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COMMUNICATING UNCERTAINTY

MEDIA STORIESCLIMATE CHANGEfROM SRI LANKA ON

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Contributors : Aruni Muthumali, Amila Prabhoda Gamage, Wasantha Ramanayake, Enoka Perera, Mohan Sriyantha, Sudarsha De Silva, Thakshali Hapuarachchi, Shirely Upul Kumara, Robert Antony

Editorial Committee : Dhanushi Senanayake, M.S.M. Ayub, Ramona Miranda, Bhathiya Kekulandera

Editing Support : Sandya Wickremarachchi

Layout & Photographs : Dinesh Pradeep & Minidu Abeysekera Printed by : Neo Graphics

COMMUNICATING UNCERTAINTYMEDIA STORIES FROM

SRI LANKA ONCLIMATE CHANGE

ISBN 978–955–9417– 56–9

Published by Practical Action© Practical Action (Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan Programme)05, Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha,Colombo 05, Sri Lanka.

T | +94 11 2829412

F | +94 11 2856188

E | srilanka@practicalaction.org.lk

W | www.practicalaction.org, www.janathakshan.net

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Preface 5

No country will be spared from the ill effects of climate change 7,yq;ifapd; fhyepiyapy; Vw;gl;Ls;s khw;wk; 10 When uncertainty becomes the order of the day/wnqoaoiai 14 Unlike those days 15Wka okafk;a ke;s" wms okafk;a ke;s fõ,dj 18 Snapshot of the untold misery and hardships of flood victims in the east of Sri Lanka 21aw;ifahy; jhf;fg;gl;ltu;fis mjpfhupfSk; 22

Tomorrow will be too late/fyg rg 23

Kaduru trees the mark of Kaduru Duwa Island has vanished 26lÿre .ylaj;a ke;s lÿre ¥j 28 A dead sea around the island 31uQo ;snqK;a tlhs" Wkao,g ke;;a tlhs 33 When nature decides to wage war/mßir hqoaOhla 35

Climatic Chaos & Vanishing potatoes 36

Saving Rambutan trees 39

Is reviving our traditional cultivation practices the way out of climate change? 45 biair wms j.dl< fnda. ksh`.hg Tfrd;a;= ÿkakd 47

Guardians of the sea 49 Will we not get to see the Batu Haraka again? 50ngq yrldf.a l:dj 52

Concluding remarks 54 CDs of Videos and audios 55

IMPACT

FINDING SOLUTION

LOOSING BIO-DIVERSITY

IMPACTING BIO-DIVERSITY & LIVELIHOOD

CONTEN

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Developing nations have not contributed much to greenhouse gas emissions, but will be the first to suffer the worst effects of climate change. Yet there is very little awareness on these issues in these countries. Limited media coverage on climate change may be one reason for this.

Reporting on climate change is not very different in Sri Lanka as well. Even when it is reported, more emphasis is given to reporting of national and international conferences or speeches by politicians. Investigatory reporting on climate change has been minimal.

This may be due to the lack of knowledge about the complicated aspects of climate change and not having adequate sources to obtain sufficient information, thus making it difficult to link what is happening at ground level with scientific research. Further, climate change may not have the drama attached to selling stories. As a result, persistent growing environmental and climate change stories tend to go unreported or reported with less prominence. This highlights the need for journalists to explore novel ways of reporting climate change story lines. At the same time, such efforts by journalists need to be commended and in turn supported with continuous mentoring and guidance from senior media personnel.

Practical Action’s interest in working with the media, is because it believes that media is a critical means to an end. Ensuring availability of information on climate change for the general public through the media would contribute to make the general public understand the issue, and the urgency of being prepared for the

effects. Journalists can be the agents of change who not only inform the general public but also create pressure on policy makers to act responsibly. When media has improved its reporting of climate change science it benefits the general public they serve who are ultimately the real beneficiaries.

Practical Action together with the Sri Lanka Press Institute facilitated young journalists to look for human interest stories on climate change and encouraged them to investigate and report on climate change as an aspect that affects the life of everyone, not limiting it to the science and research of environmental organisations and experts. The group of young journalists who joined this programme were exposed to the scientific explanations of climate change and were provided an opportunity to explore innovative ways of using story lines, angles, styles which are not usually used by the local media on climate change reporting. The process aimed at promoting investigatory reporting and capturing communities concerns on climate change.

This publication is a collection of these stories and an effort to encourage these and other journalists to continue reporting on the impacts of climate change. It is organised loosely into overall felt impacts of climate change, losing biodiversity and livelihoods, and some possible alternatives.

Dhanushi Senanayake

PREfACE

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IMPACT

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NO COUNTRY WILL BE SPARED FROM THE ILL EFFECTS OF

CLIMATE CHANGE“Worldwide the climate has changed. We feel its impact in Sri Lanka too. We observe the effects of climate change in many parts of the country. This is the reason for heavy rain-fall and some other incidents in the country.” Mr. G. P. Samarasinghe, Director General, Department of Meteorology said.

Recently we experienced continuous rainfall in the entire country. This rain was the cause for earth slips and bad floods in several parts of the country.

Since last January more than 1.2 million people have been affected in the Eastern part and other areas of the country. Thousands of houses were fully and partly damaged. Last January it was recorded that there was a 344 mm rainfall in Batticaloa. This is the heaviest rainfall recorded after 1913.

Then again rain started in the Northern, Eastern, North Central, Central and Uva Provinces. It was recorded

that there was a 400 mm rain fall in Colombo on the 10th of last November. Meteorological Department said this was the heaviest rain fall after 18 years.

Globally …Not only Sri Lanka, but various countries in the world are facing hardships due to heavy rain, flood and some other natural disasters. This climate change is also seen globally. Queensland in Australia, Pakistan and Brazil were also recently affected by flood and heavy rainfall. Many European countries were badly affected by the cold climate. Heavy snowfall covered many countries in Europe. Hence, air line services, public transport and day to day activities of people were severely affected in many countries in Europe. People in most of the European countries faced many hardships due to this.

Mr. Samarasinghe said there has been a 7% increase in rainfall in Sri Lanka. When compared to the last 30 years of rainfall in Sri Lanka, we can clearly understand this, he further said. But sometimes when compared to the usual rainfall in the whole country, this is not much because in some other parts of the country there has been less rainfall.

In one year of rain…Mr. Samarasinghe’s view is that Batticaloa district has received the whole year’s rain during the month of January.

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Thus most of the regions of the world noted the effects of the climate change. These changes are being witnessed in the various sectors of the climate.

For instance, countries like Germany, Brazil and Philippines experienced heavy rainfall when it was not particularly the season for the rainfall. Some times there was no rain in the particular rainy seasons and during that time heavy sun and hot climate or a very cold climate was experienced.

In Sri Lanka too we observed various types of change. Rainy season was changed. During the expected period, the country did not get rain. Some times during the hot and dry season, there was heavy rain in several parts of the country. Monsoon seasons also changed. These are some observed changes. It is said that we experienced this heavy rainfall due to the changes in the climate which occurred globally.

With this Mr. Samarasinghe pointed out another important fact too. "We presently face climate changes happening globally. In the future also we could receive unexpected rainfall and flood. Therefore countries must have proper plans to face and resolve these

kinds of problems caused by climate change and natural disasters. We should also have our disaster management mechanisms in order to reduce the risk posed by climate change”.

Human Activities ...Human activities is one important factor for climate change. Some activities of developed countries cause problems in developing countries like Sri Lanka. Irresponsible actions of developed countries lead to climate and temperature changes in the global level, he further insisted.

At the same time there have been international level discussions and conferences to discuss this kind of climate change and its effects. For example, the Copenhagen conference which was held to discuss increasing global temperature and climate change during the year 2009. Participants of this conference were not able to come into consensus on suitable solutions for the said global problems.

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Business and climate changeA prominent businessmen Mr. Davidson’s view on this issue …

Climate always has been linked with many factors. I’m a businessman and in my experience, unwanted weather severely affects business and commercial activities. During the heavy rains people are not motivated to do business activities and this affects the entire commercial process.

Mr. Sumathipala, Senior Technical Advisor for the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment said that there had been heavy rain in many parts of the country. During the month of January we had so much rain and bad experiences. After January, within one week of rains stopping, the rain started again. Many places experienced floods and earth slip threats. We have never experienced this kind of weather patterns before. Therefore, we need to find out reasons for this kind of happenings.

El-Nino and La-NinaLower temperature in the western region of the Pacific Ocean and the higher temperature in the eastern region are called El-Niño and La-Niña climate. Normally this kind of El-Niño can be observed in the west of the Pacific Ocean.

But now we face La-Niña climate here. According to this climate in the Western Pacific region, temperature is very high and in the eastern region, temperature would be very low. But this would be a very rare situation. It is predicted that La-Niña climate would be continuing for the whole year. Therefore, increasing temperature in the western part of the Pacific region is the main reason for the low pressure and continuous rainfall. That means if higher temperature is noted in the sea, it will result in heavy rain and storms.

Countries like Australia (and even Sri Lanka) which are situated in the western part of the Pacific region mostly get continuous rain fall. Thus it is predicted that this kind of climate can be continued during the entire year.

When man tries to change this natural order, it causes bad and harmful effects. Therefore it is our responsibility to protect nature.

Robert Antony This article was published in the 'Virakesari' (A Tamil Daily paper) special feature page “KALASAM” on 9th February 2011.

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epiwNtw;w Kd;tu Ntz;Lk;.

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WHEN UNCERTAINTY BECOMES THE ORDER OF THE DAY

The environment that was there during our childhood has undergone severe changes. Siripala Dissnayake, a farmer from Nuwera Eliya – the little England of Sri Lanka, relates his experiences about the changed landscape in Nuwera Eliya.

'Forest areas were cleared to build houses, but once these houses were built no trees were planted.

There is less water in many of the waterfalls which had thick streams of water earlier. The ground water table had been disturbed and even if we fix a tube well we face difficulties in accessing water.

Earlier there used to be ice rain in January and February and in April we experienced only drizzling. We had rain in the area in June and July and we never had flashfloods like what we experience now. Now when it continues to rain it poses a serious threat to the central hill areas. We need to have proper mechanisms to control soil erosion in the central hills now.'

ABUDDASSAFind the vidEo

Produced by Amila Prabhoda Gamage, a freelance journaliston PAGE 51 to get the full story.

CD 01CD IN PAGE 55

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UNLIKE THOSE DAYS...I waited impatiently near the clocking out machine in the office for it to come to four-thirty. The following day was my younger sister’s birthday and I wanted to give her a dress with a batik design as my birthday present. I had put the batik cloth on the clothes line to dry in the sun. It had to be taken off the clothes line before night-fall, as otherwise dew would collect on it, and therefore, it would not be possible to sew the frock. Mother had said that she would return home rather late that evening, so I could not expect her help.

Another thing – getting in to a Piliyandala bus is no easy task – oh! how crowded these buses are! It seems as if the majority of Sri Lankans have decided to recide in Piliyandala. Piliyandala is one of the most densely populated towns in the Colombo district, although it is not as bad as Moratuwa or Nugegoda. The vegetation here has not changed much. Perhaps it is the coolness and greenery in the environment here that attracts a large population. Due to my anxiety to get home early, I got into an Inter-city Luxury Express Bus. Once I had seated myself comfortably, I could not continue with my thoughts – I was drowsy and ...

“Is anyone getting-off near the Kesbewa Lake?” shouted the conductor and I woke up startled. Good heavens! I had come two halts passing my destination. But it was not six o’clock yet and therefore it didn’t matter. But how do I get back home? And from where did this torrential rain descend? What about the birthday gift for my sister on the clothes-line. What shall I do now? I had better forget about it now. I quickly jumped off the bus and ran to a shop for shelter.

I wiped my head and hands with a corner of my saree and looked around. There were a few familiar faces and now I would have to answer their questions. I was right. Among the people who had sought shelter in the shop were Uncle Piyadasa and Beheth achchi (an old lady who was known by the said name). They were both looking at me with inquiringly. Beheth achchi was given that name because she grew several valuable medicinal plants in her garden and because she was the most senior resident of the town. She was quite adept at initiating a conversation anywhere.

