Why disturb the surroundings of Parakrama Samudraya?

A scenic view of the Parakrama Samudra           
  

The existing scenic road bordering the Samudra will also need rehabilitation, unless costly concrete protective measures are adopted to protect the roadway

“Do not let even a drop of rain water falling onto the land of this country go to the sea without being used” –King Parakramabahu

Sri Lanka, proud of being a country for its long ancient civilization mainly due to hydraulic irrigation systems based on the above, seems to be under threat due to irrational decisions and un prioritised modern technological applications!       

  
At a critical period of time in the history of Sri Lanka when “health workers” and other devoted rational decision makers are fighting to save human lives despite a prevalent economic crisis, extravagant spending on “not so urgent” major projects could be considered ridiculous. 

The Inland Waters in Sri Lanka, are usually named Rivers(Gangas), and others as Wewas, Lakes, Lagoons, Canals etc. However perhaps the largest being a Samudra due to the size and the wind waves prevalent similar to those in the oceans.

While entertainment for health benefits would undoubtedly be profitable, but improvements to longstanding existing facilities rather than spending on alternate projects both on Rural and Urban development would be more beneficial to the greater masses of the population as a matter of priority.

The Inland Waters in Sri Lanka, are usually named Rivers(Gangas), and others as Wewas, Lakes, Lagoons, Canals etc. However perhaps the largest being a Samudra due to the size and the wind waves prevalent similar to those in the oceans.

In considering perhaps the only inland “Samudraya” in Sri Lanka as being the largest man-made lake having a large water  surface area  (22.6 km2; 8.7 sq miles) was named after the visionary ancient King of Ceylon , King Parakramabahu built around 386 A D. consisting of five separate wewas connected by narrow channels in Polonnaruwa. The Rest House bordering the Parakrama Samudraya had the honour of hosting the British Queen Elizabeth and the Late Prince Philip at the scenic holiday destination abode during their last joint visit together to Sri Lanka in the 1960s.

It is customary to have jogging tracks or walkways bordering small lakes with hardly any wave actions on the banks while for the larger inland water areas driveways for vehicles are available or constructed.

It is customary to have jogging tracks or walkways bordering small lakes with hardly any wave actions on the banks while for the larger inland water areas driveways for vehicles are available or constructed.

While it would have been very evident to those traversing the coastal areas of the country, that the commonest form of “cost effective” coast protection from the ocean has been by the use of well fitting boulders while in some affluent advanced countries “sea walls” are constructed to protect the coastline at much costs.  These boulders when settled and consolidated are very effective for the purpose and had stood the test of time for decades as in the picture. Why should the well consolidated embankment which was stable for several decades and protected from erosion by boulders only requiring minor maintenance work occasionally, be disturbed for possible damage due to heavy construction work together with possible adverse effects and damages to the bordering roadway when a fraction of the funds planned to spent could be spent on foot bridges / river crossings and walkways, at least for the poor rural masses from homes to schools and/or hospitals etc?   

With such an effective system prevailing and perhaps needing a few more boulders to further strengthen it is very irrational to disturb the embankments leave alone incurring massive  rehabilitation costs which can be well used for other infrastructure development projects.

It is with much grief that I wish to predict that if this embankment is disturbed as being envisaged, it won’t be long before the existing scenic road bordering the Samudra will also need rehabilitation, unless costly concrete protective measures are adopted to protect the roadway and also preventing wild elephants roaming around the rest house and/or its vicinity disturbing those specially locals who wish to rest and relax admiring the scenic beauty!