Features

Kelani Ganga at a crossroads: Suranjan Karunaratne warns of an unfolding crisis

Published

7 months ago

2025/10/2

From the misty montane forests around Adam’s Peak, the Kelani Ganga tumbles down rocky headwaters, gathering tributaries before rolling past rubber estates, tea plantations, shanty towns and finally Sri Lanka’s bustling commercial capital. For centuries this 145-kilometre river has been the country’s lifeline, supplying water, fish, fertile soils and cultural meaning. Today it sustains more than six million people in the Colombo District alone.

But the river is in trouble.

Speaking to The Sunday Island, Environmental Scientist Suranjan Karunaratne of the Nature Exploration and Education Team, said; “The Kelani River has become one of the most heavily impacted river basins in Sri Lanka,” and Karunaratne has spent years documenting the basin’s ecology.

Karunaratne is not speaking off the cuff. He is co-author of a landmark review on the Kelani River published in Water (2020) with Thilina Surasinghe, Ravindra Kariyawasam and others — one of the few peer-reviewed papers to pull together the basin’s biodiversity and threats. “Our research combined published literature with our own field observations to give the most comprehensive picture yet of the river’s condition,” he explains. “What we found was alarming.”

Riparian Forests: The River’s Kidneys Under Siege

According to Karunaratne’s research team, only about 10 percent of the Kelani’s catchment remains forested. The once-continuous riparian vegetation — towering trees that shaded streams and filtered runoff — has been reduced to narrow strips of grass and scrub along Colombo’s outskirts.

“Riparian forests act as the river’s kidneys,” Karunaratne explains. “They filter sediments and nutrients, stabilise banks and regulate water temperature. When we clear them, we disable the river’s self-cleaning system.”

His study, based on Sri Lanka Survey Department data and field checks, documents how rubber and tea plantations, in the mid and upper basins, have crept into floodplains and headwaters, while urban expansion, in the lower basin, has displaced wetlands that once soaked up floods and recharged groundwater. Today, less than one percent of the basin remains wetland.

Pollution Hotspots: A Toxic Cocktail

Karunaratne and his co-authors compiled decades of water-quality data showing the lower basin now routinely fails to meet drinking-water standards. Point-source pollution is staggering: more than 6,000 factories release thermal effluents, oils, heavy metals and synthetic compounds. Biological oxygen demand in the lower reaches has been measured at 17 mg L — far exceeding safe thresholds — while pH has dropped to 5.3.

Non-point pollution is just as severe. Storm-water canals flush urban waste into the Kelani during monsoons, while fertilisers from tea, rubber and paddy fields spike nitrogen and phosphate levels, fuelling algal blooms. Ammonia in the coastal reaches already averages at the permissible limit.

Dams, Diversions and Dredging

Hydrological change compounds these chemical assaults. Karunaratne’s paper lists five major hydropower reservoirs and 32 mini-hydropower plants fragmenting the river, with another large plant under construction. “Impoundments change flow regimes, water chemistry and the physical habitat of fish,” he notes. “In some tributaries, 60 percent of their length has become dead or low-flow reaches.”

The consequences ripple through the food chain. Fish adapted to oxygen-rich rapids cannot survive these altered conditions. Migratory cyprinids find their routes blocked. Even diadromous gobies whose larvae migrate to the sea depend on unimpeded flow and intact estuarine habitats.

Karunaratne and his colleagues also documented widespread illicit water extraction and sand and gem mining, which reshape the channel and lower flows to the point that seawater now intrudes 15 km inland during droughts.

Biodiversity on the Brink

The team’s survey recorded 60 freshwater fish species in the Kelani basin — more than half of Sri Lanka’s endemic freshwater fish — along with critically endangered crabs, dragonflies and amphibians. Yet 22 fish species are nationally threatened.

Micro-endemics, such as the Bandula Barb (Pethia bandula), survive in a single tributary, while the Asoka Barb (Systomus asoka) is confined to a few foothill streams. Filling wetlands threatens swamp eels in the coastal zone. “Even occasional fish kills have been reported in lower reaches due to industrial and domestic waste discharge,” Karunaratne says.

Adding to the pressure is an invasion of alien species — tilapias, vermiculated sailfin catfish, clown featherbacks and even red-eared slider turtles. Karunaratne’s article lists more than two dozen exotics established in the basin. These species compete with native fish, prey on smaller species or eggs, and in some cases physically alter habitats.

Weak Policy, Weaker Enforcement

Sri Lanka has more than 20 governmental agencies and over 50 statutes regulating aquatic resources, yet coordination is poor and enforcement patchy. Karunaratne’s study devotes an entire section to policy gaps, noting that mandatory streamside reservations are often ignored and environmental impact assessments rarely translate into mitigatory action.

“Without science-based policymaking and inter-agency cooperation, even the best laws are just words on paper,” he laments.

A Blueprint for Recovery

Despite the grim outlook, Karunaratne believes the Kelani can still be saved if action is swift and strategic. His research paper closes with a suite of recommendations:

Reforest riparian buffers:

* Restore meanders and reconnect floodplains.