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Beheth achchi; “Why did you get-off the bus here, child?”

I; “Today was a very busy day in office and I fell asleep in the bus.”

Beheth achchi; “Did we ever hear of such things in our times? People gulp down balls made of imported flour and they lose their good health while they are still very young. Everything is topsy-turvy now. Can’t you see how it pours down from the sky without warning?”

I looked around to see whether others too had overheard her. Now Uncle Piyadasa joined in, speaking much louder than Beheth achchi.

Uncle Piyadasa: “People find fault when it rains, and they find fault when the weather is fair, too”

I; “Uncle, haven’t you finished sowing yet?”

Uncle Piyadasa; “With paddy, you can’t wait. Once you prepare the ground, you must sow even if there are a thousand showers. Haven’t I been fighting with this mighty earth for the last fifty or sixty years?

I; “Were there unusal unexpected rain then as well, uncle?”

Uncle Piyadasa; “Well, the sun and the rain were like this even in those times. The paddy we had then could withstand floods. Some paddy plants grew up to my height. There were times when the paddy plants went under water during the rains. Then, when there was no water, we used to grow dry paddy. When there was no water, we ploughed the land with mammoties and waited till the 28th of February was past.”

I; “Why was that?”

Uncle Piyadasa; “There would definitely be a flood on that day. There were times when this lake too overflowed on to the road. Every farmer in this area would tell you this.”

I; “We have never heard anyone saying that the lake would overflow on such and such a day, have we?”

Uncle Piyadasa; “No, it doesn’t happen so, now. There was an overflow a few days ago. But who could know about it? If one waited for the rains now before sowing, you will be able nicely to reap – my foot!" While we were talking, Miss Ranjanie, the Montessori teacher entered the shop with her umbrella still open. She was cursing the rain as she came in. Although she was telling off the rain, she had never scolded any of her students during her teaching career which spanned two generations.

Miss Ranjanie; “No umbrella can withstand this rain.”

I; Has it been raining long, Aunty?”

Miss Ranjanie; “There was bright sun shine and then it came down suddenly. I won’t be able to see my Montessori children for another week. They will be sick. This rain is not like the rain in those days.”

Beheth achchi; “Not only the rain; even the soil is very different now. In our times there was plenty of vegetation. But now? Does it rain according to the season now? How fertile those fields then were? How big the harvest was then?

Uncle Piyadasa; “Now we sow paddy that is ready for harvesting in 2½ or 3 months. We don’t worry about rain or sun and we are quite happy to sow the paddy seeds the government gives us. It seems that this paddy suits the present weather pattern.”

Our conversation was suddenly interrupted due to a bright streak of lightning. One young woman in the shop covered both her ears with her hands until thunder stopped.

Uncle Piyadasa; “Unlike those days, you cannot remain in the field when there is lightning. You have to come away as soon as there is a threat of lightning.”

1717

Beheth achchi; “Now lightning takes place right in front of you, not far in the sky like then. So how could one remain in the field?”Although I could not help gigling at this statement, it occurred to me that it was quite true. In the midst of this conversation, my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking of my sister and the birthday gift. What can I give her the next morning? The colours in the batik cloth which I have put out for drying must have been washed off by the rain. Hard work of several days would be in vain now. How many times did my mother advise me that it would be much better to buy a batik frock from a shop? But in no shop could I find a batik dress which suited my sister’s taste. That was why I had planned to sew one without thinking of the difficulties. But I should have planned for any unexpected rain.

I; “This is unbearable. One day the heat is terrible. Then another day you can’t walk on the road because of water. Last June it rained and then it was hot. There is rain one day and plenty of sunshine the next day. It is impossible to plan any work.”

Miss Ranjanie; “It was the Poson rain. Poson rain is like that, now it rains and then there is sunshine”.

Uncle Piyadasa; “The Poson rains haven’t changed at all; it’s the same as in the good old days.”

Beheth Achchi; But this area has changed now. In those days this area was very healthy. But now, the heat is unbearable. When we were small, this area was never like Colombo. There were no untimely rains.

Uncle Piyadasa; “There is a time when the sun moves low. It is then that it is hot. When the sun moves high up, there is less heat. The rain too changes from time to time.

Miss Ranjanie; “But when we were small, we knew that rains would come in the Maha season as well as in the Yala season. But can we teach the children like that now? They will think that we are teaching them lies.

Beheth achchi; That’s true. Those days there was enough rain; not like now. At that time we knew what times were good for the cultivation of crops, and what times were unsuitable. But today, whether it is for cultivation, or for any other work, how can we say which times are suitable for which activity?

I; That is exactly what happened to me today. The way the sun was shining, could one ever have thought that it would rain in the evening? I prepared a batik pattern for a dress for my sister. I put it out for drying before going out to work. I returned early to sew the frock in the night. Mother said she was getting late to come home this evening. Now it is useless talking about it. All the batik pattern and the colours must have washed off.

Miss Ranjanie; “Why, child, your mother was at home when I passed your house now.

I; What? Aunty did you really see my mother at home? Oh, what luck! I sighed with relief. This morning, I had to run to office and had no time to listen to the newsbroadcasts for the weather forecast.

Uncle Piyadasa; “Well, the news broadcasts will announce that the winds will flow from the southwest, from here and from there. But does it ever happen? In those days we knew when the rains would come and when the sun would shine. But now neither we nor they can tell when the rains would come.

By this time the rain had eased off. Uncle Piyadasa raised his sack of paddy on his shoulders mumbling something to himself and walked away towards the lake although it had not ceased completely and there was a slight drizzle. Like others who had taken shelter in the shop, I too walked away impatiently in order to get home as quickly as possible to finish the task at hand.

Aruni MuthumaliA features writer at Silumina (a Sinhala weekly newspaper)

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fjkak;a we;s fï ;rï fikÕla fï k.frg wefokafka'

blaukska f.or tkak ´k ksidu k.rdka;r iqfLdamfNda.S

nia r:hl jdä jqKdu fï jf.a l,amkd lr lr jeäÿrla

tkak neye' uf.a oEia wvjka jqfKa bfígu jf.a'

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nia r:fhka ìug mek.;a ud wi< ;snQ lv ms,g f.dv

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udud lSjd'

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—udud jmqr,d bjr kE jf.a˜ uu weyqjd'

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yels ldf,l wms bkak nj oekf.k ta .ek ie,ls,af,ka

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ys;d u;d wõjg jeiaig uqyqK fokak mq`:jka úÈyg

jev lghq;= iQodkï lr .;a;d kï fï jf.a nhla ÿlla

we;sjkafka keye'

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.kak;a nE' uu lSjd'

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mshodi udud;a lSjd'

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fmdäldf, fï me;a; fld<U rg jf.a .skshï fjkafka

kE' fufyu wl,a jeys weo yef,kafk;a keye'

br my<ska hk ld,hla ;sfhkjd' t;fldg riafkhs' br

uqÿkska hk ldf,g riafk wvqhs' jeiai;a b;ska ta jf.a

ldf,ka ldf,g fjkia fjkjd' mshodi udud lSjd

biafldaf,a fkdakdg ;snqfKa fjku m%Yakhla( ta jqKdg

wms kï fmdä ldf, h,-uy folkafku jeiai tk nj

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mq`:jka o@ ta <uhs ys;hs wms fndre W.kajkjd lsh,d'

tal we;a;' biair fyd|g jeis ,enqKd' ta; fï wo Bfh

jf.a fkfjhs' l,g fõ,djg' wms okakjd t;fldg fï

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lsh,d' t;a wo j.d lrkak yß fjk jevlg yß fï ldf,

fyd|h lsh, ys;d .kak mq¨jka hE' fnfy;a wdÉÑ lSjd

tal fkakakï ug;a wo jqfKa' ySfklska j;a ys;=jo mdh,d

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n;sla jev od,d fudaia;rhla l<d' tal fyd|g fõf,kak

´k ksid wõjg od,d .shd' l,ska wdfjd;a ?g .jqu uykak'

wo wïu;a tkak ? fnda fjkjd lSjdfka' oeka b;ska tajd

.ek l;d lr,d jevla kE' Tlafldu idhï Èhfj,d we;s'

wehs <ufhda uu oeka tkfldg wïud f.or ysáhfka'

wEyA'''' kekaod we;a;gu oelalo@ wïfï''' we;s hdka;x'

oekqhs uf.a weÕg f,a álla bkqfj' fldfyo b;ska jevg

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wykak neß WKdfka'

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kï lshkjd ;uhs ksßf;ka yq<x tkjd wyfrka tkjd

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wõj;a okakjd jeiai;a okakjd' oeka jysk fj,dj Wka

okafk;a kE wms okafk;a kE'

yq<x mdrg ;=r,a l< uy jeiafika b;sß jQ ySka fmdoh

.Kka fkdf.ku ù f.daksh lrg .;a mshodi udud ;j;a

fudkjdfoda lshjñka jej me;a;g .shd' lv msf,a isá

wks;a wh jf.au ud;a wäh blauka lf<a f.or hkl,a

biamdiqjla ke;s ksihs'

wreKs uq;=u,Sis¿ñK mqj;am;g ,sms imhk úfYaIdx. f,aÅldjls'

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21

SNAPSHOPT OF THE UNTOLD MISERY AND HARDSHIPS OF fLOOD VICTIMS IN THE EAST Of SRI LANKAMohammad Hussain of Kalmunai said that there are many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are accommodated in schools due to the recent flooding in the Eastern Province. He further mentioned that his house and the workshop that was close to his residence were affected. Consequently, he incurred a big loss in his work. There are many people like him who undergo untold misery and hardships due to nature’s fury.

Hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were injured owing to the torrential rains that were experienced in the Eastern and North Central provinces of Sri Lanka.

Ganesh, a fisherman from Batticoloa said that it had never rained there before the way it poured in January

2011. It should be pointed out that the Government of Sri Lanka stated that this is the biggest disaster next to the tsunami that devastated this island in 2004.

Kumar, a resident of Wellaveli, said that he and his family members found shelter in one of his relatives’ residence. When he visited his house after the flood had receded, he found that it was damaged.

Later, surveys conducted by some organisations revealed that the poor drainage network was one of the main causes for this sad state of affairs, in addition to the unprecedented torrents. Floods crept into the houses due to lack of proper building of roads and drainage. It is alleged that the political leaders of some local bodies plundered the money allocated for constructing drains. Nobody was there to stop this.

They also said that adding insult to injury, those who took refuge in these camps were chased away before the floods receded. This was carried out with the blessings of the political leaders. There were also several issues when relief was distributed to the affected. It is alleged that some officials distributed relief that was meant for the people who were affected by floods to their own relatives who were not at all affected by the floods. It must be mentioned that such government officials were attacked and members of the public staged protests justifying the assaults as the officials were unjust.

It is further alleged that people who were affected were not given the promised relief by the Government. It is sad that even the Non Governmental Organisations failed to consider the affected people of some areas for any relief.

Riffthi Ali, a news reporter at the Tamil Daily Mirror newspaper

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e\;lkile;Js;sjhfTk; mtH Fwpg;gpl;lhH.

,tH Nghd;W gyh; nts;sj;jpdhy; Vw;gl;l

nrhy;nyhd;dh Jauq;fis ntspg;gLj;j Kbahky;

jtpf;fpd;wdH.

fle;j [dthp khjk; ,yq;ifapd; fpof;F kw;Wk;

tl kj;jpa khfhzq;fspy; nga;j fLk; kioapdhy;

E}w;Wf;fzf;fhNdh; caphpoe;Js;sJld; gy

Mapuf;fzf;fdf;fhNdh; fhakile;jdH.

[dthp fhyg;gFjpapy; jq;fsJ gpuNjrj;jpy; ,e;j Kiw

Nghd;W kio nga;atpy;iy vd kl;lf;fg;G gpuNjrj;ij

NrHe;j kPd;gpb njhopyhspahd fNz\; $wpdhH.

