Galle port development: Alarm for Rumassala's coral reefs

Plans to build a large marina with a 150-metre berth for cruise ships are causing concern over the possible impact on the Buona Vista coral reef, which has the highest recorded biodiversity in a marine habitat in Sri Lanka.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - There is environmental alarm over the possible negative impact of the Galle Port development project on the coral reefs of the Rumassala Marine Sanctuary, known for its rich biodiversity and significant habitat for marine species.

The aim of the project is to create ‘a full-fledged marina’ with 44.97 hectares of reclaimed land for recreation and tourism, real estate investments including a 150-metre berth for passenger cruise ships and superyachts, and a state-of-the-art cruise terminal, similar to the Colombo Port City reclamation project.

The reclamation will extend seaward about 300 metres from Dewata Beach, a world-famous surfing destination, requiring the dredging of 1.9 million tonnes of fill material from the Galle Bay seabed.

The project falls under the jurisdiction of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Coastal Conservation and Resource Management Department as the approving authority. An initial environmental impact assessment of the project was approved by the latter body in 2009. A plan for a further reclamation of 40 hectares along Dewata Beach was submitted in 2022. The Department of Wildlife Conservation also plays an important role in the assessment, due to the presence of the Rumassala Marine Sanctuary.

Academics Prashantha Samarasekera and Sampath Gunawardana explain to AsiaNews that ‘the area is also home to the Bona Vista reef, which needs to be managed very gently. This site is not suitable for a large port for cargo ships, because it would disturb the ecosystems too much; it should be a port for smaller vessels'.

Currently, the plan envisages two offshore breakwaters with a length of 850 metres and 150 metres, a 150-metre cruise berth with a draught of 12.5 metres to accommodate large cruise ships, including a state-of-the-art cruise terminal.

Permission for these developments has been obtained from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. An area of 44.97 hectares is also planned to be reclaimed in Galle Bay to facilitate the development of infrastructure/facilities for recreational and tourism activities.

‘The reef at Buona Vista is under threat, including coral bleaching due to the El Nino phenomenon, the ongoing warming of the water surface since the 1990s,’ Prashantha and Sampath pointed out. ’In 2022, large portions of the Buona Vista reef at Rumassala were washed ashore due to bad weather in Galle.

According to recent studies, the reef boasts the highest biodiversity recorded in a marine habitat in Sri Lanka, a high density of live corals with over 70 per cent coverage of the reef base, indicating a healthy and structurally diverse reef.

The reef is also known to host over 490 species of reef fish and hundreds of species of marine invertebrates. Already 25 years ago, there was a similar incident where huge amounts of reef were washed ashore. It is therefore necessary to protect this precious resource'.

According to senior Environment Ministry officials, the recent release of a new Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment, which revives the Galle Harbour development project, has raised concerns that the planned clean-up may adversely affect coral reefs in the Rumassala Marine Sanctuary, due to its proximity to the development site and the sensitivity of corals to changes in sediment load, water quality and circulation. Heavy impacts would also affect the local fishing community, including a thriving surfing business that brings tourism to the area.