Development and Protecting Nature - Sri Lankan Government's Challenge into 21st Century

      Environmentalists are at an extreme end with Gotabaya Government and Basil Rajapaksha. They seem come a little bit of short to understand that development cannot be achieved without one form being transformed to another, whether it be a road or a bridge. Finding a middle path is a too much of a compromise to them. The country needs a conceptual change about the utilisation of natural resources, development and developer.

How could a state build houses, cities, skyscrapers, roads and highways without mining crude oil, sand, gravel and soil? How could a state be self-sufficient, competitive and industrialised with its farming without some deforestations? Cannot the state nurture mud crabs in mangroves without destroying its eco system? Cannot a part of lagoon host an attractive harbour for leisure crafts and be an eco-tourism hotspot at the same time? Will such developments ruin their eco systems completely? Gotabaya Government has to utilise all the resources the island offers to maximise her potential to develop as a nation. Nothing can be built preserving the form. We need to think afresh about our nature and environment.

With little and more variations in their arguments, Rathana and Rahula Hamudurovo, Sajeewa Chamikara and Jagath Gunawardana and others stand tall against the Government’s development vision and mission. For these environmentalists our island can be developed keeping restrictions on sand, soil and gravel excavations, restricting transportation of those raw materials and preserving island’s forest reserves.  

Our beautiful island is rich with natural resources. And we all know that we need to develop this island using them. And we have to do it right now. Not twenty years later. It is very clear that our nation is begging for functioning cities; highways to connect North and South and East and West; and new ports and modern infrastructures. So what? All of them are to be made with minerals, sands, gravel, metal and wood. Using these natural resources our development model needs to be an organic and sustainable one.

For example, Negombo lagoon is a national treasure, and truly a unique eco system. A part of this lagoon can be used as a small recreational harbour with jetties for modern leisure crafts; may be in interconnecting it with Port City in Colombo in future. At the same time, Negombo is very convenient first and last night beach destination for foreign holidaymakers. At least 80% of holidaymakers drive through Negombo one way or another. With recent numbers that means almost two million holidaymakers per year. But sadly though; there is not even a single jetty where a boat can anchor in Negombo. And there is no harbour. Such recreational harbour can boost holidaymakers staying in Negombo longer and ocean activities, bringing more foreign currency to its local economy. Now the issue arises that in which place this recreational harbour can be built. Let's imagine Negombo Lagoon is a contender. To do so though, a part of the lagoon has to be excavated and a taller new bridge has to be built to facilitate sailing crafts entering and existing the lagoon.

     But we all know that those environmentalists fiercely resist any disturbance to this lagoon’s eco systems. Sadly, fishermen and illegal settlers are also come on-board with bandwagoning. Now this multi-million investments and billions of foreign currency earner, into the future, is moving nowhere because of environmental activism. However, any progressive government needs to develop its natural resources to their fullest to realise their maximum potential. The long term national interests should determine relevant environmental assessment. As an another investment opportunity, farming mud crab, in and around any lagoon, is also a lucrative foreign currency earner. This also raise eyebrows of environmentalists again.

    Removal of transport permit for sand was also met with this same resistance. But everyone understands that nothing can be built without sands. Protection of natural water flows, river bunts and natural eco systems are again brought as environmental issues. But how come our nation rapidly develop without these basic commodities? The roads, ports, airports and buildings all need sand in abundant and it should not be too costly.

    Knuckles mountain range and South of Trinco harbour areas are gems for eco-tourism. Environmentally friendly resorts shall be built in these areas to attract high-end clientele to these destinations and to Sri Lanka. Ideal suiters to build resorts have to be high-end brand with proven track records. Miniature and many newcomers are more likely to bring adverse effect to nature. However, instead of seeking ways and means to enhance the potential of these natural resources for common goods, our environmentalists are advocating that these areas to be banned for commoners. Nature is reserved only for high-caliber researchers; to stem clean water streams and to safeguard oxygen for future generations, they argue. That sounds great. And we all should do that. But can we do all that and use the nature to bring opportunities to this island? And that has to be the way forward.

     Furthermore, for these environmentalists bordering-forest-reserves have become far more important than the protected-reserves themselves. Basils’s attempt to vest the decision making power of these lands at district and divisional secretariats is perceived as a threat to these bordering lands and environment. Our island needs some industrialised farming. Our traditional nostalgic paddy fields with small holdings are ineffective with machineries. Traditional paddy fields are a creation of nature using natural low lands, waterways and manual labour. With industrialised farming, our country not only be self-sufficient but earn considerable foreign income. Moreover, new crops like Komarika, Wallapatta and Kotala Hibutu can multiply foreign currency earnings. Policy makers have to reflect these needs sooner.

     None of these conceptual shifts argue for irresponsible exploitation of natural resources. The Government needs to communicate their development goals and geographical areas affected upfront to the each individuals affect by these projects directly and indirectly. Clear communications with interested parties and making them beneficiaries of these development are attractive. However, national interests and potential to develop our island with these natural resources shall never be compromised by ill-informed third party engagements.

     Those who work with mother earth, minerals, sand, gravel, soil and wood are ashamed by environmental activism. Nation builders are projected as exploiters of natural resources. The Government needs to change these negative perceptions and create a conducive environment for nation builders. Use of Island’s natural resources needed to be multi faced and multi-dimensional. We can develop our beautiful Island into the 21st century only maximising potentials of all our natural resources organically and sustainably.

Author - A.V. Anuradha Samapth

MA in International Security and Law & BA Hon in International Politics.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amarasinghevidanage