Pollution Archives

Ranthaliya Wewa, Sri Lanka: A Hidden Gem of Natural Beauty-by Kalani-eLanka Ranthaliya Wewa, located in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, is a picturesque and serene reservoir that holds both historical and ecological significance. Known for its tranquil waters and lush surroundings, this body of water is a testament to the ancient hydraulic civilization of Sri Lanka and continues to play a crucial role in the local agriculture and biodiversity. Ranthaliya Wewa, like many reservoirs in Sri Lanka, is part of an intricate network of ancient irrigation systems. These systems were developed by the Sinhalese kings to support rice cultivation, which has been the backbone of the island’s economy for centuries. The engineering marvels of these ancient reservoirs, including Ranthaliya Wewa, highlight the advanced hydrological knowledge and skills of early Sri Lankan societies. The reservoir supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, making it an important ecological site. ...

World Environment Day – June 5 Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – June 2023 The theme for World Environment Day 2023 is “Beat Plastic Pollution”. While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use plastic products with severe environmental, social, economic and health consequences. Around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes – used just once and then thrown away. Plastics including microplastics are now ubiquitous in our natural environment. They are becoming part of the Earth’s fossil record and a marker of the Anthropocene, our current geological era. They have even given their name to a new marine microbial habitat called the “plastisphere”. So how did we get here? From the 1950s to the 1970s, only a ...