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. |