Mangroves for tsunami hit river banks

D.C. De Silva, Kahawa special correspondent

KAHAWA: A project has been launched to cultivate 24,000 mangroves on the banks of Balapitiya Madhu-Ganga and Koggala-oya by the National Environmental Parshadaya said its Galle District Co-ordinator, A.H. Ranjith Wasantha Kumara.

"We are in a bid to re-cultivate new mangroves, and other plants in those river banks affected by tsunami", he told the Daily News.

"International Rain Forest Protection Unit of the Peradeniya University and the Coastal Resources Management Project are jointly assisting us in this endeavour", he said. "Maha-kadols, Mal-kadol, punnakanda, kirala, etuka, wal-beli and kottamba are among the plants to cultivate. "We have already started a nursery in the Koggala Aranya Senasana Island, and we have educated people on the Koggala-oya bank on the matter", he said.

We have already started the re-planting on a shramadana basis.

"Meanwhile, the National Environmental Parshadaya has already taken steps to remove and destroy the fast growing wal-anoda trees on the banks harmful to mangroves".

"Our motive is to preserve the environment protecting mangroves", he pointed out.