Un-coordinated government institutions endanger Muthurajawela wetlands

Illegal land filling in Muthurajawela

Left to right: Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith,  Environmentalist Dinusha Nanayakkara, Bishop J.D. Anthony and  Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe and Rev. Heshan Nilantha at the media briefing.

Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

By Manjula D. Phillips

Un-coordinated actions of government institutions have endangered  Muthurajawela wetlands to a great extent,  and this was revealed at the media briefing held last Thursday at the Archbishop’s House,  Colombo. It was revealed that  miscommunication among  government institutions,  and some politically-influenced decisions taken by them in the past,  have  damaged this very important  and ecologically sensitive wetland system  to a critical level. 

The media briefing was organised by the Catholic communication centre and was headed by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Officials  from government institutions from the  Muthurajawela area,  and politicians including Mahinda Jayasinghe,  the Deputy Minister of Labour,  were present at the occasion. 

It was especially brought to light by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith  how Cyclone Ditwah  affected the Muturajawela area,  and how people were saved from the floods  because of the wetlands.

But he also pointed out how  this time how the cyclone did  more damage in Gampaha district than earlier floods due to illlegal land filling and encroachment,  and the rapid urbanisation of the Muthurajawela area. This has resulted in massive land reclamation projects where marshland has been filled to build housing schemes, warehouses, and roads. It was noted how such encroachment destroys natural wetland areas that would otherwise absorb floodwaters and maintain ecological balance.

Five mega projects were revealed to the media at the briefing. These  have been built in this highly sensitive zone without proper authorisation. Resulting in a major threat  to the wetland’s ecosystem.

It was also highlighted that  even though the Supreme Court has issued orders  against these illegal actions, they are still being carried out. Officers representing the Urban Development authority, the Wild Life department and Sri Lanka Police expressed their views on the situation;  it seemed that the lack of coordination among them has allowed these projects to be carried out without  relevant authoriation,  and with the blessings of former  politicians.

Speaking in the event,  Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said: “It is pretty clear that there is a lack of coordination between these government institutions. Muthurajawela is like the  lungs  which produce oxygen for us. We must protect it. I suggest to the government that we should established an institution or authority to protect Muthurajawela,  and this body should be above all government institutions,  even higher than the Urban Development Authority. This way,  we can prevent these illegal activities. People are so greedy for money. That is why they do not take this situation seriously.  In the same way,  we have to clean Negombo Lagoon as well. It is filled with waste. If we cannot take  action to stop the destruction today,  we will find that there is no Muthurajawela in another 30-40 years. So I would like to ask this government to come forward to take action, ” He concluded.

Mahinda Jayasinghe who represented the government accepted the facts that were revealed. He said that a committee  has already been established to discuss the matter. He also accepted the cardinal’s proposal of establishing a new authority to protect Muthurajawela, a matter to be discussed with higher government officials. 

So.  it is clear that it is the government’s responsibility now to take action  to protect Muthurajawela,  as well as the Negombo Lagoon,  from the commercial greed that endangers this highly sensitive ecological system. Government officials should come up with new laws and regulations and implement them if the current regulations are not adequate, since they  have now governed the country for more than 15 months;  and yet,  these illegal projects are still being carried out.