In the Karadiyana natural wetlands

By Ifham Nizam

Fifteen Western Purple-faced Langurs have been trapped in the Karadiyana natural wetlands due to the ongoing destruction to its natural habitat by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLD), researchers pointed out.

In 2020, some 337 animals were brought to the wildlife rehabilitation and healthcare centre in Attidiya. However, 270 of them perished especially due to loss of habitat.

Adjoining a river, a mangrove associated marshland of about 17 acres of wetlands have been excavated to create islets without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by SLLD, the researchers claimed.

 At present, what is left of this valuable wetland area is only about five acres. Most of the endemic and other species that lived there have either declined or had completely disappeared, wildlife experts said.

“The SLLDC not only destroys the serene environment but also wastes large amount of public money to excavate these wetlands”, a researcher pointed out.

Environmentalists strongly believe that it is high time the government called for an investigation into this rape of biodiversity

Wetlands in and around Colombo are intrinsically connected with the well-being of the city and its people. Not only do they play an important role in flood control, air purification, temperature control, food and medicine, the sense of peace and calm that this natural world offers is key to the mental well-being of humans, it has been pointed out.

Wetlands have a unique and rich biodiversity. The wetlands in and around Colombo are home to over 150 species of birds, 44 species of reptiles and 31 species of freshwater fish.

The survival of the two types of blind eels and the Horadandiya, the smallest freshwater fish in Sri Lanka found only on the western strip depends on the proaqtection of these wetlands. Gradual destruction of the wetlands has already resulted in endangering the survival of blind eels, and the other species are also close to being listed as ‘endangered’.

Of the 22 mammals that inhabit the wetlands, the purple-faced langur (purple-faced leaf monkey) and the fishing cat are on the endangered list. The purple-faced languris are listed in the IUCN’s (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List as one of the 448 species of monkeys in the world, and is also in the list of the 25 monkey species that are in the critically endangered list, facing extinction.

Established to reclaim and develop marshy and low-lying areas among other functions, the SLLDC has systematically destroyed and continues to threaten the survival of the biodiversity of the wetlands by excavating to enlarge waterways and boundaries, build roads, uproot trees, and play around with the natural boundaries of the wetlands, which further destroy habitats of many other species, environmentalists asserted.