I’ve spent six weeks in Sri Lanka participating in Go Green 5.0. We’ve
travelled to different parts in Sri Lanka in order to learn more about its
environment as well as the environmental problems. The project was
divided into several different phases. First, we did a bird survey where we
observed birds at the university, took pictures of them and worked in a
group to produce a final report. Next, we were taught about tree surgery
and tree plantation and we did some field work at the university concerning
both topics. Then, we had a field trip to Lakvijaya Power Plant where the
specialists there introduced the plant to us and explained how power is
generated in Sri Lanka. We also had a visit to one of the Sri Lankan schools
where we dressed traditionally and talked a little bit about how we
conserve our environment back in our countries. Afterwards, we traveled
to Hantana on a visit to the TRI and the Harangala tea factory. Then, we had
another field trip to the kothmale power plant and the Kothmale dam
where we were given brief talks about how power is generated in Sri Lanka
using the water stored behind the dam. Last was our visit to the Sinharaja
forest where we roamed around the forest with a guide who showed us
some of the species that inhibit the forest. One part of the project that was
well planned and had quite an impact on me was during tree plantation
week. We were divided into groups of four or five people and we were
taught how to compost and how to plant trees. This part of the project
included us having to use tools and do the work by ourselves.
Another very beneficial part of the project was during the visit to the tree
plantation. At the TRI and the Harangala tea factory, we were given a brief
introduction about tea, the history of tea in Sri Lanka and the processes
needed for tea making. We also did some practical field work. The
experience as a whole in Sri Lanka taught me many things but most of the
things I learnt was from my fellow EP members and I believe that the best
part about this project was the diversity in our group because I’ve learnt a
lot about different cultures and I also learnt how to communicate with
people who are very different to me and how to be open minded about
these differences.
During the whole experience in Sri Lanka I observed several environmental
problems that require attention from the government as well as from the
people. These include the fact that people are not aware of how to deal
with trash and so therefore they easily just throw it on the streets or
through the windows of their cars or the trains. This results in the
accumulation of trash everywhere on the streets which causes air pollution
and results in bad smells. Awareness programs should be therefore set up
teaching people how to deal with their trash and how littering affects their
environment on the long run. Recycling should also be introduced. Trash
bins of different colors and labels should be places at every corner on the
streets and their use should be highly encouraged. The target should mainly
be the young children at school. Another serious problem I thought was the
noise pollution from the three wheelers and the buses. It is normal to have
noise on the streets during the traffic. However, most universities in Sri
Lanka have their buildings on opposite parts of the street and so vehicles
could pass through the campus all day long and in my opinion this is not a
very peaceful environment which would discourage students about
learning and studying. Also, during our visit to the Tea Research Institute, it
was explained to us that machinery is being introduced which plucks the
tea leaves as there are not enough workers to do this job manually.
However, the dangers of this replacement are overlooked. First of all,
machines can no pluck the tea leaves selectively so both the tender parts
and the mature parts will be plucked. Moreover, the emissions caused by
the machines will lead to air pollution which on the long run could lead to
acid rain and thereby damage the tea plantations instead of conserving
them. The solution to this problem in my opinion is fairly simple. The
introduction of machinery into the plucking business and the purchase of
petrol to operate them must cost a lot of money. Instead, this money could
be used to raise the wages of the farmers working on the tea plantations so
the minimum wage of 600-800 rupees per day could be greatly increased
and this will attract many Sri Lankans. I have also noticed how so much of
the wildlife in Sri Lanka is being destroyed in order to build projects such as
the Kothmale power plant and dam. The amount of marine life that has
suffered in order to carry out this project must’ve been great. However, the
only solution to this problem is to make sure that the marine life is being
conserved after the dam has been set up. One last problem I’d like to put
forward is the way that animals are treated in Sri Lanka. First of all, the wild
dogs found everywhere on the streets dirty, hungry, diseased and unhappy.
These dogs should be cared for at specialized centers or given as pets to
children who will take care of them. But instead, they are just left on the
streets with no one to care for them or pay any attention to them and most
end up with fatal diseases that lead to their deaths. Also, animals are
captured from their wild environments and places in “orphanages” or “wild
parks” in order to entertain the tourists as well as the locals. This is not
such a bad thing as it generates income for the country. However, this is
only the case if these animals are well treated and given an environment
similar to theirs in the wild. This is not the case in most places I have visited.
Places like Pinnawalla elephant orphanage where the elephants are angry
and unhappy and treated with cruelty just for the enjoyment of the people.
Sri Lanka to me was a really huge beautiful forest full of amazing sceneries
and landscapes as well as beautiful animals. However, if the environment
keeps on being treated carelessly, all this diversity will die down and Sri
Lanka will therefore suffer greatly.
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