Plans afoot to restore Kalu ganga mouth and Calido beach

• Erosion began after Calido sandbar was cut open to control severe flooding
• Ongoing erosion threatens tourism activities and key infrastructure

The Cabinet approval has been granted to move ahead with plans to restore the Calido beach, the Kalutara lagoon and the mouth of the Kalu Ganga following severe coastal erosion triggered by flood mitigation measures implemented in 2017. 

According to the Cabinet decision, the erosion occurred after the Calido sandbar at the Kalu Ganga mouth was cut open to control flooding during the severe floods experienced that year. 

The move caused the sandbar to be completely washed away, leading to intense coastal erosion along nearly 2.5 kilometres of the Kalutara coastline.

Despite the passage of several years, the Kalu Ganga mouth has yet to regain its previous natural stability. 

As a result, rapid erosion continues along the northern Kalutara coastal belt, posing a serious threat to tourism activities and critical infrastructure in the area. Environmental concerns have also intensified within the Kalutara lagoon, where poor water circulation, pollution and sediment build-up have contributed to fisheries-related and ecological problems.