31 May 2020 05:19 pm
The washing away of sand heaps, which was filled for the construction of the artificial beach between Kalutara and Mount Lavinia, was not sea erosion but the method adopted in creating artificial beaches using natural forces, the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) said.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, CCD Director-General Prabath Chandrakeerthi said the construction of the artificial beach was proposed following extensive sea erosion in that area.
“When filling the Mount Lavinia sea area with sand we used a new technique called the ‘Sand Engine Method’,” he said.
“The Mount Lavinia beach area is a lagoon and we used to fill the area with more sand passing the beach limit where the beach protective rocks are located.
“Now, the monsoon is started and with the strength of the sea waves, the sand is now being washed towards Wellawatte beach area to create the beach naturally,” Mr Chandrakeerthi said.
“The sand for the project was extracted from the sea in Ratmalana, with the aid of a dredger. The project will encompass 500m of artificial beach in Mount Lavinia, 1.5 Km in the Ratmalana area and 2 Km in Kalutara,” he said.
He dismissed concerns on the impact on the environment because of the artificial beach. “An Environmental Assessment Report has been obtained for the project,” Mr Chandrakeerthi said.
"The former Cabinet had approved a similar project. The former government approved a proposal to invest more than US$300 million to reclaim land for a new beachfront from Kollupitiya to Dehiwela, he added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Feature Story: Mt. Lavinia beach nourishment project Rs.890mn washed in to the sea?