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Cloth bags replace polythene at Horton Plains

by Florence Wickramage

A novel project to protect Horton Plains from the polythene menace was launched on Sunday by the Upper Watershed Management Project of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources by introducing to visitors an environment-friendly cloth bag, tastefully designed and carrying a picture of the Horton-Plains and a Sambhur.

In introducing the cloth-bag, and handing over the first consignment to the Warden of the Park A.H.Sumanasena, the Director of the Upper Watershed Management Project D.P. Munaweera said that this new venture is part of the Environmental Protection program launched by the Ministry to protect Horton Plains, World's End and Bakers Falls.

The new program aims to discourage visitors from using polythene bags to carry their snacks and drinks while visiting the park. The project also strives to educate visitors about dangers posed to the environment and animals at the park by polythene which is a degradable substance.

Visitors to Horton Plains have been in the habit of throwing away empty polythene bags, cigarette butts and biscuit wrappers haphazardly within the park precincts thus polluting the environment and streamlets. Many Sambhur had encountered death due to eating polythene wrappers while foraging for their food. There had been instances where fires had erupted in certain areas of the Plains due to lighted cigarette butts and match-sticks being irresponsibly thrown about by visitors.

To arrest this situation, officials at the entrance to the Park will conduct inspections of the parcels visitors bring in and after divesting them of all polythene wrappers will encourage them to utilise the cloth bag which is sold at a nominal price to put in their snacks. On their way back they are expected to return the bag to the officials at the entrance and get a refund.

Foreign visitors who were at the Park when the new program was introduced were highly appreciative of the efforts launched by the Ministry to preserve the beauty of the Plains.

Horton Plains is a world heritage site and is spread over an area of 3200 ha. Being the habitat for leopards and sambhur, the park is home to a rich biodiversity of fauna and flora some indigenous to Sri Lanka. Horton Plains is the heart of Sri Lanka's watersheds and consists of streamlets and waterfalls including the famous Baker's Falls.

Visitors to the Park is estimated to be over four-hundred on a week day and exceeds thousands on weekends and holidays. Mr. D.P. Munaweera said that action would be taken immediately to provide adequate stocks of cloth bags to meet the demand of visitors. The Central Region's Wild Life Director K.A. Ameratunga said that this program is a definite contribution to ensure the preservation of the beauty of Horton Plains and a clean and healthy environment to the inhabitants of the park and visitors.

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