A roar from the sea

There's a hidden murky story behind many things we think beautiful like these bubbling waves winking at the brim of the #Negombo beach. For once they appear refreshing and mischievously energetic but do you know that the sprawling Negombo sea, one of Sri Lanka's top tourist attractions is actually roaring in anger against the imprudent acts of man? The Weralakanda beach in particular is threatened by severe coastal erosion due to sand mining in the area. The sand (as well as the erosion resistant sediment of the Negombo lagoon) is being mined to be used in the construction of the #PortCity, one out of many metropolitan dreams of the country. While urban development is imperative for Sri Lanka's economy and its rise, nature and its invaluable resources should never be considered as a sacrifice, or even a collateral damage. The many marine species living in the sea and the lagoon eco-systems are not only precious as organisms but they also play a critical role in the livelihood of thousands of families in Negombo.

What price should they bear in our march towards urbanization? What are we trying to achieve jeopardizing nature and its intricate balance? Who will bear the brunt when nature, after hundreds of years, retaliate and take up its rightful place?

Basiyawatta, Negombo | August, 2019 | Capture Credits: Author