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Navy in battle against waves of plastic pollution
View(s):Pix and text by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
As pollution of streams, rivers, and the sea with plastic material is posing a massive challenge to environmental authorities, Sri Lanka Navy has intensified efforts to clean up some of the polluted beaches and waterways.
Most of the plastic items dumped in rivers and canals eventually end up in the sea bed, as has been seen around the Modara estuary and Crow Island in Mattakkuliya. The sheer scale of the plastic waste in Sri Lanka’s waters has earned the country the dubious reputation of having the world’s fifth most polluted seabed. However, Sri Lanka’s environmental authorities have disputed the ranking. They say it was based on incorrect statistics.
Navy Commander Nishanth Ulugetenne said the cleaning up of waterways was carried out three to four times a month.
The Wellawatta canal, Diyawannawa, Kotte, Kollonnawa, Kirullapone, Weresganga, and Beira Lake are among the waterways cleaned under the Navy’s programme aimed at combating environmental pollution.
The Crow Island area is cleaned up regularly by some 25 Navy teams, Vice Admiral Ulugetenne said. He said keeping the waterways clean was a difficult task because of the continuous disposal of waste into waterways.
As part of this programme, the Navy has also launched a programme to plan mangroves close to the lagoon areas.
Environment Ministry Secretary Anil Jasinghe said that under a programme launched last year, steps were being taken to protect 103 rivers and streams.
However, due to the lack of funds, the project came to a halt and fresh efforts were being made to obtain the funds and complete the project, Dr Jasinghe said.
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