,NjNtis> ,e;j nts;s mdHj;jk; 2004Mk; Mz;L

Vw;l;l Rdhkp mdh;;jj;jpw;F gpd;dH ,yq;ifapy; Vw;gl;l

ghhpa mdHj;jk; vd ,yq;if murhq;fk; njhptpj;jik

Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

nts;sk; fhuzkhf cwtpdh; tPLfspNyNa

jQ;rkile;jpUe;Njhk;. nts;s ePh; tbe;j gpd;dH

tPl;bw;F te;J ghHj;j NghJ tPL gFjpastpy;

Nrjkile;jpUe;jij mtjhdpf;f Kbe;jjhf

nts;shntspia NrHe;j FkhH $wpdhH.

xOq;fhd tbfhy; tiyaikg;gpd;ikNa ,e;j nts;s

mdh;j;jk; Vw;gLtjw;F gpujhd fhuzk; vd gpd;dH

rpy epWtdq;fs; Nkw;nfhz;l Ma;Tfspd; %yk;

njhpate;jJ.

aw;ifahy; jhf;fg;gl;ltu;fis mjpfhupfSk;…tPjpfs; xOq;fhd Kiwapy; mikf;fg;glhikAk;

tPjpfSf;nfw;w tifapy; tbfhy;fs;

mikag;ngwhikapdhNyNa nts;sk; tPLfspDy;

GFe;Js;sJ.

Fwpj;j tbfhy;fis mikg;gjw;F nghWg;ghfTs;s

cs;@uhl;rp kd;wq;fspYs;s murpay; jiytHfs;

jq;fsJ Ra Nehf;fq;fSf;fhf kf;fspd; gzj;ij

tbfhy;fs; mikf;fpd;Nwhk; vd njhptpj;J

Ruz;LfpwhHfs;.

,t;thwhd elbf;iffis jLf;f ahUkpy;iy jl;b

Nfl;f ahUkpy;iy.

,e;j nts;s ngUf;fpdhy; ,lk;ngah;e;J Kfhq;fspy;

jQ;rkile;jth;fis nts;sk; tw;Wtjw;F Kd;dH

murpay; jiyikfspd; gq;Fgw;wYld; mur caH

mjpfhhpfSk; tpul;babf;Fk; eltbf;ifapy; <Lgl;ldH.

,NjNtis ghjpf;fg;gl;l kf;fSf;F epthuzk; toq;Fk;

re;jh;g;gj;jpy; gy gpur;rpidfs; Vw;gl;ld.

Fwpg;gpl;l rpy mjpfhhpfs; nts;sj;jhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l

kf;fSf;fhf te;j epthuz nghUl;fis

mur mjpfhhpfs; nts;sj;jhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;lhj

cwtpdHfSf;F toq;fg;gl;ljhf Fw;wk;Rkj;jpdH.

,JNghd;W Fw;wQ;rhl;lg;gl;L mur mjpfhhpfs;

jhf;fg;gl;l Ntisapy; mtHfSf;F vjpuhf

nghJkf;fshy; Mh;g;ghl;lq;fSk; Nkw;nfhs;sg;glik

Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

22

23

TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE

Climate change induced disasters are on the increase across the island. “Heta Rata” which was broadcast on Swarnawahini news brings out evidence of such disasters. "Heta Rata" contains segments on acid rain, air pollution, drought, increase of insect population and rising sea levels.

"HETA RATA"Find the vidEo

produced by Shirley Upul Kumara, a journalist at “Swarnawahini”

on PAGE 51 to get the full story

CD 02CD IN PAGE 55

24

In the CD:

Acid rain has started its operations in Sri Lanka!

We have heard of acid rain, but has Sri Lanka known to have acid rain? There had been evidence that acid rain has affected vegetation in the country. In the central hills in the Nuwera Eliya district it was found that vegetables cultivated were affected by acid rain.The carrots grown in Nuwera Eliya were reported to have become yellow and have lost its nutritional value.

Can air pollution affect less industrialised rural parts of Sri Lanka?

In Sri lanka the city with highest level of air pollution is Colombo. However, Colombo being a a low lying area and in close proximity to the sea makes the city less affected by air pollution. The clouds which are formed above the city with accumulated pollutants are swept towards the central parts such as Anuuradhapura, Mahailupallama, Kandy and Nuwera Eliya.

There will be long spells of drought?

Global warming has affected the rainfall pattern. This has led to impacting on the availability of ground water. Analysis of past 30 years rainfall data reveals that drought has occurred within every eight to ten year period. However, at present drought conditions occur in the absence of rain for even a short period of time. The changed rainfall pattern will lead to long spells of drought in Ampara, Batticaloa, Kurunegela, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala and Hambanthota districts.

More epidemic attacks?

Climate change experts predict that by the end of the century the temperature on earth will increase by 6 degrees celsius. This increase of temperature could lead to an increase of the insect population which means there will be more mosquitoes, cockroaches, and spiders. Health experts warn that there will be more instances of diarrhoea and malaria.

Many parts of the island (Sri Lanka) will go under water?

It is inevitable that global warming has led to melting of glaciers. The rising of sea level will devour some parts of the island. The Jaffna peninsula can totally disppear from the Sri Lanka map. Climate science experts warn that 13 districts will go underwater as a result of rising sea levels. These districts are Puttalam, Chilaw, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kilinochchi, Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Pulmodai.

25

LOOSING bio-diversity

262626

KADURU TREESTHE MARK OF KADURU DUWA ISLAND HAS

VANISHEDThe bridge which connects Moratuwa and Panadura is built across the Bolgoda River (the larger portion of this known as Bolgoda Lake).

At that time it was the only highway from Colombo to Katharagama via Matara, and there was no other alternative road. After crossing the bridge, about a kilometer towards Panadura, Kaduru Duwa Road is on the right of Gorakana. Kaduru Duwa is an islet. What’s special about Kaduru Duwa island is that it’s the largest islet in the Bolgoda River, with the largest population.

Even in the past, it was a continuous phenomenon that some of the villages of Kalutara went under flood water of Kalu Ganga. As a remedy for this, excess water of Kalu Ganga was diverted to Bolgoda through a canal. It is this Bolgoda River that flows around the islet named Kaduru Duwa.

This fascinating Kaduru Duwa has changed a lot with the times. Sixty five year old Keerthi Vishwanath, a retired civil servant who was born and bred in this

island has witnessed this change. Kaduru Duwa, is only a pleasant memory for him today. Now he does not like this transformed village. Here are his reminiscings.

“About fifty years back, only fifteen families lived here. This islet, which extends to about 90 acres of land, is the largest populated island in Bolgoda River. Galle Road and the islet were connected with a raft made of coir ropes. The islet was surrounded by mangroves. Later a bridge was built. But, in 1947 it collapsed. Then a ferry was used for transportation . There was a ferryman to keep the ferry. At that time this area

26 IMPACT

2727

was called Keselwatta Town Council area. Using the ferry later on became a problem, as after seven in the evening the ferry was not operating. A causeway was constructed after building eight culverts across the river and laying a dune of earth over them. Hence the right side of the river became a marsh. Only the left side was a little clean.

Even though there were mangroves around the islet, people destroyed them when the lands were auctioned. Today, you can see mangroves only at the entrance of the islet. Prawn cage cultivation was done when the mangroves were there. Having mangroves helps the prawn hatchery work. Eels and some other local fresh water fish like ‘Vekkaya’, ‘Godaya’ and ‘Korali’ were also found in plenty at that time. Reeds grew well because of surrounding paddy fields. There were plenty of women who used to weave reed mats. There were fish in the river sufficient to do fishing as an livelihood. Today there may not be even a single fish in the river. Only a local variety of crabs (Kakkutta) may be there...”

Later on all the bare lands were covered with reeds. Even these are not to be seen today. Houses are constructed in all those bare lands adjoining the fields, blocking all drainage. Those days villages knew that rainy season would start in May, causing floods. But flood water level was very low and none of the houses in the village went under water. There was enough bare land along the side of the river for drainage. Water subsided after one or two days. Water subsided very easily when the out-fall at Panadura was widened.

There were many trees and plants which were endemic to Kaduru Duwa? Local trees and plants like ‘Thelakeeri’, ‘Attunna’, ‘Bakini’, ‘Kaduru’, ‘Godapara’, ‘Kirala’, and ‘Rukaththana’ grew in plenty in the

woods. The secretion of the ‘Thelakiriya’ plant is so poisonous that if a drop of it falls in to your eyes, you can go blind. The circumference of an ‘Attunna’ tree is about 8 feet. Women in the village washed their hair using grounded ‘Godapara’ fruit. The smell of the ripe ‘Kirala’ fruit aroused your taste buds. Village lads always fought with each other to pick the ‘Kirala’ fruits floating in the river. Every morning it was common to see people carrying 7 - 8 ‘Kirala’ fruits attached to an ekel and a string of fish to their homes. Since coconut trees grew all over the islet, jaggery was made in every house using coconut toddy. Even my grandmother used to make jaggery at home. Two huge banyan trees stood high on the islet as two giants. We always tasted the curries prepared from the now rare green leaves like ‘Kabella dalu’ and ‘Karan koku’ as they were in abundance in the village.

This was a pleasant, prosperous village except for the problem of getting to Galle road during floods. Today the river is narrowed to the size of a rattle snake. Not only the mangroves, but also animals and birds such as tortoises, rabbits, porcupines, parrots, and wild cats have become extinct. ‘Kaduru’ trees which bloomed in white are no more. People came from Ambalangoda to get ‘Kaduru’ trunks as they were the best to produce masks.

Since then everything has changed. It rains in the off season. We get plenty of sun shine in the wet season. The flood has become disastrous. I feel even the weather pattern and the climatic conditions have turned up side down ..."

Enoka Perera Bandara, a features writer at Silumina (a Sinhala weekend newspaper)

27

28

lÿre ¥jlÿre .ylaj;a ke;s

fudrgqfjka mdkÿrg f.dvjk '''''' md,u bÈj we;af;a

úYd, fnd,af.dv .Õ yrydh'

tod fld<U isg ud;r - l;r.u olajd nia Èfjk tlu

yd m%Odk ud¾.h fuh jqfha" w¨;a .d¨ mdrla bÈj fkd;snq

fyhsks' md,fuka f.dv ù mdkÿr foig lsf,daógrhla

muK hk úg" f.drldfka ol=Kq miska lÿre ¥j mdr

Èiafõ' lÿre ¥j ¥m;ls' yßhgu lSfjd;a fnd,af.dv

c,dYfha úYd,u ¥m;h' úYd, ckldhla fjfik tlu

¥m;o fuhhs'

l¿ .x Èfhka l¿;r we;eï .ï ksn| .xj;=rg hgùu

w;S;fha§o isÿúh' l¿ .fÕa jeä c,h —lemamq˜ we,la yryd

fnd,af.dv fj; yerjqfha Bg ms<shula yeáhghs' lÿre

¥j kï ¥m; jgd .,d hkafka o fï fnd,af.dv kÈhhs'

iqkaor lÿre ¥j ld,h;a iu`. fndfyda fjkialï j,g

uqyqK md isáhs' ta fjki oEiska ÿgq Tyq" 65 yeúßÈ lS¾;s

úYajkd: h' úY%dñl mßmd,k ks<Odßfhla jk Tyq Wmkaod

isg yeÿKq jevqKq lÿre¥j wo Tyqg ruKSh u;lhla muKs'

úmßKduh jq t.u wo Tyqg ßis ke;'

—óg wjqreÿ 50 lg muK tmsg§ fï ÿmf;a ysáfha mjq,a

15 hs' fnd,af.dv .fÕa úYd,u ckdjdihla we;s fï ÿm;

wlalr 90 l jmißhl úysfokakla' .d¨ mdrhs ÿm;hs

hd jqfKa ,Kq myqrlska' ¥m; jfÜgu ;snqfKa lfvd,dk

jeáhs' miafi ldf,l md,ula ±ïud' kuq;a 1947 § md,u

lvd jegqKd' Bg miafia w.=,lska ;uhs ¥jg f.dv jqfKa'

w.=,g f;dáfhla ysáhd' ta ldf,a fï m%foaYhg lsõfõ

flfi,aj;a; iq¿ k.r iNd m%foaYhg lsh,d' miafia

ldf,l w.=f,ka f.dvùu;a m%YaKhla jqkd' ? 7 ka miafia

w.=, keye' .Õ yryg fndalal= wgla ou, Bg Wäka mia

jeáhla ou, —fldaia fõ˜ tlla yeÿfj Bg miafi' fïflka

miafi .Õ ol=Kq me;a; uv f.dfydrejla jqKd' jï me;a;