* Establish freshwater protected areas.

* Control invasive species and avoid planting alien flora.

* Evaluate the river’s ecosystem services in monetary terms to persuade policymakers.

* Invest in research and monitoring, including permanent survey stations and studies of endemic fish breeding biology.

“Kelani Ganga is not just a water source; it’s a living system that underpins Colombo’s health, economy and cultural identity,” Karunaratne says. “If we don’t act now, we risk ecological collapse and public-health crises.”

A River, a Mirror

In many ways, the Kelani reflects Sri Lanka’s development dilemma: the tension between economic growth and environmental stewardship. Its challenges echo across other tropical riverscapes in South and Southeast Asia.

But Karunaratne sees an opportunity. “If we can turn the Kelani into a model of integrated river-basin management, we can inspire conservation of other rivers,” he says. “It will take stakeholder partnerships, participatory management and a willingness to treat the river not as a drain, but as an asset.”

As the Kelani flows past tea-green hillsides and shanty-lined banks toward the sea, it carries both a warning and a hope. The warning is stark: unchecked degradation will lead to ecological collapse. The hope lies in the science and passion of people like Suranjan Karunaratne — and in society’s capacity to heed their call.

By Ifham Nizam

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Features

Political violence stalking Trump administration

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

A scene that unfolded during the shooting incident at the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. (BBC)

It would not be particularly revelatory to say that the US is plagued by ‘gun violence’. It is a deeply entrenched and widespread malaise that has come in tandem with the relative ease with which firearms could be acquired and owned by sections of the US public, besides other causes.

However, a third apparent attempt on the life of US President Donald Trump in around two and a half years is both thought-provoking and unsettling for the defenders of democracy. After all, whatever its short comings the US remains the world’s most vibrant democracy and in fact the ‘mightiest’ one. And the US must remain a foremost democracy for the purpose of balancing and offsetting the growing power of authoritarian states in the global power system, who are no friends of genuine representational governance.

Therefore, the recent breaching of the security cordon surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington at which President Trump and his inner Cabinet were present, by an apparently ‘Lone Wolf’ gunman, besides raising issues relating to the reliability of the security measures deployed for the President, indicates a notable spike in anti-VVIP political violence in particular in the US. It is a pointer to a strong and widespread emergence of anti-democratic forces which seem to be gaining in virulence and destructiveness.

The issues raised by the attack are in the main for the US’ political Right and its supporters. They have smugly and complacently stood by while the extremists in their midst have taken centre stage and begun to dictate the course of Right wing politics. It is the political culture bred by them that leads to ‘Lone Wolf’ gunmen, for instance, who see themselves as being repressed or victimized, taking the law into their own hands, so to speak, and perpetrating ‘revenge attacks’ on the state and society.

A disproportionate degree of attention has been paid particularly internationally to Donald Trump’s personality and his eccentricities but such political persons cannot be divorced from the political culture in which they originate and have their being. That is, “structural” questions matter. Put simply, Donald Trump is a ‘true son’ of the Far Right, his principal support base. The issues raised are therefore for the President as well as his supporters of the Right.

We are obliged to respect the choices of the voting public but in the case of Trump’s election to the highest public position in the US, this columnist is inclined to see in those sections that voted for Trump blind followers of the latter who cared not for their candidate’s suitability, in every relevant respect, and therefore acted irrationally. It would seem that the Right in the US wanted their candidate to win by ‘hook or by crook’ and exercise power on their behalf.

By making the above observations this columnist does not intend to imply that voting publics everywhere in the world of democracy cast their vote sensibly. In the case of Sri Lanka, for example, the question could be raised whether the voters of the country used their vote sensibly when voting into office the majority of Executive Presidents and other persons holding high public office. The obvious answer is ‘no’ and this should lead to a wider public discussion on the dire need for thoroughgoing voter education. The issue is a ‘huge’ one that needs to be addressed in the appropriate forums and is beyond the scope of this column.

Looking back it could be said that the actions of Trump and his die-hard support base led to the Rule of Law in the US being undermined as perhaps never before in modern times. A shaming moment in this connection was the protest march, virtually motivated by Trump, of his supporters to the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021, with the aim of scuttling the presidential poll result of that year. Much violence and unruly behaviour, as known, was let loose. This amounted to denigrating the democratic process and encouraging the violent take over of the state.

In a public address, prior to the unruly conduct of his supporters, Trump is on record as blaring forth the following: ‘We won this election and we won by a landslide’, ‘We will stop the steal’, ‘We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen’, ‘If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’

It is plain to see that such inflammatory utterances could lead impressionable minds in particular to revolt violently. Besides, they should have led the more rationally inclined to wonder whether their candidate was the most suitable person to hold the office of President.

Unfortunately, the latter process was not to be and the question could be raised whether the US is in the ‘safest pair of hands’. Needless to say, as events have revealed, Donald Trump is proving to be one of the most erratic heads of state the US has ever had.

