeding-wild-elephants-is-high-risk-entertainment-28494.html

..a video showing soldier on foot firing his automatic rifle aimed at air to scare the jumbo emerge. Luckily, Gemunu ran toward the jungle. But what if he panicked and with the fright, decides to attack the soldier…? Wouldn’t he unleash the bullets in his firearm toward Gemunu..?  ..and it will be the end of another tusker.

Soldier on foot at Yala seconds before shooting to the air to scare Gemunu

Gemunu and the result of irresponsible tourism

The following is statement by the Federation of Environmental Organizations (http://www.feosl.org/) with regard to the recent incident of firing of an automatic rifle in Yala National Park by a member of the armed forces at an elephant. 

A National Park is an exclusive space set aside for the conservation of wildlife. Therefore the protection, safety and wellbeing of wildlife within the parks are paramount and remain the primary purpose. National Parks are also national assets. Visitation should be considered a privilege. Visitors must respect this privilege Regrettably, with the rapid development and emphasis on wildlife tourism, there is an increasing trend where adherence to rules and regulations that govern visitation are not followed. Indiscipline among visitors and tour service providers is rising. 

Recent incidents in Yala NP that relate to Gemunu, an adult tusker, illustrate the broader and very serious ramifications of unchecked visitation. Gemunu grew up in Yala NP and is habituated to visitors. Recently visitors have begun to feed him, despite this practice being strictly prohibited under park rules. Gemunu has now started to aggressively approach vehicles in search of food, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both visitors and the elephant. 

On this occasion, however, a ranking army officer and entourage, on duty supervising the “Pada Yatra” pilgrimage through the Park, were amidst this melee. Photographs and video taken during this incident clearly show a soldier, disembarked from the vehicle, firing at least one shot, possibly to drive off the elephant. The Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance clearly states that under no circumstances should a service weapon be discharged in a National Park at a wild animal, other than by a member of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Therefore the incident is a clear violation of national park laws.

The FEO strongly believes that such incidents are the outcomes of unplanned, unregulated and irresponsible tourism that threaten the protected areas of Sri Lanka.

The FEO urges the Minister of Wildlife Conservation to: 
1) expedite measures to curb visitor related infractions in National Parks, 
2) Compel the Department of Wildlife Conservation to enforce the park regulations and rules; and 
3) together with the relevant line ministries and stakeholders develop a sustainable visitor management plan for National Parks. 

The real story behind the shooting incident in Yala is now fully revealed. The images of the incident has been posted on “Sri Lankan Wildlife” group by biologist Manory Gunawardane. She stresses  that the incident should be taken to rethink on issues Yala National Park faces due to over-visitation. I’m re-posting this series of images on my blog for future references..