;uhs álla j;a msßisÿ'

2929

lfvd,dk jeáh ¥m; jfÜgu ;snqK;a bvï fjkafoais

lroaÈ ñksiaiq ish,a, jekiqjd' wo fï ¥mf;a lfvd,dk

jeáh olskak mq¿jka ¥m;g we;=¿ jk bÈßmi fldgfia

ú;rhs' lfvd,dk jeáh ;snqKq ldf," biafid fldgq

yßhg' biaikag ì;a;r oukak iqÿiq mßirhla ;snqK'

wdf|da" fõlalfhda" f.dvfhd" fldr<sjf.a ud¿ .ug wvq

keye' fj,a wdY%s; mßirh ksid mka j.dj b;d fyd¢ka

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.fÕa ysáhd' wo .fÕa Th lshk ud¿ tfllaj;a ke;sj we;s'

llal=Üfgd ;uhs bkakjkï''''˜

miafi miafi fndre mka j,ska ysia bvï msreKd' wo taj;a

keye' ta yeu fj,a wdY%s; bvulu wo f.j,a yeÈ,d' j;=r

neye, hkak ;ekla keye' ta ldf,a uehs udfi fjkfldg

.ïuq okakjd jeiai tkjd lsh,d' .Õ W;=r, .xj;=r odk

nj;a okakjd' yenehs ljodj;a f.j,a hgfjk ;rug .u

we;=,g j;=r wfj keye' j;=r nyskak .Õ iSudfõ ysia bvx

;snqKd' ojiska foflka j;=r neye, .shd' mdkÿf¾ fudah

lg lemqju f,aisfhkau neye, .shd'

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¥mf;a ke.S ysáfh ioaoka;fhda jf.a' lene,a, o¨ jExcfka"

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fï .fï ´kE ;rï ;snqKd'

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.yfld< ú;rla fkdfjhs lsß bífnd" le,E ydfjd"

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wïn,kaf.däka weú;a lÿre fldg f.ksÉfp;a fufyka' ta

fjiauqyqKq lmkak fyd|u .y lÿre .y ksid'

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wl,g' mdhkafk;a wl,g' .xj;=r;a jHikhla ;rugu

W.% fj,d' ld,.=fKa foaY.=fKa yeufoau fkdmsg fmr<s,d

lsh,hs ug kï ysf;kafk''''˜

bfkdald fmf¾rd nKavdris¿ñK mqj;am;g ,sms imhk úfYaIdx. f,aÅldjls

29

3030

IMPACTING bio-diversity & Livelihood

3131

A DEAD SEA AROUND THE ISLAND?It would have been considered a joke if someone said there will be no fish in the sea or lagoons twenty or thirty years ago or it would not have been accepted as the truth at all.But, today, when fishermen from Kadiraweli in the east of Sri Lanka to Rathgama lagoon in the south of Sri Lanka say that there are no fish, it is no joke.

“Earlier we could catch shrimp with our hands even in very shallow water. But now, a fisherman using small scale fishing gear in the shallow sea will not be able to get a catch worth even Rs. 100, even if he spends the whole day there. One has to go to the deep sea” said Welayudan from Kadiraweli in Batticaloa. Now all those channels that fed into the lagoon have

been destroyed. Small fish from the sea usually come into lagoons for their food. They grow in the lagoons. Since the lagoon mouth is blocked with the sand bar we cannot expect to have movement of fish from the sea into the lagoon waters. The water in the lagoon is stagnant and there are days that we see hundreds of deadfish floating in the lagoon and the whole area starts stinking. The channels that fed into the lagoon water were contaminated with pesticides. Regardless of their efforts the lagoon fishermen barely earn even Rs. 100 a day. But earlier we used to get about 6 to 7 kilos of Wekka fish variety in one catch. During the shrimp season we could easily get Rs. 4000 or 5000. But today most of the fishermen who depend on the lagoon for their livelhoods have left the village in search of wage labour” said K. Piyarathna speaking to us.

“There has to be at least the heat of seven suns on earth to heat the water in the oceans, ”was what we

31

32

heard when we were small. But today due to global warming some fish seem to have become extinct. Further, certain fishing gear and equipment such as trawlers have destroyed breeding grounds of fish and the whole of marine life that functioned as absorbing agents of heat. So how can we expect fish corals and marine life to survive when there are extreme temperatures in the oceans. One day we will have a dead sea around the island”.

Even a small child would know that sea water is salty. But now fishermen say that the salinity in sea water seems to have been increased. In some fish breeding grounds the fish population has declined. Marine life is also affected. In future we will not be able to depend on the sea for our livelihood. Things are uncertain. We keep telling the fisheries inspector who comes to collect taxes once a month from us about this situation. But they are not bothered whether we will have fish from the sea or not, as their only concern is collecting the revenue on time.

I thought of investigating further on this issue where fishers claim that the sea waters have become more saline. Due to deforestation the top soil which is fertile gets washed into the sea. While it makes the land infertile it also increases the salinity in the sea water affecting the marine life.

I also came across some findings made by Dr. Arulpragasam about the loss of fish. What was special about these findings are that they correspond and prove further the findings of the fishermen. According to him oceans and the earth have very special roles that are perfomed for each other. The oceans absorb 385 million tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide every year. Out of this 375 million tons are relased back to the atmosphere while 10 million tons are retained by sea water, plankton and other types of marine life. Annually the oceans absorb the carbon dioxide which contributes to the atmospheric

heat, by ten million tons. In order for this to happen the oceans need to be able to continue their regular functions. But, when salinity is high and marine life is disappearing fast such ocean regions are not able to carry out their functions properly. The definite impact of it is the sea water temperature being equal to atmospheric temperature.

This will impact in two ways. Density of sea water will be low but there will be more water in the oceans. This is in addition to rising sea levels that is happeneing due to melting of glaciers. Therefore it might be necessary to do calculations again about the rise of the sea water level.

The other impact is the ocean currents being changed. It is these currents that take the fish food from one location to the other. Fish depend on these currents for their food. Therefore, when ocean currents change the fish too change their habitats. This is the reason why in certain regions of the oceans which were populated with fish ealier have no fish now. Fishermen are quick to feel this situation and that’s why the loss of fish has become a frequent topic of discussion for them. But, the unfortunate thing is that there are no institutions that feels the pulse of these fishermen.The Ministry of Fisheries only acts upon commands they receive from higher-ups and for them fishing communities at ground level are not important. Another aspect is that the Ministry does not seem to have the knowledge on impacts of increasing temperatures of sea waters and they only seem to be focussing on global warming.

If the fishermen while having their meals say that this might be their last meal with fish that points to the fact that there is something radically wrong.

Mohan Sriyantha Ariyawanshaa freelance journalist

3333

uQo ;snqK;a tlhs'Wkao,gke;;a tlhs'uy uQfoa ud¿ ke;ehs lshk l:dj óg wjqreÿ úiailg ;sylg

l,ska ljqre yß lsõj kx tal yßu úys¿jla fjkak ;snqKd'

uy uQfoa ud¿ keyehs lshkafka uy fmdf<dj mef,k fndrejla

fjkak;a bv ;snqKd' ta;a W;=re kef.kysr lÈrfõ,s fjrf<§;a

fmßh l,mqfõ§;a ol=Kq È. .d¨ fjrf< jf.au r;a.u

l,mqfj§;a ëjrhka yuqfjñka .; lrmq myq.sh ld,jljdkqfõ§

ud weiq tlu l:dj" Th lshmq ldrKh u ;uhs'

—biair uQÿ fjr<g .sh;a fmdlsßiafida w;ska w,a,f.k tkak

mq¿jka' ta;a wo fjrf< fkdfjhs fjr< whsfka iq¿ mkafkg uQÿ

riaidj lrk lsisu flfkl=g remsh,a iShlaj;a fydhd .kak

;rfï ud¿ wyqfjkafka kE' .eUqre uQogu hkafkdafka'˜ tfyu

lSfõ fõ,dhqoka" lÈrfõ,s uQÿ ;SrfhaÈ'

—wo fjkfldg yeu ;eklu jf.a l,mq álhs l,mqj,g .,d

f.k hk we<j¨hs úkdYfj,d wyjrhs' oeka Th uQfo bkak ud¿

megõ Wk;a lEu fydhdf.k tkafkdafka l,mqjg' Wka yeÈ,d

jeä,d f,dl= uy;a fjkafka l,mqj,§' oeka fï l,mqfõ fudah

lg wyqr,d' uQfoa ud¿kag tkak nE' l,mqfõ j;=r m,afj,d'

tl ojig mKyla iShla ;rï .Kkla ud¿ ueß, mdfjkjd'

m<d;u ms,S .|hs' l,mqjg .,d tk we<j,aj, ;sfhkafka lDñ

kdYl úi' wo l,mq ëjrfhda uq¿ ojfiu uykaisfj,d ud¿

w,a,,;a wka;sug remsh,a iShlg jvd .kafka kE' ta;a biair

fï jf.a fkfjhs wyqfjkak .;a;u fõlald ud¿ lsf,da yh y;

tl mdrlg wyqfjkjd' wksl biafida wyqfjk ldf,g ojfia

wdodhu remsh,a ydr mkaody;a mkskjd' ta;a wo fï ñksiaiq .u w;a

wer,d .sysx' l=,S riaidj,a fydhdf.k'˜ r;a.u l,mqfõ fla' fla'

mshr;akhs wm yuqfõ tfia mejiqfõ'

—wms mqxÑ ldf,a lshmq jf.au wymq fohla ;uhs uy id.f¾ r;a

fjkak kx brj,a y;laj;a mdhkak fjhs lsh<d' ta;a wo brj,a

y;l riakh ksidfoda id.r c,h;a we,a ueß,d' tod kslx oe,

t¨j;a wyqfjk iuyr ud¿ wo fldfydu oe,a oeïu;a wyq

fjkafka kE' fg%da,¾ j,ska weof.k hk oe,a j,g ud¿ ìï

leä,d úisfj,d hkjd' fldr,a mr lefvkjd' uQfoa jefjk

fldhs;rï kï me,Eá cd;s Th oe,a j,ska úkdi fjkjo@ b;sx

fldfyduo br wõfõ riafk uyd id.f¾ Wrd .kafka' j;=r

mefykjd' mefykak .;a;u ud¿ ú;rla fkfjhs bkak ;rx

i;a;= cd;s;a uefrkjd' wka;sug uQo;a uefrkjd'˜

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—uQfo j;=r ¨Kq ryhs lshk ldrfKa fmdä tldf. b|<u okak

fohlafka' yenehs b;ska Th ¨Kq rfi;a ;sfhkjd tl úÈyla'

kuq;a wo kx uQÿ j;=fr ¨Kq .;sh ;snqKg jvd jeähs' tal

f;afrkjd' iuyr ud¨ ìïj, ud¿ wvqfjkjd' me,Eá j¾.

uefrkjd' Th úÈyg uy uQfoa fyd¢ka ud¨ wyqjqkq ;eka wo

md¨jg .sysx' we;a;u l:dj fïlhs' fï uQÿ riaidj bia;srhla

we;sj lrkak weyela fjk tlla kE ;j biairyg' fï lreKq

ldrKd udfig ierhla jf.a tk ëjr mÍlaIlg wms b;sx

lshkjd' jevla kE' thd okafka nÿ uqo,a if;ag .Kka n,kak

ú;rhs' uQo ;snqK;a tlhs Wkaoe,g ke;;a tlhs'˜

ëjr ñksiaiq lshk fï id.r c,fha ¨Kq .;sh jeäùu we;a;gu

isoaO fjkjo lshk ielh Tiafia uu;a ld,hlau ¨yq nekaod'

n,df.k hk fldg l:dj we;a;' talg fya;=fj,d ;sfhkafka

f.dvìu we;s jk jeiau úkdY lsÍu' ta wdldrfhka jkdka;r

lmd fy,k .dfka uy fmdf,dj uy jeis j,g ksrdjrKh

fjkjd' jeis Èh uy fmdf<dj fidaod f.k weú;a .xÕd we< fod<

j,g;a" tajdhska id.rhg;a tl;= fjkjd' fï l%shdj,sh ksid uy

fmd<fõ ;sìh hq;= Lksc ,jK fndfyduhla id.r c,h iu.

