COASTAL PROBLEMS IN SRI LANKA

As an island state with about 900 miles of coastline, Sri Lanka is endowed with a large natural resource: its 720 miles of sandy beaches. The coastal zone is under stress by a burgeoning population, living in the coastal belt, and a variety of other demands with conflicting interests. Due to natural causes and interference of men, erosion is a serious problem in the densely populated southwest part of the island. This paper describes the principal characteristics of the coastal environment and discusses the nature of some of the basic problems. In the recommendations, emphasis is placed on the setting up of an organizational structure to study the problems, both in the field and in the laboratory, with respect to the management aspects in the coastal zone.

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Distribution and cementation characteristics of beachrocks along southern, southwestern and western coast of Sri Lanka

Journal of Sedimentary Environments ◽

10.1007/s43217-020-00036-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Pahala Ge Nishadi Nayanthara ◽

Anjula Buddhika Nayomi Dassanayake ◽

Kazunori Nakashima ◽

Satoru Kawasaki

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Thin Section ◽

Sandy Beaches ◽

Heavy Minerals ◽

Western Coast ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Rock Outcrops ◽

Remarkable Feature ◽

X Ray ◽

Coastal Belt

AbstractBeachrocks are sedimentary structures where gravelly or sandy beaches have been transformed into rock outcrops formed through precipitation of connective cements amid their interstices. They are well-noted coastal features along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka due to the prevalent tropical climate. This study was aimed at gathering data on surface nature and cementation characteristics of beachrock occurrences along a part of Sri Lankan shoreline through field observations and a series of analyses including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and petrographic thin-section analysis. The combined research findings from different techniques are also employed as a preliminary step to determine the formation mechanism of the studied beachrocks. The seaward-inclined low-angle beds running parallel to present shoreline are composed mostly of sandstone with occasional conglomerate. Almost all the beachrocks are made of quartz grains amalgamated by cement. One remarkable feature of Sri Lankan beachrocks is the presence of heavy minerals generally in thin lamina form. The cementing agents are predominantly composed of metastable carbonate phases, high magnesium calcite (HMC) and aragonite (Ar) with varying microfabrics and textures. From SEM examinations and thin-section images, main morphologies identified are acicular Ar, scalenohedral magnesium calcites along with bridge cements and micritic coatings which are typical of a marine-phreatic precipitation with the exception of occasional meniscus cements. Further, the presence of evidences of living organisms may be an indication of influence from the biological aspects which can be confirmed by more detailed analyses.

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Risk of Mercury exposure during childhood: a review of Sri Lankan situation

Reviews on Environmental Health ◽

10.1515/reveh-2020-0024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 229-232

Author(s):

Himan K. A. Galappaththi ◽

Inoka Suraweera

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Health Effects ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Mercury Level ◽

Fluorescent Light ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Hair Mercury ◽

Coastal Belt ◽

High Mercury

AbstractSri Lanka had ratified the Minamata convention in the year 2017 and is planning to phase out Mercury by 2020. Mercury thermometers and compact fluorescent light bulbs are abundant at hospitals, households and schools. Limitations in safe disposal and containment mechanisms have enhanced the unregulated e-waste collection and extraction. Sri Lanka has plentiful lagoons, fishing bays, and inland irrigation systems. Fish consumption is high, especially around the coastal belt. Mercury can bioaccumulate in humans by the consumption of fish from contaminated sources. Children are at risk of exposure in their living environments and via food. A multicountry study done across three oceans on Mercury threat to women & children revealed, lagoon pollution from industrial Mercury emissions in Sri Lanka, possessing high Mercury among local females who consume fish from that lagoon. The mean hair Mercury level in coastal areas with high fish consumption exceeded the reference dose even among children. Aquatic life and crop studies revealed a mixed picture of Mercury levels which some are lower and some are higher than the permissible levels. Studies on environmental Mercury levels and correlations with health effects among children will help to fill the data gap. Public awareness of the health effects of Mercury and mechanisms of Mercury disposal should be established.

