Sallitivu Island – uninhabited islet in Vakarai – By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Located in *Batticaloa District in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and significant due to its rich biodiversity, the islet is connected to the mainland over a sand bar approximately 200 meters in length. During the high tide as well as during the low tide, this sand bar is exposed, few inches below water. The islet is protected by a ring of coral reef with a 200-meter wide reef on the eastern side. During the high tide season, the sand strip gets covered with water and the sea shore is covered with dead corals. Although, the beach is wide and is pristine, it is covered with a thick layer of washed in coral rubble after the Tsunami that occurred in 2004.
According to research conducted in the area, it was discovered that majority of the coral reef is not live and the live coral cover was less than 5%.
The land area of the island is approximately 33,000 square meters (8.2 acres), 240 meters long and 200 meters wide at the widest section.
Sallitivu Islet is uninhabited as there is no freshwater, instead, the islet is used as a place to rest by fisherman in adjacent areas.
There are approximately 50 plant species in the islet native to Sri Lanka comprising one nationally endangered, two nationally vulnerable and four nationally near threatened species. There are several mangroves and coastal scrub in the area.
For those visiting Batticaloa, *Pasikudah, *Kalkuda or *Trincomalee, this is an ideal half day trip to relax and spend a few hours in an uninhabited island, rarely visited by tourists.
- Batticaloa – A major town and commercial center in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Batticaloa is located on land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean, Batticaloa District is flourished with three lagoons, Batticaloa Lagoon, Valaichchenai Lagoon and Vakari Lagoon.
- Kalkuda – Kalkudah or Kalkuda is a coastal resort town located approximately 35 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa.
- Pasikudah – A coastal resort town located 35 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa, considered as “the pin up of picture postcard beaches” due to its soft white sand and translucent water. Between May and September, this location is considered as the best site for a beach holiday.
- Trincomalee – Situated on one of the world’s finest natural and beautiful deep-water harbors, Trincomalee is a port city located on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee has attracted seafarers, traders as well as pilgrims from Europe, Australasia, East Asia, Africa, China and the Middle East from ancient periods. With a population of approximately 126000 people and located in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Trincomalee is also a major tourist attraction and a port city visited by large numbers of local and foreign tourists, annually.
Strategic significance of Trincomalee Harbor By Arundathie Abeysinghe – July 15, 2021
https://www.elanka.com.au/strategic-significance-of-trincomalee-harbor-by-arundathie-abeysinghe/