uqiq ù id.r c,fha wêl ,jK idkaø;djhla we;s lrkjd' th

id.rfha meje;aug wys;lrhs' wks;a ldrfKa ta Lksc ,jK uy

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kef.kysr úYaj úoHd,fha Wml=,m;sjrhl= jYfhkao lghq;= l<

uydpd¾h wre,a m%.diï óg l,lg by;§ uy id.rfha uiqka

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yuqjqKd' wfma ëjr ñksiqka w;aoelSï uq,a lrf.k lS ta l:d Tyq

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úfYaI;ajh'

Tyqg wkqj uyd id.rh uy fmdf<dj;a iuÕ wmQre .kqfokqjla

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th ye¢kafjk w;r ta wkqj id.rh tla j¾IhlÈ jdhqf.da,fha

we;s ldnkavfhdlaihsâ jdhqj fgdka ñ,shk 385 la Wrd .kakjd'

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ñys;,h WKqiqï lrk ldnkavfhdlaihsâ iEu wjqreoaola .dfkau

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jYfhka fkfjhs mj;skafka' tys wksjd¾h m%;sM,h ;uhs id.rh;a

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m%idrKh ùu lsh,;a y÷kd.kak mq¿jka' fï wdldrfhka

wêl riakh ksid m%idrKh fjk id.r c,l| m%udKfhkao

jeäfjkjd' yenehs fï foa isoaO fjkafka ysul÷ Èhùhdfuka

.,d tk c,h g wu;rjhs' tfyu n,kfldg id.r c, uÜgu

by<hdu wrnhd wo t<sorõ fldg we;s .Kkh lsÍï ;j ÿrg;a

jeäfjkak ;sfhk bvlv jeähs'

wks;a fjki ;uhs fï wdldrfhka r;afjk id.r c,l| ksid

id.r m%jdyj, .uka ud¾. fjkia ùug we;s bv m%ia:dj' fï

lshk id.r m%jdy ;uhs ma,jdx. wdÈ uiqkaf.a wdydr ;ekska

;ekg f.k hkafka' ta wdldrhg wdydr wefok l,dmj, ;uhs

u;aiHfhda;a nyq,j .ejfikafka' tajf.au id.rjdis u;aiHhka

ish .uka rgdj ilia lr.kafka;a fï id.r m%jdyj, .uka

ud¾. j,g wkqjhs' id.r c,fha WIaK;ajh jeäùu wr lshk

,o id.r m%jdyj, .uka rgdj fjkia lrk úg isoaO fjkafka

u;aiHhka fuf;la yeisreKq m%foaY o fjkia fjk tlhs' fï

wkqj id.r c,fha by< hk ;dmh ksid fjkia fjk id.r

m%jdy j,g wkqj u;aiHhkaf.a .uka rgdj;a fjkia jk nj

meyeÈ,shs' ta ksid ld,hla ;siafia nyq,j olakg ,enqK uiqka wo

ta m%foaYj, olskakg keyehs lshk l:dfõ f;areula ;sfhkjd'

wks;a w;ska ma,jdx. wdÈ u;aiH wdydr;a wr wdldrfhka id.r

m%jdy j, .uka ud¾. fjkia ùu ksid l,la uiqkaf.a wdydr

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túg wksjd¾hfhkau isoaO fjk foa ;uhs fuf;la ta l,dm j,

isá uiqka ta ta m%foaY w;yer wdydr we;s ìï lrd ixl%uKh ùu'

fï lshk ldrKh ëjrhka jQ ñksiqkaghs blaukskau oefkkafka'

ta ksid ;uhs Tjqka ta .ek jeämqr l:d lrkafka' ta;a Tjqkaf.a

ta l:d f;areï.kak iu;a jqjukdjla we;s wdh;ksl jHqyhla

Tjqka fjkqfjka kE' ëjr wud;HdxYh lghq;= lrkafka by,ska

tk ksfhda.j,g ñila my,skau isák Tjqka j Ôj;a lrk fï

ëjr ñksiqkaf.a b,a,Sï wkqj fkdfõ' wksla ldrKh ;uhs ëjr

wud;HdxYh wog;a lsis oekqj;alulska f;drjhs bkafka" id.rh

WKqiqï ùu lshk nrm;, idOlh .ek' ta fudlo Tjqka l;d

lrkafka;a f.da,Sh WKqiqu .ek ú;rhs'

ëjr jdähl jdäf.k ud¿ fm;a;la lvd f.k n;a m; lk

.uka ta ñksiaiq lshk l:d j, f;areu" wo fï f,iska uu

wdydrhg .ksñka isákafka f,dalfha wjidk u;aiH fNdackho

lshk tlhs' yenehs" tfyukx ta f;areu yßu Nhdklhs'

fudydka Y%shka; wdßhjxY

iajdëk udOHfõ§

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Cross section of the people in the island from all walks of life feel that there is some sort of a change in the wind pattern, rain and temperature.

In Anuradhapura the tank bunds were breached, paddy lands, houses and offices and schools were under water, disrupting the day to day activities. Our ancestors in the past did not have such problems as they built their houses on the sides of the tank and not in the areas where the tanks were overflowing said Elangasinghe, a farmer from Maminiyagama in Anuradhapura.

C.P. Harischandran, a fisherman from Batticaloa feels that the wind direction has changed. This has impacted on the availability of fish in the sea around the island and affected the fishery industry.

Chena cultivators clear their land and do land preparational activities in August and September, to start cultivating expecting the rains in October. But now chena cultivation is faced with a difficulty as the rainfall pattern has changed, says a chena cultivating farmer Premadasa, from Ampara district.

My father was a farmer and we could get the harvest without any disturbance from rain. During that time we never experienced any rain when we were harvesting, recalled Amara Herath from Moneragala.

PARISARA YUDDAYAKFind the AUDIO CLIP

Produced by Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake (Lak FM - a Sinhala Radio Station) on PAGE 51 to get the full story.

WHEN NATURE DECIDES TO WAGE WAR

CD 03CD IN PAGE 55

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CLIMATIC CHAOS aND

VANISHING POTATOESThere are no cascading waterfalls among the dark green hills; nor any glittering stream carry crystal cold water. Much of the beautiful harmony of nature has been carried away with time; however, it was not so even during dry seasons two or three decades ago. But now there was only the hum of some hundreds of water pumps echoing among the hills; the misty dark greenery of yesteryear replaced with hundreds of brown coloured terraced vegetables fields, one upon the other on the steep hills.

This is Nuwara Eliya, the country's famous cool capital, known as Little England, and also the country's potato capital (since the country's best potatoes are produced here). In a few decades, the crop will be doomed as the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya is getting hot! Future generations would not be so fortunate as to taste crunchy Nuwara Eliya potatoes! TEMPERATURE GAP Of course, Nuwara Eliya is getting hot, everyone feels it; residents, visitors and so do the scientists. According to the Meteorological Department statistics, each passing year the minimum night time temperature in Nuwara Eliya increases by 0.025 degrees and the temperature in Nuwara Eliya will increase by 2.5 degrees during the next century. "By then, potatoes cannot be grown in Sri Lanka," said

Dr. Punyawardane, Head, Agro-Climatology Unit, Agricultural Department, Kandy.

"You can grow potatoes in Kandy, but without any tubers it would be just an ornamental plant here," he commented. He explained that there should be a difference of eight degrees between the day time maximum and the night time minimum temperatures to

grow potatoes and it is less than eight in Kandy; however, it is around ten in Nuwara Eliya, he said. "The more the difference the better the potatoes," he said.

He said that the temperature gap is gradually narrowing down in Nuwara Eliya at an alarming rate of 0.025 degrees per year. "As a result the potatoes would be smaller, number of potatoes per plant would be less and they would not be crispy," he noted.

"The reduction in the yield could be partially due to the increase in the temperature," expressed Dr. Punyawardane, due to this significant annual increment in the temperature, which is the highest in the country. He added that the high soil erosion and poor quality seeds contributed to drastically reduce the yield. The crop was first introduced in the country in the 1950s and the harvest then had been twentyfold to what it is now, he said.

DOWNPOUR AND HIGHER TEMPERATURE Palitha Wijethunga (41), Vijayabhapura, Kandapola, who cultivated around one acre of potatoes for 20 years also has evidence that the climate in Nuwara Eliya, has

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changed. "North-East monsoons may come 1-2 months early or late." He recollected that the continuous showers of the monsoon had been replaced by heavy downpour for a few hours and longer consecutive dry periods. "Now it's changed. Sometimes it would rain for a week and sometimes not at all and there would be sudden downpours which would destroy cultivation," he explained how the weather in the highlands had changed. "We have not had a proper rainy season since mid December last year. "He pointed out that the temperature in Nuwara Eliya too had gone up. January and February which are supposed to be the coldest months of the year, were not cold as before. "Look, now people do not wear warm clothes. I am wearing just a shirt," he elaborated.

POOR YIELD Along with the changes in the climate, the crop yield too has come down. "Definitely, there is a reduction in the yield," however, he said that there were some other contributory factors, such as the use of poor quality seed potatoes that affected the yield. "The more the rain, more are the diseases that attack the potato cultivation."

D.M.S. Sunil of Lady McCullum Drive, Nuwara Eliya said if the climate is good he could fetch a good harvest of 500kg of potatoes from 50kg of seed potatoes. Usually, the average amount was around 300-400kg. Drought is worse than 5-6 years ago and the yield is poor. Rain is less, but there is a lot of "Akal Wehi," untimely rains which are not expected that would erode fertile top soil and destroy vegetable plants.

Nuwara Eliya is a mountainous terrain, therefore, growers level the steep slopes for cultivation; these are narrow bed upon bed as you see it from a distance. These terraced fields are quite vulnerable to heavy rains. A kilogram of potato was sold at Rs. 60 over 15 years ago, when a kilogram of rice was just around 10-20 rupees. Now a kilo of rice and potatoes are sold at Rs. 60. He said that Indian Potatoes are now available in the heart of country's potato production districts for the first time as far as he remembers. "People do buy them because they are cheaper."

MAHAWELI PROJECT He pointed out that drastic consequence of the climate change that occurs in the Nuwara Eliya area, which is an important water shed of the Mahaweli river, the country's longest river, key to the electricity generation and the agriculture in the dry zone. "One of the reasons for the implementation of the Mahaweli Project was that the river carried a substantial amount of water even during a drought. But there was only a little water in the reservoirs downstream as virtually thousand water pumps sprayed water out of streams that fed the river and vaporized it into the cold dry air.

Not a single stream carried water downstream during the dry season.There was a dearth of water in areas such as Welimada and Kotmale which lie below Nuwara Eliya.

No wonder the reservoirs downstream lack water, he explained. He believed that ideally the potato cultivation should be stopped in Nuwara Eliya. If one is concerned of the country's future, the country would conserve its vital life blood. After all, the cultivation has not contributed much to the development of the area, and only a few would lose their livelihood.

SEVERE DROUGHT P.A. Appuhamy Senarathne (72) of Magoda, Ruwaneliya, said the unbearable cold when he first settled in 1972 has considerably changed and that now he manages with just a shirt. P. A. Appuhamy Senarathne fears prolonged drought.

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"When I was young I had to put on a number of clothes. People just left land granted by the government because it was so cold. This year we had ground frost even in December, which we usually have in January-February and the dry period is longer than usual and from last December we did not have rain. The wells were dry and people did not have water even for drinking. This could be the first time that wells ran dry. We never had such a drought before. Nuwara Eliya water was crystal clear, we used to drink water from streams, but these are now polluted," he recollected.

He too agrees that the potato yield is poor due to a number of reasons; that seeds are of poor quality, poor soil which is not fertile because of decades of erosion.

Also the higher cost of fertiliser makes people use less fertilizer. He also alleged that the agricultural officers never visited their cultivations. Would climate change and global warming, change the future of potatoes in Sri Lanka?