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KAJIAN POTENSI UNTUK EKOWISATA DI PANTAI TANGSI KABUPATEN LOMBOK TIMUR NUSA TENGGARA BARAT DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN SWOT ANALISIS

Jurnal Green Growth dan Manajemen Lingkungan ◽

10.21009/jgg.052.02 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Wildan Rayadi

Keyword(s):

Natural Resource ◽

Swot Analysis ◽

Coastal Environment ◽

Local Communities ◽

Alternative Strategy ◽

The Internet ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Resource Potential ◽

Tourist Attractions ◽

Suitability Index

Tangsi beach has natural resource potential to be a place that supports tourism, especially ecotourism ecotourism which in this case is based on a sightseeing trip to keep the coastal environment. Tourism activities should involve several parties such as visitors, local communities and stackholder to be able to put to good use. The research was conducted in Tangsi beach , East Lombok regency of Nusa tenggara Barat Province. This research was conducted on april, 2017 by taking the physical parameters of the questionnaire and also taking part - related parties. Suitability Index Areas, Sustainable Coastal Scenic can be used as tourist attractions. Capability Areas can still be accommodated by the coastal areas, so as not to damage Tangsi beach . from SWOT Analysis we can now the Strenght, Weakness, Opportunities and Treatmen to found the best strategy for develop ecotourisme at Tangsi Beach The best alternative strategy for the development of Sustainable Ecotourism in Tangsi Beach is to do a good promotion through the internet and print media.

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REAL TIME COASTAL MONITORING FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DUBAI COAST

Coastal Engineering Proceedings ◽

10.9753/icce.v36.risk.38 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Ibrahim Mohammad Juma ◽

Alya Abdulrahim AlHarmoudi ◽

Noora Mohammed Hokal ◽

Abdulla Sharief Kizhisseri

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Coastal Zone ◽

Sandy Beaches ◽

Natural State ◽

Coastal Processes ◽

Effective Management ◽

Coastal Monitoring ◽

Significant Development ◽

The North ◽

Land Mass

The Dubai coastal zone is defined as a land mass stretching from the Abu Dhabi border in the south to Al Mamzar lagoon in the north, from approximately +4 m DMD (Dubai Municipality Datum) onshore to 10 nautical miles offshore. In its natural state this approximately 70km long coastline consists primarily of long sandy beaches backed by low level dunes and ridges. However, recent infra-structural developments related to trade, tourism and real estate have resulted in significant development within the Dubai coastal zone. These developments have interfered with the natural coastal processes of waves, tidal currents and sediment transport. To understand the dynamics of coastal processes Coastal Zone & Waterways Management Section (CWMS) of Dubai Municipality (DM) developed an advanced coastal real-time monitoring system for coastal management and future planning. This paper provides an overview of the coastal monitoring programme and how these data are used in managing the coastal zone and decision making.

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The Muslims’ Quest for a Kalmunai Administrative District in South-Eastern Sri Lanka: An Analysis of the Challenges from Their Community and Politics

Journal of Politics and Law ◽

10.5539/jpl.v9n9p55 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 55

Author(s):

Mohammad Agus Yusoff ◽

Athambawa Sarjoon

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Public Understanding ◽

Eastern Region ◽

Muslim Community ◽

Administrative District ◽

The Public ◽

South Eastern ◽

Coastal Belt ◽

The Government ◽

Different Sources

The Muslim community living in the “South-Eastern Region” of Sri Lanka has long been urging the government authorities to establish a separate Kalmunai administrative district carved out of the coastal belt of the present Amparai district, as an institutional mechanism to improve public service delivery and development administration functions in the region. However, the establishment of the Kalmunai administrative district has continually been challenged, receiving criticism and oppositions from different sources, including from the Muslim community and its politicians. This study analyzes the perspectives of Muslim community and its politics towards the demand for the Kalmunai administrative district and its impacts on the political advocacy and methods to achieving it. This study has found that there are different and contradictory perspectives on the matter of the Kalmunai administrative district among the Muslim political parties and in different segments of the community. It is also discovered that the public understanding on the subject of the proposed district is very minimal. The establishment of the proposed Kalmunai administrative district has frequently failed on many crucial occasions mainly due to the lack of consensus among the Muslims leaders regarding the contested subjects of the proposed district. Additionally, this study has observed that the Muslim leaders have conceptualized the proposed Kalmunai district purely based on ethnicity only and have failed to justify it on public and rational grounds. The study has further found that the establishment of the proposed Kalmunai administrative district and its purported positive impacts would strongly depend on making the demand for the proposed district a more secular and public one.

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