For the prosperity of the Government and to develop the land, now the lungs of Colombo, also known as the environmental university or Muthurajawela Wetlands, is in a turbulent symbiotic marriage, losing its bits and pieces to various individuals.
The most debated Muthurajawela Wetlands is currently in a death-dealing situation, where once random businessmen used to erect billboards, and now it turns sideways without having a proper guardian to look after.
As things got worse, neither the Ministry of Environment nor the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation took the responsibility of conserving or sustaining the phenomenal Muthurajawela Wetlands. All they did was let some random businessman erect billboards and then criticise the chaos.
Double standards
As time passed, the Environment Ministry all of a sudden came up with the idea to hand over the Wetlands to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) that was set up to look into the development of the country. This decision raised many concerns between the environmentalists and activists. Many started to question the Government for taking such a decision and criticised the attempt to create an urban area in the Wetlands.
However, amidst these criticisms, the Environment Ministry finally justified their decision, saying that the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the National Environmental Act is not strong enough to conserve the Wetlands while portraying the UDA Act as more powerful to protect the land.
Then, the Ministry officials, as well as the subject Minister reiterated the lack of power they have to conserve the Wetlands. Upon recognising the ecological significance of Muthurajawela, the Government of Sri Lanka declared the northern section of the land, covering an area of 1,777 hectares, as a sanctuary in July 1996, under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, which is administered by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).
Despite the protection that was given by a strong, powerful act, the Environment Ministry reiterated the lack of power that is vested in them.
And after some time, the Environment Ministry’s stance was completely different, and they said they are handing the Wetlands not because the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance or the National Environmental Act are not powerful, but because the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation lack finances to conserve the land and do the required job there.
As allegations started to be levelled against the Government, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera said, “The Government has decided to conserve the Muthurajawela Wetlands under the UDA, as the Wildlife Ministry and Department could not afford to pay for the immediate acquisition of some of the land.”
Meanwhile, Urban Development State Minister Dr Nalaka Godahewa said his Ministry has both institutions with the relevant technology and capability to conserve the ecosystem, adding that Muthurajawela would be handed over to the Ministry of Wildlife after being conserved as a Ramsar site. “A private company had acquired part of the Wetlands for some projects, steps would be taken to acquire the entire extent and make it part of the Muthurajawela Wetlands Zone,” he said.
Ceylon Today also learnt that the Secretary who was appointed to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation was removed from his post. He said his ouster is suspicious, as he wasn’t given prior notice. He thinks the Government detests his straightforwardness.
To inquire about the future plans regarding the Muthurajawela Wetlands, Ceylon Today attempted to contact Dr Godahewa, but he was not reachable. State Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Major General Palitha Fernando declined to comment.
Gazette Notification yet to be published
Even though the Government assured that a Gazette Notification would be issued restricting the construction of buildings or hotels in the Muthurajawela Wetlands soon, it is yet to be published.
On the other hand, while declining to comment on the future plans of the Wetlands, Director-General of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) N.P.K. Ranaweera denied the allegations levelled against the UDA, that the latter is planning to construct buildings, and he insisted the Wetlands will be intact and the forest reserve will be maintained by the UDA and Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
“Under the programme, unauthorised constructions will be expeditiously cleared. Initially, a programme will be launched to ensure the safety of the Reserve and then unauthorised constructions will be cleared. Trenches will be dug surrounding the reserve to prevent poachers and encroachers from entering the Wetlands,” Ranaweera said.
Ranaweera said the Gazette will be sent for publication as soon as the authorities meet on 2 March for discussions on the Muthurajawela Wetlands. A programme will also be put in place to preserve Fauna and Flora in the Reserve and the programme will be jointly conducted by the CEA and the Department of Wildlife.
How many hectares are left?
Muthurajawela, which encompassed 3,064 hectares in 1990, has now shrunk to 1,200 hectares due to encroachment.
A number of reports document changes in wetlands acres. One of the 12 priority wetlands of Sri Lanka, the Muthurajawela Wetlands system has served multiple uses including fisheries, agriculture, trade and shipping, and habitation from time immemorial. Previous studies conducted in the area clearly highlight the ecological significance of Muthurajawela, which covered at least 3,060 hectares in 1990. According to the most recent report of national trends, total wetlands acreage in 2021 was estimated to be 1,800 hectares.