Wasantha Ramanayake, a free lance writer with Daily News and Sunday ObserverThis article was written under the aegis of CSE Media Fellowships, and was published in Sunday Observer on 17th May 2009

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SAVING RAMBUTAN TREESApple and snow are inseparable, in a way like a couple. When snow disappears for good, the other could only weep because it could no longer bear fruits of their love. `Weeping Apple Tree,' tells a true story of the shifting apple growing belt in the Himachal Pradesh, India, in the BBC series `Climate, Change and Untold Stories.'

The decaying single apple tree weeps in Bajaura village in the Kullu District, because it lost snow forever, as the globe is warming up and the climate is changing. Once, the village produced delicious apples for India and the neighbouring countries. With the passing time, the global warming deprived Bajaura of its white snow compelling the apple growers to switch to vegetables! This is a poignant story that director Vijay Jodha has captured in the documentary.

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WILL THIS STORY BE REPEATED WITH RAMBUTANS?

What if the rain misbehave and trees bearing yummy rambutans in Malwana would not fill their branches with red and yellow fruits during their proper season? Would rambutan growers desperately fell their rambutan trees to plant coconut and rubber again? Or something else? Probably, they would, in the years to come. "This shows how global warming and climate change affect our farmers and their angry response," notes Dr. B. V. R. Punyawardena, Head of the Climatology Division, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya. "That shows how dangerous the situation is. Farmers should not depend solely on rambutan. They should try some other crop under the rambutan trees," he suggests.

The rambutans, which have only one annual harvesting season, make their growers desperate when the crop fails due to unusual weather patterns. The growers in these areas patiently wait year after year hoping to see a flourishing yield, each passing year they become more distressed to being let down by the climate. "There has not been a proper rambutan season since 2004," growers in Malwana complained.

'RAIN SPOILING YIELD' Dr. Punyawardena explained that tree fruit crops such as rambutans, avocados, durians and mangoes need a critical dry period for flowering. Out of these, rambutan usually flowers during the traditional dry period of February and March. Just as traditions are challenged, this traditional dry period go unchallenged with emerging threats of the climate change?

"Traditionally we had this critical dry period in February. But during the last decade most of the time we did not have this at the proper time," says Dr. Punyawardena. "There is a classic example to show how the rain would tumble the yield," he adds, referring to the rainfall figures in February and March 2008, and its affect on the rambutan yield in the Pasyala area in the Western Province where the crop is mainly grown.

According to the Agricultural Department statistics, the long term average rainfall, or the amount of rain traditionally the area used to receive for thirty years or more, in the month of February is 131 mm. It had been zero in February 2007, and was 248.5 mm in February 2008, roughly double the amount of rain the area received traditionally.

The long term average rainy days in February are five, but there were none in February 2007; whereas, in February 2008 there had been ten rainy days, twice as many days as the area usually gets in February.

"Although February 2007 received no rain, it did not affect the yield, but in February 2008, it was too much and it really affected the yield," he commented.

The scenario was similar in March 2008. According to the same source, the long term average rainfall in March is 228.9 mm (in March 2007, it was slightly more, 244.8 mm). Whereas 424.8 mm had been received during March, 2008. The average number of rainy days in March is eight (however, there had been only six

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rainy days in March, 2007). It was significant to note that there were 22 rainy days, nearly thrice the average, received in March 2008.

The rainfall figures well demonstrate that during the particular period in 2008, these areas had received twice as much as rainfall, the areas usually get, drastically reducing the rambutan yield, he explained.

According to department statistics, rambutan trees in some areas did not flower at all, in Urapola area in the Western Province not a single rambutan tree bore flowers.In Ellakkala area only 20% trees of the trees that flowered in 2007 bore flowers in 2008. But these 20% of trees only had half the amount of flowers which they used to bear.

Similarly, 72% trees did not flower, only 28% trees had flowered in Radhawana and the number of flowers had

Dr. B. V. R. Punyawardena, Head of the Climatology Division, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya.

been reduced by half. In Nittambuwa and Halpandeiya half the number of trees did not flower and the numbers of flowers were almost reduced by 50%. This shows that change in the rainfall pattern had hit the fruit crop hard," he said.

`AKALATA WEHI' It has been observed that there is an irregularity in the weather and uncertainty prevails as to whether the conventional dry period would come or not.

"This year we had the dry period but next year it might not come. Monsoon rain had become highly variable and we would not plan any thing. Simply, we would not get enough rain when it is necessary and get more rain when it is not necessary," he added. Although the country did not experience any significant increase or decrease in the total annual rainfall, the irregularity had increased.

Dr. Punyawardane said that the country really does not want rain during February which is the paddy harvesting time. Rain in February is bad for rambutan and the paddy harvest.

"We rarely had this phenomenon, earlier. When it did happen, our parents and grandparents used to call this `Akalata Wahinawa'. Now this is not rare any more but has become the norm. This unusual weather condition comes too often."

He agreed with growers' claim that there had not been a proper rambutan season after 2004.

SCIENTIfIC EVIDENCE The farmers who spend the whole day in the fields know best about the climate changes, says Senior Meteorologist K. H. M. S. Premalal. They would say that there is plenty of rain when it is not needed and drought when they badly need water. We analyze the dates and make our predictions. But farmers say that with their experience.

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But what scientific evidence is there to prove that climate is really changing in Sri Lanka? Stating that the majority of scientists believe that the changes in the climate are due to the global warming, he went on to explain that there are two major factors to show that the climate in the country is changing; the increasing temperature and the variability in the rainfall pattern.

The increasing temperature is evident from the increase of the country's night time temperature for the last century. The day time temperature increase was slight, he pointed out. Decreasing trend in the number of cold days and cold nights and the increasing trend in the number of warmer days too point to the increase in the country's temperature, he noted.

`VARIABILITY IN RAINfALL' Premalal explained that the variability in the rainfall has a broader meaning; monsoonal or inter-monsoonal rains, would come earlier or delayed than usual. Last year's South-Western monsoon had been delayed for more than three weeks. It was also noteworthy that the Kandy including Victoria, Randenigala catchment areas did not receive any significant rainfall during the South-Western monsoon which usually brings heavy rain to the area."But Kandy did have a lot of rain in February, 2008, which is supposed to be a dry period, compensating the low rainfall during monsoon rains in June and July," he added.

The broader meaning of variability also includes the intensity of the rain received. "Nowadays we receive a month's rain just in the matter of a few hours, unlike earlier and longer consecutive dry spells in between two rains. During the last 40 years we find shorter dry spells earlier on. But after 1998 there are dry spells more than 100 days long.

"The established climate pattern would no longer be there. Whether the rain might come on time or not and at what intensity is hard to tell. And there will be longer dry spells which is not suitable for cultivation," he reiterated.

`POWDERLY MILDEW' The change in the weather pattern was to blame for the 'powderly mildew' fungal attack on the rambutan trees during this season, said Dr. M. S. Pradeepa Alahakoon, a Research Officer attached to the Kananwila Fruit Crops Research Institute, Horana.

"The season came unexpectedly. The rains stopped suddenly in mid December and then began the drought," she explained that the early dry period made the plants start flowering. "The farmers were not prepared; they had not pruned the trees and the surroundings had not been cleaned," she pointed out.

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She added that the sunlight destroy the fungus if the trees were pruned and surroundings kept clean. Most of the trees had been affected with the disease reducing the yield, growers complained.

The dry weather is ideal for the mildew fungus to thrive, although generally the fungal diseases are reduced during the dry period. She explained that most of the fungal diseases emerge basically during the dry period although they begin at the wet period. "The rambutan did not have any disease until the mildew was first identified five years before," she said.

The farmers claimed that there were some trees that have both flowers and unmatured fruits at the same time. This condition lessens the yield and such trees are prone to pests and fungal attacks. "If only we had some chemicals to flower the trees simultaneously," the growers lamented. They pointed out that there is only one natural trigger factor for rambutan to flower i.e., the dry period followed by rain or dew, they said. Dr. Alahakoon, too is agreeable that perhaps growers should have to use chemicals to stimulate the flowering artificially. "Then it would stress all the trees equally,

and this would give fruits simultaneously." She also said though that some research was carried out, but no recommendations have been made yet.

"We might have to go for such options if this weather pattern continue to be unsystematic," she emphasized. Countries such as Thailand and Malaysia use this method to stimulate flower-bud initiation.

She was of the view that the use of artificial stimulants would be an adaptation method that could probably save the rambutan trees of Malwana and the growers of their livelihood from the grip of climate change.

Snow melted away for good, leaving the decaying apple tree weeping; the nature's bond of climate and the living beings have been broken and the villagers in Bajaura in Himachal Pradesh lost their livelihood as well as apples. So are the rambutan growers of Malwana facing the inevitabilities of global warming and climate change? Should not the authorities intervene before growers would loose interest for this fruit tree?

Wasantha Ramanayake This article was written under the aegis of CSE Media Fellowships and published in the Sunday Observer of 10th May 2009

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fINDINGSolution

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Is reviving our traditional cultivationpractices the way out of climate change?“Those days we farmed at the correct time. Therefore we did not face any problems from floods and droughts. We had a good sense of when the rainy seasons and the drought seasons were. At present, we have no faith on the weather situation. In fact there were floods during the last Yala season as well as the Maha season which affected our vegetable cultivation.

Now, we import vegetable seeds from Malaysia and Thailand. These seeds are not suitable for long term cultivation. They are good for short term cultivation. Agrochemicals and fertilizers are essential to grow them. Too much rain as well as extreme sun shine will bring plant diseases. Drying seeds and replanting cannot be done continuously. The first generation seeds will give a good harvest and then gradually it comes down. As a result of that, it has become necessary to buy fresh seeds within short periods.

Today, a single seed of snake gourd or ridge gourd will cost about Rs. 3 to 4 each. Considering this fact, to make a vegetable espalier the estimate is over Rs. 100 thousand. However, one night of heavy rainfall is sufficient to destroy the entire cultivation. Ultimately we are left without an income”.

Mr. H. A. Premadasa Perera is a vegetable farmer in the Mulleriyawa Tank area. He says he is aware that there is a change in the climate. He also states that local seeds are suitable for the existing climate and the imported seeds are not suitable for the current climatic changes.

There will be changes in the climate pattern of the world from time to time. That is the nature of environment across the globe. However, we should not just ignore this situation assuming that climatic change is natural and beyond our control. The current climatic change has affected all the industries including the agricultural industry very badly.

There are many reasons for cultivation losses. Global warming had been very high due to the severe drought, sufficient water had not been provided for cultivation and humidity of the soil due to the flood as a result of heavy rains. Current climate change situation affects the Sri Lankan farmers severely, from time to time. As a result of that, local agricultural products as well as economical situation of the farming community has declined.

At present, improved seeds or hybrid seeds are used in Sri Lanka. However, it is understood that the traditional seeds used for traditional cultivation were appropriate for any kind of climatic change. It is our normal practice to find solutions when there is a disaster. It is hightime that there is a shift from this. What is needed is to be

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prepared for the changes happening. Crops that are able to face climatic changes should be selected. In order to overcome this situation, traditional farmer communities believe that traditional crops are the best selection.

Mr. Hemantha Abegunawardene, National Programme Coordinator of the Farmer Federation for the Conservation of Traditional Seeds and Agri-Resources speaking to us described how agricultural seeds are selected by the farmers in order to face the climatic changes.

“Mainly, improved seeds and hybrid seeds are used for cultivation. The first generation F1 of the hybrid seeds gives a high yield. But, this is under the condition of an optimum environmental situation. It is difficult to obtain such a good harvest from the second generation of these seeds. The expected harvest cannot be obtained even in the first generation if the optimum environmental situation is not functioning properly. Under such a situation, new features can be seen. We did not expect such features in the first generation of the products. Considering these facts, farmers complain that these hybrid seeds are not suitable for this country.

Conditions of the traditional seeds are quite different. These seeds can be used in different environmental systems, soil regions and climatic patterns. Through the ‘natural selection’ process, suitable things are kept within the environment and unsuitable things are discarded from the environment. Only the most suitable seeds will be selected for cultivation, selected seeds are suitable for any kind of climatic changes. Farmers call these seeds ‘traditional crops’ and they prefer to cultivate them. They may give a lesser harvest each year, but they can give a consistent harvest for a long term. Economically it is useful. By using these kinds of seeds, farmers do not have to bear losses (except in very severe flood or drought situations).

