ROTARACT CLUB OF COLOMBO WEST TAKES INITIATIVE TO CLEAN UP BEACH
Do people think about flora and fauna and have a microscopic view of the environment around them? Following on these lines think for a while about water pollution too. The pollution of water takes place in several ways. Mainly this issue takes place due to questionable human activities. We can subcategorize them. Water pollution happens mainly due to urbanization and industrial and commercial activities.
When we have a microscopic view of marine pollution, according to a research conducted by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, an estimated 100 million kilograms of garbage is added to Sri Lanka’s coastal belt each year; of which 70% is mixed with the ocean. People must think deeply about how certain activities would affect marine creatures. This issue is considered as a massive problem.
Taking this into account ‘Rotaract Club of Colombo West’ along with the Rotaract Club of Colombo Heritage and Interact Club of Cambridge school of Colombo has organized a beach clean-up programme titled ‘Seabed Sweep’. The theme for the programme is “DIVE into action and Make WAVES of change with us”. For a starter they are going to initiate this programme on May 20 at Mt. Lavinia Beach.
When people consider the coral reefs, what quickly comes to our mind is the beauty added by this nature’s creation. But moreover this coral reef protects the coastline. Taking this point into consideration the Daily Mirror spoke to Marine Archaeologist at Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) of the Central Cultural Fund Rasika Muthucumarana. He added that there is a threat to the coral reefs especially from the fishing nets. “Coral reefs get damaged due to ghost nets, plastic and polythene. Also due to poor water quality some species die; not forgetting that some coral reefs get damaged,”explained Muthucumarana.
Further he referred to the water quality which co-relates with the coral reefs. “The water quality is a very important thing and if you look at the Hikkaduwa area there are lots of boats.
Glass bottom boats, fishing boats and diving boats roam around the coral reefs. In each boat engine there is kerosene and that gets added to the sea water. That is not good for coral reefs and in those places there are no new corals,” he warned.
Apart from that and by taking all these issues into consideration President of the Rotaract Club of Colombo West, Elon Newton, explained his intentions behind organizing this sea-bed clean up. “We as a prominent youth-led movement have taken our first step in setting things right and making a change that we hope would be a ripple effect to inspire the others around us”. Further the elected president of the Rotaract Club of Colombo West Santhamoorthy Balamoorthy stated “Our aim for this project is to clean up a part of our beautiful shoreline, but to educate one another. This is to further educate members of all clubs about the importance of supporting co-existence, by working together to build a sustainable practice among ourselves to keep the sea-bed clean and a friendly habitat for the growth and breeding of our marine life.”
President of the Rotaract Club of Colombo Heritage Buddhi Senadheera said, “Let us make time to protect the Ocean and its living beings so that we can make the world a better place.” President of the Interact Club of Cambridge School of Colombo, Riththika Rojeskumar has a positive intention of this, “Together we can make a greater difference to the lives of the sea habitats as well as all humankind.”
In conclusion the Rotaractor and Secretary of the Rotaract Colombo West, Trinesh Andradi said, “The seabed sweep is our call to action, a chance to reclaim the ocean floor and restore the balance to the marine ecosystem. We are proud to lead this effort and invite all those who share our passion for marine conservation and love of nature, join us in this initiative.”