Until recently, Environment Ministry data had shown a gradual drop in wetlands acreage. However, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has identified lands belonging to the Muthurajawela Wetlands, covering an area of 5,600 hectares.
Flora and Fauna Ordinance vs. UDA Act
Explaining how to utilise the Environmental Act and the Flora and Fauna Ordinance to protect the wetlands, environmental lawyer and activist, Dr Jagath Gunawardana, said the UDA law is not an environmental protection law and it is a law that is created to manage urban development. “Therefore, it is not in accordance with the purpose of declaring Muthurajawela as a sanctuary. Because declaring an area as a sanctuary under the Fauna and Flora protection is to make it available as a habitat for the wildlife. Also, the main thing is the ecological services that are given by a declared area. There is a problem in managing this as well,” he said.
According to the declaration, one has to analyse the problems, and why the Wildlife Department is unable to solve them. “My stance is that there is no need for the area to be declared under the UDA law because the declaration under that law is for development and not for conservation activities,” he added.
He also elaborated the strengthening process of the area, if there is a need to strengthen the protection of the area, adding that the Government can also declare the area as an environmental protection area under Section 24C of the National Environmental Act. If such a declaration is made, the development activities can be prohibited or delayed by regulation made under Section 24B of the National Environmental Act.
It was also highlighted that the Environmental Act and the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance both are built to protect the habitat of this country and there is no conflict of interest between the two declarations. “But, if we have one declaration under the UDA law and another under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance, there will always be a conflict of interest under the two different laws. Therefore, we can accept the area to be declared as an Environmental Protection Area under the National Environmental Act and not as an Urban Development Area under the UDA Law,” he said.
Outdated National Environmental Act
Instructions have been given to the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment to amend the National Environmental Act expeditiously, which has been in the process of being amended for over 20 years. The directions were given by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman, Dr Charitha Herath, to take steps to amend the act as soon as possible. He said although there was a lengthy discussion on amending the National Environmental Act, there have been problems with practical implementation. Furthermore, Dr Herath has informed the CEA that certain institutions are obstructing the work of amending the Act and that action should be taken to resolve the existing issues. Although the Cabinet had approved the National Waste Management Policy on 10 October 2019, the Committee expressed its displeasure at the fact that it has not yet been implemented.
Analysis of Import Data shows that the import quantity is growing rapidly from 2012 to 2017 and there is a higher import quantity in the year 2017 compared to the previous years.
Previous attempts
The Negombo Development Plan 2019-2030, published in December 2018, showed that the previous planning attempts have expanded different platforms for Negombo. The Western Region Megapolis Plan has given the diverse proposals of Negombo as a tourism centre, Negombo Lagoon as an integrated tourist destination, improvement of infrastructure in Negombo regions such as highways and major road networks, wetlands conservation, and as recreational areas from Kelani River to Negombo Lagoon area.
It has identified to develop Negombo as a tourism area, promoting coastal line with quality sandy beaches, inland lagoon, and water bodies improvement of the International Airport, four-star international hotels, Western Province Division – Urban Development Authority ayurvedic treatment centres, water supply such as Kelani River-based water supply project, North Colombo water supply project, construction of tube wells through the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, expansion of Katunayake-Seeduwa and Negombo water supply, sewerage system, stormwater system. The Muthurajawela Master Plan in 1990 has intervened to plan Negombo as a strict conservation area, buffer zones, recreation and tourism use, 10-acre theme park and folk art centre and water sports projects.
Wetlands in the country have progressively been lost and degraded due to human activities for thousands of years. They are now recognised as being lost at a rate that is greater than any other type of ecosystem.
They are also essential for human well-being. They deliver a range of benefits or ecosystem services including provisioning services, such as food and fibre, which are essential for human welfare, and regulating services, such as recharging groundwater and protection from natural hazards, which are critical to sustaining vital ecosystem functions. Wetlands also have considerable aesthetic, cultural, educational and spiritual values and provide sustainable opportunities for recreation and tourism. It should think twice before handing over the lungs of Colombo to a State institution that is tasked with carrying out development projects using cement and sand, but not conserving the land using the best environmental practices.
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