Breaking News

Jellyfish: Indefinite bans if issue persits

21 Jun 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The coastal belt in Matara including the 'bathers’ paradise' Polhena Beach will be banned indefinitely for all local and foreign tourists if the on-going jellyfish issue persists that left five beach users with infected wounds today.

An official at the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo told the Daily Mirror that necessary instructions had been passed on to law enforcement authorities in Matara to warn and inform the public about the danger.

Since Sunday morning there was a noticeable decline of foreign tourists at the Polhena Beach whereas Police Lifesaving members in numbers were present educating the public to refrain from using the beach.

The Matara District governing body led by its District Secretary, Matara Mayor, members of the Disaster Management Centre, Ocean Scientists as well as senior police officials will discuss today to determine whether to ban the beach area indefinitely until the jellyfish threat is over.

At present the police cannot take any action against people who would bathe irrespective of the warning as there is no directive issued prohibiting the use of the beaches.

Four local adults and a teenage boy of a foreign country were admitted to the Matara Hospital on Saturday with infected wounds all over the body claimed to have been received coming into contact with jellyfish.

They were given immediate treatment and their condition was learnt to be out of danger and were discharged shortly after.

The threat had been caused by a type of jellyfish identified as Physalia Physalis that was found in hundreds either in the water or washed ashore.

According to scientists these creatures that roam in far off seas are believed to have been pulled towards the coast by the strong currents generated due to the rough seas due to the monsoonal season.

An unstoppable itch causing infections leading to wounds on the skin is evident if it comes into contact and subsequently symptoms like tightening of muscles, severe pain, increase heart rate and ultimately death for heart patients. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)

Pix by Sajeewa Wijeweera

Breaking News

Jellyfish: Indefinite bans if issue persits

Most Popular Articles

More arrests of lawyers, politicians and senior police officers

Former National Lotteries Board Chairperson Shyamila Perera arrested

Girl visited her lover, gang raped by lover and his friends

Updated World Test Championship standings after West Indies’ record win over Sri Lanka

Historic locomotive move between Kandy and Peradeniya without tracks

12-hour water cut in Colombo and suburbs on Saturday

Latest News

Reconstruction of damaged Kandy–Colombo railway line accelerated

LAUGFS gas slashes domestic LP gas prices

French heat wave death toll rises to 2025

Spa Association complains to IGP over alleged police action

CIABOC says Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was in Dubai during alleged bribe transaction