The Department of Agriculture introduces different kinds of improved seeds very often. The F1 generation seeds are not distributed among farmers. Very often they are

given seeds belonging to the F7 generation. These kinds of seeds are not as good as traditional seeds, but they are suitable for environmental situations.

These seeds are appropriate to be used during environmental changes up to some extent. They are better than hybrid seeds. Traditional farmers have a good understanding about this. Most of the farmers prefer to buy these seeds. This is a good opportunity to popularise our traditional crops again. We have many kinds of paddy seeds which will be fit for climatic changes. Pokkali, Kalu Heenaty, Madathawalu, Kurulu thuda and Rath dal are some of the traditional paddy seeds which will be suited for saline paddy fields. Numbers of paddy fields have been abandoned due to the drought situation in the dry zone during the Yala season and difficulty of obtaining water through irrigation methods. Traditional paddy seeds were used in the past even under such a dry climatic situation.

Harvesting can be done within 60 to 70 days by cultivating a kind of paddy called Hetada Vee. Varieties of paddy called Batudal, Rathdal, and Elvee are fit for cultivation under drought situations. Kuru hondarawaalu and Mavee can be used even under a flood situation. Likewise, there are a number of traditional paddy seeds which are suitable to particular areas. Also, the traditional farmers have various inland vegetable and fruits seeds which will be suitable for cultivation in the respective areas.

Considering these facts, it is a timely requirement to train the farmer communities in Sri Lanka to use the knowledge of the traditional farmers as well as the latest technologies so that they become well equipped to face this situation," concluded Hemantha Abeygunewardane.

Thakshalee Hapuarachchi, a journalist at Wijeya (a childrens weekly newspaper)

4747

biair wms j.dl< fnda.

kshÕhg Tfrd;a;= ÿkakd""

—f.dú;eka lghq;= j, kshef,kafka ksis ld,hghs'

tuksid .x j;=ßka" kshÕfhka ta yeá úm;la jqfha

keye'

jyskafk fldhs ldf,go" mdhkafka fldhs ldf,go lshd

wms okakjd' ta;a ±kakï tfyu úYajdihla keye'

myq.sh uy lkafk;a" h, lkafk;a .xj;=ßka t<j¿

fldgq hgfj,d .shd'

±ka wms j.d lrkafka uef,aishdfjka" ;dhs,ka;fhka

f.kajk t<j¿ îc wiajekak jeä jqK;a jeäl,a

M,odj fk<kak neye' fmdfydr fí;a" j;=r ke;=j tajd

yefokafka keye' jeiai jeä jqK;a tajdg f,v" mEú,a,

ierkï ta;a f,v" îc mdiaid .;a;;a tajdfha fojeks

mrïmrdfõ îc j,ska m<uq mrïmrdfõ ;rï ire wiajkq

.kak neye' ta ksid kej; îc áka ñ,§ .kak fjkjd'

mf;da, weghla" jegfld¿ weghla remsh,a ;=kla"

y;rla muK fjkjd' ta ksid t<j¿ mkao,ï fldgqjlg

remsh,a ,CIhlg tyd úhoï lrkjd'

tfyu uykais fj,d úhoï lrk j.dj tl jeiaila

jeye,d tl /hska j;=ßka hgfjk fldg wmsg b;=re

fjkafk fõokdjhs weÕm; f;fyÜgqjhs ú;rhs'˜

tÉ' ta' fm%auodi fmf¾rd uy;d uq,af,aßhdj jej

m%foaYfha" t<j¿ j.d lrk f.dú uyf;ls' foaY.=Kfha

fjkila isÿj we;s nj Tjqka okakd nj;a" foaYSh îc

tu ;;ajhkag Tfrd;a;= fok nj;a" wdkhksl îc fuu

foaY.=Ksl úm¾hdihkag Tfrd;a;= fkdfok nj;a Tyq

lshhs'

l,ska l,g f,dal foaY.=K rgdjo fjkia fjhs' th

iajNdúl ;;a;ajhls' kuq;a uE; ld,Skj f,dal foaY.=Kfha

we;sj ;sfnk fjkiaùï iajNdúl ;;a;ajhka hehs

,>qfldg ;elSug kqmq¿jk' flfia fj;;a wfkl=;a iEu

fCIa;%hlgu fukau lDIsld¾ñl fCIa;%hg o fï

we;sj ;sfnk foaY.=K úm¾hdihkays n,mEu

;Èka ±fka'

±ä kshÕh fya;=fjka mßir WIaK;ajh by<

hdu yd j.djg wjYH c,h m%udKj;a mßÈ

fkd,eîhdu ksid j.d ydks fõ' tfukau wêl

47

48

j¾Idm;kh fya;=fjka .xj;=r ;;a;ajhka we;s ùfuka

fukau mfia f;;ukh jeä ùfuka o j.d md¿ fjhs'

j;auka foaY.=K úm¾hdi yuqfõ jßkajr fujeks Wjÿre

;;a;ajhkag uqyqK mEug furg f.dú ck;djg o isÿj

;sfí' fï fya;=fjka foaYSh wdydr ksIamdokh fukau

f.dú;ekska hefmk ckhdf.a wd¾Ól ;;a;ajho lvd

jeãug ,la ù ;sfí'

j¾;udkfha Y%S ,xldfõ Ndú;hg .efkkafka jeä ÈhqKqq

l< îc fyda fouqyqï îchs' kuq;a furg idïm%odhsl

f.dú;efka § Ndú;hg .ekqKq idïm%odhsl îc j¾.

foaY.=K úm¾hdihkag Tfrd;a;= ÿka nj meyeÈ,sjk

lreKls' iEu úgu Wjÿßka wdmodjg ,la fjkq fjkqjg

Bg uqyqK Èh yels whqßka yev .eiSu jvd;a ldf,daÑ;h'

tneúka foaY.=K úm¾hdi yuqfõ Bg WÑ; wdldrfha

fnda. j.djla isÿ l< hq;=h' idïm%odhsl fnda. Bg id¾:l

úi÷ula nj furg idïm%odhsl f.dú ckhdf.a u;hhs'

furg f.dú ckhdf.a" j.d lghq;= i|yd fhdod .efkk

îc j¾. foaY.=K úm¾hdihkag flfia Tfrd;a;= fokafka

o hkak ms<sn|j foaYSh ìc yd lDIs iïm;a iq/lSfï f.dú

iïfï,kfha cd;sl jevigyka iïnkaëldrl" fyauka;

wfí.=Kj¾Ok uy;d woyia ±lajQfha fufiah'

wo nyq,j Ndú;hg .efkkafka jeä ÈhqKq l< îc j¾. yd

fouqyqï îc j¾.hs' fouqyqï (Hybrid) îc j, F1 mrïmrdj

by< wiajkq fokjd' yenehs ta m%Yia; mßir ;;a;aj

hgf;a§ muKhs' tu îc j, fojeks mrïmrdfjka tjeks

wiajkq fk<Su wiSrehs' ta mrïmrdjg F1 jqj;a m%Yia;

mßir ;;a;aj fkd,enqfKd;a wfmaCIs; wiajkq ,nd .ekSug

yelsfjkafka keye' túg tu mrïmrdj i;= wm wfmaCId

fkdl< ,laIK u;=fjkjd' fï ksihs isoaO fjñka

mj;sk foaY.=K úm¾hdi yuqfõ fï fouqyqï îc Tfrd;a;=

fkdfok njg f.dùka ueisú,s k.kafka'

kuq;a mdrïmßl îc j, ;;a;ajh Bg fjkia' ta ta mßir

moaO;s j,g" mdxY= l,dmhkg" foaY.=Ksl rgdjg Tfrd;a;=

fok wdldrhg fï îc yev .eis,d ;sfhkafka' ^iajNdúl

jrKh kï úfYaI l%shdj,sh u.ska WÑ;hka muKla

mßirfha r|jd f.k kQÑ;hka mßirfhka bj;a lrhs& fï

ls%hdj,sfha § ld,dka;rhla ;siafia mßir úm¾hdihkag

Tfrd;a;= foñka Bg WÑ; wdldrhg yev.eiqKq tu

;;a;ajhkag id¾:lj uqyqK Èh yels fnda. muKhs r|jd

.efkkafka' idïm%odhsl îc f,i f.dú ckhd tu îc

j¾.hs j.d lrkafka'

tu ksid foaY.=Kfha isÿjk hï hï iq¿ fjkia ùï j,g

mjd Tfrd;a;= §fï yelshdj fï idïm%odhsl îc j,g

;sfnkjd' wvq wiajekakla ,nd ÿkak;a fï îc j,ska È.=

ld,hla wiajkq fk,Sug mq¿jka' th wd¾Ól jYfhka

M,odhs fjkjd' fï ksid nrm;, .xj;=r fyda kshx Wjÿrl

§ yer wfkla ;;a;ajhkays§ f.dú ckhdg ks;r ks;r mdvq

ú|.kak fjkafk keye' lDIsld¾ñl fomd¾;fïka;=fjka

fndfyda úg y÷kajd fokafka jeä ÈhqKq lrk ,o îc j¾.'

tys§ F1 mrïmrdfj îc f.dùkag ,nd fokafk keye'

fndfyda úg f.dùkag ,nd fokafka F7 mrïmrdjg wh;a

îc j¾.hs' fuu îc j¾. idïm%odhsl îc ;rug fkdjqk;a

hï ld,hla ;siafia mßir ;;a;ajhkag Tfrd;a;= foñka

yev.efikjd'

fï îc fouqyqï îc j¾.j,g jvd mßir fjkiaùï j,g

hï;dla ÿrg Tfrd;a;= fokjd' idïm%odhsl f.dú ckhdg

fï ms<n|j wjfndaOhla ;sfhkjd' kuq;a b;d iq¿ msßila

wereKq úg fndfyda fokd îc ñ,§ .ekSug fm<ö isákjd'

fï fj,dfj wfmka ÿria jqKq idïm%odhsl fnda. j¾.

kej;;a ck;dj w;r m%p,s; lsÍu b;d jeo.;a mshjrla'

foaY.=K úm¾hdi j,g Tfrd;a;= fok ù m%fNao /ila wm

i;=hs' fmdlald,s" l¿ ySkeá" uv;jd¨" l=re¨ ;=v" r;a

±,a jeks ú j¾. ,jKdêl l=Uqre j,g Tfrd;a;= fok

idïm%odhsl ù j¾.' B<Õg h,a lkakfha úh<s l,dmhg

n,mdk kshx ;;ajh ksid;a" jdß ud¾. l%u Tiafia c,h

,nd .ekSug fkdyels ùu ksid;a l=Uqre /ila w;ayefrkjd'

ta;a tjeks úh,s ld,.=Ksl ;;a;ajhla hgf;a mjd j.d l<

yels ù îc idïm%odhsl ù f.dú;efka § Ndú;hg .;a;d'

yegod ù Èk 60 - 70 w;r wiajkq fk,kak mq¿jka' ta

jdf.au ngq±,a" r;a±,a" we,a ù j¾. kshx ;;a;ajhkag

Tfrd;a;= fokjd' l=re fydvrjd,q" udù .x j;=r ;;a;ajhka

ys mjd j.d md¿jg ,lafjkafka keye' fujeks ta ta

m%foaYj,g Tfrd;a;= fok idïm%odhsl ù îc rdYshla

;sfhkjd' fï wdldrfhkau ta ta m%foaYj, mßir

;;ajhkag .e,fmk foaYSh t<j¿" m<;=re wd§ îc

idïm%odhsl f.dú ck;dj i;=hs'tu ksid kj ;dCIKh;a"

idïm%odhsl f.dú ckhdf.a {dkiïNdrh;a talrdYs

lrf.k" we;sj ;sfnk Wjÿre ;;ajhkag id¾:lj uqyqK

§ug furg f.dú ckhd mqyqKq lsÍu ld,Sk wjYH;djls'

;laI,S ymqwdrÉÑúch <ud mqj;am;g ,sms imhk f,aÅldjls'

4949

Lukshman Muthukuda, a diver and Sumedha Liyanage an underwater photographer, have seen changes happening with the ocean: many feet under water, and also in the ebb and flow of the tide. Global warming, melting of glaciers and changing weather patterns have impacted on the seascape too.

