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| Wednesday, 12 January 2005 |
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Tsunami afterthoughts by Malini peiris What happened to the vegetation on the beach? Having been born and bred in a coastal town, we had the privilege of going to the sea beach at least once a week. I still feel the serenity and the beauty of the beach especially at sunset. The beach was abundant with a variety of sea shells and conch shells. It was a haven for children to run about and play. They hung on to the elder's hands when they walked into the sea and got their feet soaked with sea water brought up by the rhythmic waves. For the elders it was a soothing place to pacify their minds and enjoy the breezy twilight. Gazing into the sea and to hear the sounds of the breaking of waves provided a quiet atmosphere with profound peace. The beach was more or less covered by a carpet of various xerophytic plants like Binthamburu, Maharawana, Wetakeiya etc. Some creepers hug the beach sand strongly without loosening the sand. Plants like Spinifex (Wetakeiya) grow up to tall spiny bushes. The carpet plants are studded with small flowers. Along the beach, the vegetation is dense. It was a natural resistant to breaking waves. Can we see such vegetation on our beaches today? While a few bushes remain, what we see most are granite boulders which do not render any beauty to the beaches. Did these artificial deposits safeguard the beaches? Various factors were responsible for the disappearance of the vegetation from the beach. The fisher folk who had their little abodes away from the beach, shifted more and more towards the edge of the beach as the inner lands were acquired for various purposes. A large number of hotels mushroomed along the beaches and some jutted into the sea. Some owners of the hotels had the audacity to prohibit the people to use that stretch of beach. The beach belonged to them. They had bought it. From the industrial factories, various types of toxic materials were poured lavishly down to the sea. This resulted in the destruction of plankton life in the sea along with the large kelps made of green, red and brown algae. The humans have robbed the sea of its valuable flora both on its surface and on its beach. This led to the erosion of the land by the sea since there is no natural inhibition. Those organizations which are dreaming of holidays in the resorts by the sea or thinking of comfortable bases for whale watching have to resurrect and replenish the natural habitat and ecology of the sea as a priority. There seems to be no earmarked organizations which are engaged in the research and development on the vegetation on the beach and flora and fauna in the littoral zone of the sea. But, of course, there will be so many who are very anxious to assist any foreign aided project to extract ilmenite or black sand from our sandy sea shores. It is not enough to place boulders on the sea beach to prevent erosion as it was proved over the years. There should be correct landscaping on the sea beach with its carpet of beach vegetation. Tsunami taught us about the rights of the sea and the vulnerability of the sea beaches. Let us comprehend the fact that the earth and sea are objects without any mind or compassion. Tsunami will occur again and again. In the developed world, we should not and cannot forget the rules of nature. Let us now safeguard as much as possible, the coastal belt of Sri Lanka from any further erosion. Now it is up to the relevant authorities to wake up from their deep slumber and to think about and care for the sea and its requirements as befitting a friendly giant. |
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