Cabinet Approves Restoration of Calido Beach and Kalu River Mouth 🌊

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has greenlit a restoration project for the Kalutara coastline, addressing severe environmental and economic threats caused by a 2017 flood mitigation intervention. • Impact & Cause: Extensive erosion along 2.5 km of the coastline followed the breaching of the Kalu River sandbar. The loss of this natural barrier has left the area vulnerable to intense wave action for nearly nine years. • Key Risks: The ongoing erosion poses a direct threat to local tourism infrastructure and critical coastal assets. The river mouth has failed to stabilize naturally, necessitating state intervention. • Ecological Concerns: The fisheries sector is facing significant stress due to deteriorating conditions in the Kalutara lagoon, characterized by poor water circulation, high pollution, and heavy sediment accumulation. • Current Status: The project aims to restore the beach, lagoon, and river mouth to safeguard livelihoods and the regional environment. Plan implementation follows years of sustained damage to the northern coastal stretch.