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Mawella’s tourism investors at bay as Fisheries Ministry moves ahead with ‘harbour’ project
View(s):Boutique hotel and luxury villa investors have urged the Government to intervene and prevent the construction of a fisheries anchorage and two offshore breakwaters, insisting they would distort the beauty of the two-kilometre-long Mawella bay in Tangalle and destroy the potential to attract tourists.
The proposed 300-metre stone anchorage and two offshore breakwaters are to be constructed by the Fisheries Ministry at a cost of about Rs. 300 million. The foundation laying ceremony is to take place on December 6.
“This is one of the most pristine of beaches in Tangalle, untouched by any commercialisation or destruction, or pollution. It’s a quiet, peaceful and secluded long stretch of a bay. It’s what the high-end tourists crave for, when they look at places like Sri Lanka and the Maldives for holidays,” lamented an investor representing the Mawella Tourism Association.
He said the this bay had been attracting local and foreign investors because of its rare features ranging from shallow and crystal clear calm waters almost all year round to wide and long perfect crescent of a white powder sand beach, in addition to the natural long cliff outcrop in one corner of the bay protecting it and the whole bay being swimmable throughout the year.
According to the investors, the two 60-metre-long offshore breakwaters are to be built at the surf line just off the beach in the prime tourist swimming zone, directly in front of the hotels.
“There is no shortage of fisheries harbours and anchorages in this part of the coast. The stretch from Matara to Tangalle boasts of the highest concentration of fisheries harbours in the island. The Kudawella fisheries harbour is only 2 km away from the proposed anchorage. There is a dedicated fisheries bay (Hummanaya bay) right next door to Mawella,” the spokesman said.
He said the investors were also concerned about the movement of sand required to build these structures.
“We have witnessed the destruction of the once beautiful Unawatuna Bay due to a similar project. But no tourist will want to visit a fisheries harbour,” he said.
According to the association, more than 20 foreign investors have joint venture projects in the Bay area with local investors. These foreigners had responded to the ‘Invest in Sri Lanka’ initiative launched by the Tourism Ministry after they realized the growing tourism potential of the South following the completion of the Southern expressway.
However, the fisheries authorities said the move to build the stone anchorage was to stop the beach erosion during the monsoon season and to anchor about 70 boats.
The ministry’s Project Director Prabath Ranaweera said Cabinet approval and the Initial Environmental Impact Report (IEE) had been obtained together with clearance from the Coast Conservation Department and other relevant authorities.
“We have also obtained a no-objection letter in writing from the Tourist Board. The anchorage is only 300 metres while the beach is over two kilometres. This will definitely not become a fisheries harbour and won’t harbour multi-day trawlers. Our intention is to strength marine tourism, control beach erosion and attract high end tourists arriving in yachts,” he added.
He said instructions had been received to go ahead with the construction without causing any adverse impact on tourism and community life.
“A separate firm will be supervising and monitoring the construction work full time with frequent visits from the Fisheries Ministry,” he assured.