Battalangunduwa Island Where promises by politicians have been left to the mercy of the waves

For local and foreign tourists who visit Battalangunduwa the place is a splendid creation of the nature

Battalangunduwa is one of several islands in the Kalpitiya archipelago. It is a lovely and attractive island surrounded by the sea and the Kalpitiya lagoon. It is inhabited by the fisher folk who have migrated from Kalpitiya, Chilaw Negombo and Wennapuwa areas.

In the past it had been the abode of fisher folk who migrated from the main land. They migrated to this place during the season for harvesting fish. The fishermen who stayed there for a couple of months would return to their permanent residence on land.

However, at present it is an island with a thick population that has drawn the countywide attention for its scenic beauty and the potential it carries for tourism.

Local and foreign tourists, who visit Battalangunduwa, stay there for a couple weeks and return to their residences after sharing its beauty. For them Battalangunduwa is a splendid creation of the nature. However, for the people living in the island, life is a mixture of the good, the bad since they are facing a host of pressing issues in this parched up region.

The main occupation of the islanders is fishery and it is with great difficulty that they transport their produce to the main land to find a remunerative market or else they have to part with their produce for a shilling to the middlemen who visit the island.

Battalangunduwa island, which is 38 miles off Kalpitiya fishery harbour, is an arid country with sparse vegetation.  A shuttle ferry service is in operation between Kalpitiya Jetty and the island. However, a single journey costs Rs.2500 for each passenger. per journey to the land and back and that they travelled at their own expenses to the polling booth to vote at the recent Presidential election and the general elections.

“We are not in a position to afford water brought by boats from Kalpitiya. A five litre can of water is Rs.200, but it is not sufficient to meet our requirements each day. A barrel of water is Rs.800.  We request the present government to resolve this main issue”
- Anne Nirosha

They said that the ferry service charged Rs.8000

They pointed out that several trawlers are operating a ferry service to transport passengers and goods to and from the Kalpitiya Jetty.

The only supply route to the island is between Kalpitiya Jetty and the improvised jetty in the island. During the rough seas and the high tide, the Navy jetty is used.

No drinking water 

A large population in the island comprising more than 400 families is facing hardships for the want of drinking water. They pointed out that they used the little water obtained from pits dug up by them.

They expressed concern about the danger of contagious diseases facing them because they are forced to drink unsafe water.

They said their dream is to enjoy electricity- which is a common amenity available to millions of people in the country. Only a few families in the island are fortunate to use solar power. They said that every government since early 1960s focused on tapping the potential for tourism this island has, but not on providing the basic amenities to make it a human dwelling. The islanders pointed out that novels had been written about the island and it had been the location of shooting films, but none of those productions had drawn the attention of their misfortune.

The only school run by the security forces for children in the island has been closed down since long. The Bishop of Chilaw has made arrangements for these islanders to attend schools in the area. Several children stay at relations residencies to attend school and return to the island only during the weekends. However many others have lost the opportunity for schooling due to the economic constrains that prevent enjoying boarding facilities elsewhere. They would create an indeterminate layer of the society sandwiched between the ordinary fisher folk and the more cultivated persons, combining the worst qualities of both. They are going backwards rather than forwards through life and susceptible to the encroachments of evil.  

In case of an urgent sickness, the people in the island have to depend on the Navy for help for want of medical facilities. There is not even a government dispensary in the island.

The people who depend on the fisheries industry live a hand to mouth existence. Their main grievance is the exorbitant prices of fishing gear and the ruin of fishery resources and fishing gear, particularly by the Indian poachers.  They said that the Sri Lanka Navy helped them in case of crucial issues much to their relief.

An islander by the name of Anne Nirosha, who expressed their main grievance, said that they walk to a location about a kilo metre away to dig up a pit and collect a little water.

“That place is a real oasis in this arid country. However, we are susceptible to illnesses by drinking this unsafe water. We are not in a position to afford water brought by boats from Kalpitiya. A five litre can of water is Rs.200, but it is not sufficient to meet our requirements each day. A barrel of water is Rs.800.  We request the present government to resolve this main issue,” she said.

Sudarshani Mallika from Negombo is another permanent resident of Battalangunduwa. She has been living in this island for thirty years. “I have been born and bred in Negombo, but I migrated to his island thirty years ago. It is sad that we have been cold shouldered by every successive government for the last thirty years. We are bored of their hypocrisy. We are hopeful of relief at least from the present rulers” she said.

A fisherman by the name of Ajith Fernando said that the entire island is in pitch dark after dusk and that the proposed project to supply electricity has been brushed under the carpet.

“We know pretty well that to supply electricity from the main grid from the main land is not easy, but it would be a reality under a well-planned project. Politicians and officials visited the island and carried out inspections to provide a power supply to the island, but to no avail. Their words didn’t match their actions,” Fernando said.

A fisherman Sunil Fernando has been living in Battalangunduwa for about 25 years. His main concern is the damage caused to the fishery resources by the use of prohibited fishing gear that prevented the breeding of fish. He requested the relevant authorities to work out an effective mechanism to carry out arrests and take legal action against the unscrupulous individuals using prohibited fishing gear.

 Irin Matilda and her family have been residents of the island for more than 20 years. She accused the insincere politicians who cheated on the islanders.

“We have been facing hardship for want of basic amenities of a human habitat. The promises of politicians have been left to the mercy of the waves. We had a school for our children, a post office and a health unit. All these facilities are now defunct. The situation of the island is going from bad to worse. We feel as if we are sinking into even deeper darkness and retreating into the shadows. Thanks to the Chilaw Bishop’s House, I got my three children admitted to a school. Several others have that opportunity. However those facing economic constraints have been left idling without schooling. What will they be in the future is a matter of serious concern. We expect the present government to resolve these issues slowly, but surely,” she said.

Several other fishermen narrated their harrowing experiences during confrontations with the Indian poachers. They said the government should focus immediate attention on this struggle and protect the Sri Lankan sea boundaries.

They pointed out that they are suffering for an existence against different odds despite making a large contribution to the country’s economy.

They said that they have absolute confidence in the present Minister of Fisheries to resolve the main issues affecting a large population of fisher folk in Battalangunduwa island. (Story translated by J.K.D.U.Tilakaratne)