Prominent water bodies declared environmental protected areas

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) have decided to declare several more prominent water bodies like rivers, lakes and lagoons as Environmental Protected Areas.

Minister A. H. M. Fowzie has sought Cabinet approval to declare these water bodies as protected areas in view of the threat of pollution of these rivers and lagoons due to exploitation for commercial purposes.

Chairman Tilak Ranaviraja (CEA) said these measures are being taken following information that there is large scale uncontrolled exploitation of the river banks and rivers which if not controlled would result in pollution of these vital water bodies.

Among the dangers faced are felling of trees on river banks, soil erosion, contamination of water due to discharge of affluent waste, sand mining etc.

The following areas have been declared Environmental Protected Areas:

Madu Ganga - Sixty metres on either side of Madu Ganga inclusive of the water body and all islands falling within it up to the point of seven kilometers measured perpendicular to a straight line from the natural entrance points (river mouth) between Ambalangoda and Balapitiya.

Bentota River and Bentota Estuary - Sixty meters from the either side of the existing banks of the river and estuary inclusive of the water body and all islands falling within up to the point of five kilometers measured perpendicular to a straight line from the natural entrance point (river mouth) between Aluthgama and Bentota. Koggala Lagoon - One hundred metres of the high level of the lagoon inclusive all the water body and all islands falling within it up to the point of five kilometers measured perpendicular to a straight line from the natural entrance point (river mouth) approximately 15 kilometers east of the city of Galle.

Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya - One hundred meters from the high flood level of Lake Gregory within the city limit of Nuwara Eliya.

Waturana Swamp Forest - Also referred to as the Waturana Marsh which is a part of the Walauwatta Estate managed by Magpec Agro Management Services Ltd. as depicted in the plan of Walauwatte Estate 1940 in Bulathsinhala Divisional Secretariat Division in Kalutara District.