Now the shoreline has receded. The sudden unexpected rain has affected the lives and livelihoods of Lukshman and Sumedha. According to Lukshman during the off season for fishing activities the weather becomes rough and not suitable for diving and under water photography. The frequent rain also affects the water quality in the oceans. The water that flows to the sea after such rain contains a high percentage of particles. When such particles are diluted it changes the density of the sea water. Then it becomes difficult for a diver to see under water.

An under water photographer needs to consider three important factors: clear water, availability of light and good weather. But now it is not possible to have all these factors at the same time,” said Sumedha.

Oceans are the carbon sinks of the world. In order to make this process happen marine life needs to survive. Corals, sponge and sea anemones need photosynthesis process to survive.

Lukshman feels that it is important to teach the youger generations the importance of marine life so that they become aware of conserving the ocean as an important resource of nature.

"GUARDIANS Of THE SEA"Find the VIDEO

Produced by Sudarasha De Silva from Young Asia Television on PAGE 51 to get the full story.

CD 04CD IN PAGE 55

49

505050

WILL WE NOT GET TO SEE THE

(INDIGENOUS CATTLE VARIETY IN SRI LANKA) AGAIN?BATU HARAKAEighty four year old H.W Upananda from Matara, Thihagoda had been treating cattle diseases for some time. He says that the Batu Haraka which is a sturdy animal can neither be seen nor heard of in and around their part of the village. This was one animal that could withstand the changes in climate, and it is a pity it is not to be seen these days.

“My father used to treat cattle diseases. My knowledge of cattle and cattle diseases was acquired from him. Whatever it was, the 'batu haraka' was a strong and stout animal. Once in a way it would be afflicted with hoof-disease; but no other disease would ever affect it. At present, of course, there are various breeds of cattle, but it is difficult to define what breed they belong to.

It is quite sometime now since I gave up treating cattle diseases. Therefore I know precious little about their

pedigree. But the 'batu haraka' was a really sturdy creature. Even during extreme droughts when the earth cracked up to appear like a plate of milk rice (kiribath), the batu haraka would survive eating dried leaves. In those days parts of jak-fruit never rotted at the foot of jak trees. Pieces of jak-fruit were a delicacy for the Batu Haraka.

What's more – it could easily distinguish between what was poisonous and what was edible and tasty. It was an intelligent creature. It would roam all over the village and come back home along the same path before dusk fell. If for some reason it could not return home, then it would lie down under a tree and come home at the break of dawn. It was no stranger to the soil; and was indeed born of the soil.

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5151

But it would never remain still; it was always lively and roaming around, but not through stubbornness, it was just its way. It was never lazy like the present day imported breeds. Its bellowing could be heard a league away. It would shake its skin to get rid of ticks and flies that clung to its body. So it would not be helpless even in case it did not have a tail.

It was quite used to both sun and rain. It might get caught to the monsoon rains, but never caught a cold or fever. It never gave any trouble and it minded its own business without causing any trouble to others. All that the owner had to do was to bring a bale of grass on his way home from the field and drop it near the animal, which would keep munching it away. This was done as a habit. The female 'Batu haraka' would give birth to a calf every year, even during the drought. She gave milk throughout the year. Sometimes the kids drank milk directly off the cow in the days gone by. The boys playing and roaming the jungle would feel hungry. Then, when they saw the batu haraka with udders full of milk, they would approach her quietly. They would then quietly touch her head and caress her and drink milk off her. The cow would never do them any harm because she was a mother.

Those times were different. Unlike today, there were never floods after every rain. But it did flood occasionally causing a lot of inconvenience. If the present day cattle were caught in flood waters, they would be swept away with all four legs up. But the 'Batu haraka' was quite capable of braving the flood waters. It could swim very well. If there was no grass on this side of the river, it would swim to the other bank and swim back after grazing there. It could climb rocks like a deer in search of grass and was quite at

home on this earth. In addition, the dwarf – bullock was a pet animal too. Little children needed no other pet, when the cow gave birth to a calf. It would never bite like a dog, or scratch like a cat. It was a very harmless creature.

To have a bullock at home was a blessing. In those days people never had asthma. Breathing in the smell of cattle prevented breathing difficulties. Native doctors recommended the rearing of cattle in homes where people had breathing problems.

But these stories have little value today. I think not only they, but we too will not be there much longer."

Mohan Sriyantha Ariyawanshaa freelance journalist

51

525252

ngq yrldf.a l:djld,h;a iu. wmg wjg mßirh fld;rï fjkia ù we;a±hs

hkak b;d ir,j lshefjk l;djls fï' wm wjg isÿjk

fjkialï oyia .Kkla w;=ßka iuyr i;=ka j| ù hdu o

tlls' ud;r ;syf.dv mÈxÑ 84 úhe;s tÉ' ví,sõ' Wmkkao

uy;d ta ms<sn| WodyrKhla ;ukaf.au jpk j,ska bÈßm;a

lrk wdldrhhs fï'

Th lshk ngq yrla ±ka kx fï m<d;a j, olskak ;shd

wykakj;a kE' wfma ;d;a;d fyd| yrla fjfola'

Wka±f.ka ,enqK ±kqu ;uhs ug;a ;sfhkafka' fudkd

Wk;a ´ld yhsh y;a;sh we;s i;d' Th b;ska l=r f,vla

fndafj,d .sfhda;ska ñila bfyka nysk frda.hla ke;s

if;la' ±ka kx b;sx kdkd¾: j¾.fha yrla bkakjd' Wka

w; wer,d iEfyk ld,hla fjkjd' ta ksid ±ka bkak

i;a;=kaf.a meálsßhdj,a .ek ux okak fohla kE' yenehs

b;sx Th lshk i;df.a kx mK yhshhs' fmdf<dj lsßn;a

lmk bfvdarhla wdjd Wk;a —lr˜ fld< ld,d yß ´ld

Ôj;a fjkjd' wo jf.a fldia .ia m,af,a fldia jy¨

l=Kq Wkdo ta ldf,a' Th i;df.a leu;su wdydrhla ;uhs

fldia jy¨' wks;af;l b;sx jy fudkjo ry fudkjo

lshkak;a W! okakjd' yß {dkjka; i;d' .u jfÜg lrla

.y,d l=i mqfrdaf.k wdmyq jroao.kafka ke;=j .sh mdr

Èf.a u f.dïux fj,dj mkakkafk ke;=j .d,g tkjd'

fyd|hs tkak neß Wkhs lshuqflda' tfyu fj,djg .yla

hgg fj,d .d;a y;r wl=,f.k ,e.,d mdkaor br t<sh

fmd<jg md;a fjk ;=re b|,d fukak wereuelaflu

f.org tkjd' wksl b;sx W! fï fmd<j .ek fkdokak

tlla he' fï fmdf<dfju Wmka tldfka'

yenehs b;sx tl úohlg kx bkak nE' yßu l,n,ldrhd'

uqrKavqlulg fkdfõ' ta Wf.a yeá' Th ±ka bkak rg yrla

jf.a lïue,s kE' .õjla mkak,d wefykak lE .ykak

weyels' yu fyd,j,d lsks;=,af,da" ueiafid ìu odk

tldfka' ;j;a fudkjo j,sf. ke;s Wk;a mdvqjla ±fkhso

tfyu tfll=g'

wõj jeiai fyd|g yqre if;la ´ld' fudaiï jeis follg

f;uqK;a WK fyïìßiaidj yefokj lsh,he' tfyu kE'

wfka b;sx lsis lrorhla ke;s i;d' Wf.a mdvqfõ bkakjd'

Th b;sx l=Uqrg .sysx tk w;fr È ;Kfld< ñáhla

f.ke,a,d w;Eßhu tal lkjd' tal b;sx mqreoaog lrk

fohla' kshx ld,hlÈ Wk;a wjqreoaola .dfka meáfhla

jokak weyels tflla' wjqreoao mqrdu Wk;a nqre,af,

lsß ;sfhkjd' Th t< jeiaisf.a nqre,af,ka fld,af,da

l=reÜfgda;a lsß Wrd ìõjd ta ldf,a' le,E mek,d nv

.skaor wdju nqre,a, msreK jeiaishla ±lalhs lshuqflda'

Tkak fyñka ief¾ t;kg lsÜgq fjkjd' T¨jhs msg hs w;

.dkjd' ta tlalu nqre,a,g lg ;sh,d lsß fndkjd' uql=;a

lrkafk kE' wïud flfklafka'

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5353

wo jf.a fkfjhs jeiaila jeyemq .ux .x j;=r .,k

ld,hla tod ;snqfK kE' yenehs b;sx .x j;=rla wdfjd;a

kx lú fld,hla msfrkak lú ,shkak j;=r .,kjd'

kiame;a;shlau ;uhs' wo Th bkak yrla kx ;rul iev

mdrlg wyq jqfKd;a .idf.k hkafk ll=,a y;r Wv

;shdk' ta b;sx hkaku hkjd ;uhs' ta;a Th ngq yrld

j;=r;a tlal fmdr n¢kak yß iu¾:hs' Th i;dg fyd|g

mSkkak weyelshs' .fÕka fuyd lEu ke;akx .fÕa neye,d

tyd bjqrg .sysx lEu ld,d tk tflla' uqjd jf.a .,a Wvg

ke.,d;a ;Kfld< Wÿrka lkjd' W!g fï fmd<j fyd|g

yqrehs'

ta Tlafldu;a yß" fyd| yqr;,a i;d' <ud <mákag wdfh

fjk yqr;,hla ´k fjkafk kE' f.or jeiaisg meáfhla

,enqKyu' fudflda n,af,d jf.a ymd lkjhe' mQid jf.a

yQrkjhe' ta uql=;a kE yß wysxil i;d'

f.orl yrflla bkak tl yß isßhdjla" biair wfma

ñksiqka g Th —wÈk f,f☠;snqfK kE' Th yrla .|

;sfhkj fkao" ks;r ks;r ´l wdYajdi lrkjkx wÈkak

fjkafk kE' tfyu f,vla ;sfhkj kx f.or yrflla

we;s lrkakh lsh,d fjo Wkakefya mjd lshkjfka'

yenehs b;sx fïjd wo ldf,g jevla we;s l:d fkfjhs

ufh ysf;a' ta ldf,a ksid" wmsh lsh,;a b;sx ;j ál

fodyhs fkdje'

úkdi ldf,a úmß; nqoaê(

fudydka Y%shka; wdßhjxYiajdëk udOHfõÈfhl= jYfhka lghq;= lrhs'

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54

CONCLUDING REMARKSThe impact of climate change on human life, flora and fauna has been a topic of discussion and debate in the last two decades. Yet, in Sri Lanka these discussions remained largely as a topic for research among universities and NGOs. It is only now that it has emerged as a common concern.

The unexpected floods experienced due to continuous rain at the end of 2010 and beginning of this year (2011) had suddenly shifted climate change to a centre stage topic.

However, with flood waters receding, the focus on this has shifted to more immediate and obvious aspects such as attending to relief and rebuilding after floods. The kind of emphasis given to ensure preparedness mechanisms for the impact of such disasters are still inadequate according to communities who suffered huge losses from this disaster in the island.

There needs to be constant research and exchange of information about the impact of climate change on our lives. Sharing information on the impacts of climate change will be an eye opener to the general public and policy makers to adapt and cope with climate change.

This publication aimed to collate some stories by young journalists capturing the experiences of local communities in order for us to understand the nature and scale of the impact due to cimate change.In many of the stories communities from different parts of the island relate how climate change has affected their environment and lifestyles.

These articles were produced as part of a series of workshops held jointly by the Sri Lanka Press Institute and Practical Action. The group of contributors to this publication I believe have kept the issue of climate change alive in their articles and productions by capturing the experiences of local communities.

We hope this publication will encourage more journalists to explore further the impacts of climate change and the adaptive steps we Sri Lankans would take, to ensure that life can still continue despite these changes.

M.S.M. Ayub

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Practical Action (Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan Programme)

5, Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka.

T I +94 11 2829412 F I +94 11 2856188

E I srilanka@practicalaction.org.lk

W I www.janathakshana.net, www.practicalaction.org