However, the latest attempt on the life of President Trump suggests that considerable damage has been done to the democratic integrity of the US and none other than the President himself has to take on himself a considerable proportion of the blame for such degeneration, besides the US’ Far Right. They could be said to be ‘reaping the whirlwind.’

It is a time for soul-searching by the US Right. The political Right has the right to exist, so the speak, in a functional democracy but it needs to take cognizance of how its political culture is affecting the democratic integrity or health of the US. Ironically, the repressive and chauvinistic politics advocated by it is having the effect of activating counter-violence of the most murderous kind, as was witnessed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Continued repressive politics could only produce more such incidents that could be self-defeating for the US.

Some past US Presidents were assassinated but the present political violence in the country brings into focus as perhaps never before the role that an anti-democratic political culture could play in unraveling the gains that the US has made over the decades. A duty is cast on pro-democracy forces to work collectively towards protecting the democratic integrity and strength of the US.

Features

22nd Anniversary Gala …action-packed event

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Skyliners: Shanaka Viswakula (bass), Mario Ranasuriya (lead guitar), Daryl D'Souza (keyboards) and Kushmin Balasuriya (drums)

The Editor-in-Chief of The Sri Lankan Anchorman, a Toronto-based monthly, celebrating Sri Lankan community life in Canada, is none other than veteran Sri Lankan journalist Dirk Tissera, who moved to Canada in 1997. His wife, Michelle, whom he calls his “tower of strength”, is the Design Editor.

According to reports coming my way, the paper has turned out to be extremely popular in Toronto.

In fact, The Sri Lankan Anchorman won a press award in Toronto for excellence in editorial content and visual presentation.

However, the buzz in the air in Canada, right now, is The Sri Lankan Anchorman’s 22nd Anniversary Gala, to be held on Friday, 12 June, 2026, at the J&J Swagat Banquet Convention Centre, in Toronto.

An action-packed programme has been put together for the night, featuring some of the very best artistes in the Toronto scene.

The Skylines, who are classified as ‘the local musical band in Toronto’, will headline the event.

Dirk Tissera and wife Michelle: Supporting Sri Lanka-Canada community events, in Toronto, since launching The Anchorman
in 2002

They have performed and backed many legendary Sri Lanka singers.

According to Dirk, The Skylines can belt out a rhythm with gusto … be it Western, Sinhala or Tamil hits.

Also adding sparkle to the evening will be the legendary Fahmy Nazick, who, with his smooth and velvety vocals, will have the crowd on the floor.

Fahmy who was a household name, back in Sri Lanka, will be flying down from Virginia, USA.

He has captivated audiences in Sri Lanka, the Middle East and North America, and this will be his fourth visit to Toronto – back by popular demand,

Cherry DeLuna, who is described by Dirk as a powerhouse, also makes her appearance on stage and is all set to stir up the tempo with her cool and easy delivery.

“She’s got a great voice and vocal range that has captivated audiences out here”, says Dirk.

Chamil Welikala, said to be one of the hottest DJs in town, will be spinning his magic … in English, Sinhala, Tamil and Latin.

Both Jive and Baila competitions are on the cards among many other surprises on the night of 12 June.

This is The Anchorman’s fifth annual dance in a row – starting from 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 – and both Dirk and Michelle, and The Anchorman, have always produced elegant social events in Toronto.

“We intend to knock this one out of the park,” the duo says, adding that Western music and Sinhala and Tamil songs is something they’ve always delivered and the crowd loves it.

“We have always supported Sri Lanka-Canada community events, in Toronto, since launching The Anchorman, in 2002, and we intend to keep it that way.”

No doubt, there will be a large crowd of Sri Lankans, from all communities, turning up, on 12 June, to support Dirk, Michelle and The Anchorman.

Features

Face Pack for Radiant Skin

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

* Apple and Orange:

Blend a few apple and orange pieces together. Add to it a pinch of turmeric and one tablespoon of honey. Apply it to the face and neck and rinse off after 30 minutes. This face pack is suitable for all skin types.

According to experts, apple is one of the best fruits for your skin health with Vitamin A, B complex and Vitamin C and minerals, while, with the orange peel, excessive oil secretion can be easily balanced.

* Mango and Curd:

Ripe mango pulp, mixed with curd, can be rubbed directly onto the skin to remove dirt and cleanse clogged pores. Rinse off after a few minutes.

Yes, of course, mango is a tasty and delicious fruit and this is the mango season in our part of the world, and it has extra-ordinary benefits to skin health. Vitamins C and E in mangoes protect the skin from the UV rays of the sun and promotes cell regeneration. It also promotes skin elasticity and fights skin dullness and acne, while curd, in combination, further adds to it.

* Grapes and Kiwi:

Take a handful of grapes and make a pulp of it. Simultaneously, take one kiwi fruit and mash it after peeling its skin. Now mix them and add some yoghurt to it. Apply it on your face for few minutes and wash it off.

Here again experts say that kiwi is the best nutrient-rich fruit with high vitamin C, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, while grapes contain flavonoids, which is an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. This homemade face pack acts as a natural cleanser and slows down the ageing process.