- Local employees & visitors call on both the authorities & the denizens, especially the latter, to shift their rotten attitude on keeping their own beach clean, while the former is urged to step up vigilance & community awareness
The Kattankudy beach, once a pristine stretch of sand, has succumbed to severe pollution in the recent past, raising alarms about its impact on both the environment, and the local tourism industry. The beach, renowned for its natural beauty and proximity to unique local attractions, is now marred by an accumulation of litter, including polythene bags, plastic cups, and other waste. Despite ongoing efforts to clean the beach and educate the public, the core issue remains a lack of responsibility and environmental awareness among beachgoers. The need for a fundamental shift in public attitude towards environmental conservation is becoming increasingly urgent in order to restore and maintain the beach’s beauty, and ensure its sustainability for future generations.
Irshad Ahmed, who works at a restaurant in the area, said that the Kattankudy beach, which used to be very clean until recently, has now deteriorated into a severely polluted area. He pointed out that both the authorities, who fail to maintain the beach properly, and the people hanging around the beach, who act irresponsibly, are responsible for this decline.
“If someone searches for the Kattankudy beach on the Internet, they will come across the pictures of a beautiful beach. But, the situation is completely different now. There are polythene bags, plastic cups, plates, and other types of waste scattered everywhere. All this waste is very harmful to the environment,” he said.
Ahmed further explained that the people living around the area usually visit the beach, and many of them throw waste everywhere without any regard for the beach's existence or concern for environmental protection. He emphasised the need for both the authorities, and the public to take action to clean and protect the beach, ensuring that it remains a beautiful and enjoyable place for everyone.
Fatima Rimaza, while visiting Kattankudy beach, shared her thoughts on the beach pollution problem, expressing that beachgoers are more responsible for the issue than the authorities. She observed that, while people often blame the relevant institutions for every issue, many have not developed self-discipline.
“People from other parts of the country visit the Kattankudy beach in very limited numbers. The majority of the visitors are from in and around Kattankudy. So, shouldn't they realise that they should keep this beach beautiful? Isn't it easier if the beachgoers themselves practise some self-discipline and not pollute the beach, rather than the government agencies having to pay and employ workers to remove garbage? I have seen many people casually drop their drink containers and other waste while sitting on the beach. When they see the litter around them, they should understand the importance of environmental conservation and take responsibility,” she went on to say.
Rimaza emphasised that people have ample opportunities to learn about environmental responsibility through books, media, and social media. However, instead of simply reading, watching, or hearing about these issues and then ignoring them, she said that individuals should strive to put this knowledge into practice.
The massive pollution of the Kattankudy beach is undeniably having a significant impact on the tourism industry in the area. Both foreign and local tourists prefer to visit the Eastern Province, attracted by unique features, such as date cultivations and stunning mosques, that are not commonly found in other parts of the country. However, a local guide who assists tourists in the area, A.M. Rifkan, speaking to The Daily Morning, highlighted the detrimental effect of the pollution on the Kattankudy beach, one of the main tourist destinations in the Province.
“The pollution of the Kattankudy beach is very harmful to the tourism industry. Everyone likes to see something beautiful. Neither local nor foreign tourists want to visit a place covered in garbage. If you look at the beach these days, there is trash everywhere, with no clean spot in sight. Even we locals wouldn't want to set foot on the beach.” He emphasised that if people do not take responsibility and keep the beach clean, the relevant institutions should step in and find alternative solutions.
It is noteworthy that the Kattankudy beach pollution issue arises at a time when the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development is actively working towards obtaining the globally-recognised Blue Flag certification (a prestigious certification granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education [FEE] to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators that meet their rigorous environmental criteria) for Sri Lankan beaches.
Despite Sri Lanka being surrounded by the sea, not a single beach in the country has earned the Blue Flag certification, whereas tourists are mostly inclined to visit beaches with this certification. Over 5,000 beaches worldwide, including eight in India, have received the Blue Flag certification. In Sri Lanka, 42 beach locations have been identified as having the potential to earn this certification.
Speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, the Committee's Chairperson Ajith Mannapperuma said that the protective measures available for visitors including swimmers, the cleanliness of the water, proper maintenance, and the availability of facilities such as toilets are considered in awarding the Blue Flag certificate. He also said that the relevant authorities, such as the Ministries of Tourism and Fisheries, the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), the Urban Development Authority (UDA), and the Department of Coastal Conservation should get together and work to meet these criteria.
Another resident of the Kattankudy area placed the blame on the Department of Coastal Conservation, which was established as a dedicated Government agency for the protection and management of coastal areas. Despite its intended purpose, he claimed the department has fallen short in fulfilling its primary responsibilities. He commented: “The department was created specifically to manage and protect our coastlines, but it seems to be failing in this crucial role. Like many other Government agencies, it appears to be quite ineffective in addressing the problems at hand.”
He said that if the department was to implement a regular monitoring programme, it could significantly improve the situation. “For instance, if the department conducted inspections of the beach at least once a month, the issue could have been identified and addressed more promptly. The beach is already severely polluted, and the lack of a programme or intervention means that the situation continues to worsen.”
The Development Officer at the Coastal Conservation Department's office in Batticaloa, who is entrusted with affairs pertaining to the Kattankudy beach, Malarvili Baskaran shared with The Daily Morning her insights on the ongoing struggle to maintain cleanliness at the beach. Despite multiple efforts such as beach cleaning programmes with the support of various parties, and awareness programmes, she said that the issue is yet to be resolved.
“We cannot manage this issue alone, because the beach is largely visited by tourists, particularly those from surrounding areas, and their relatives.” She pointed out that the Kattankudy Urban Council (UC) has a beach cleaning machine that operates two days a week. However, cleaning the beach for only two days isn't enough at all. “When I started work, there were no dustbins on the beach. Our department didn’t have funding, but we spoke to a private company in Colombo, and placed dustbins of three different colours for separate types of garbage, but the dustbins are often filled and not emptied by the UC. The people also do not put garbage in the dustbins,” she added.
Recalling her experience in the Manmunai North area in Batticaloa, Baskaran contrasted the situation with the Kallady beach. “At the Kallady beach, no one puts garbage on the beach, and the people support its cleanliness. But, we cannot achieve the same in the Kattankudy beach. I don't know how we can change the attitude of the people there.”
When contacted by The Daily Morning, Kattankudy UC Secretary Rifka Rafeek said that maintaining the Kattankudy beach's cleanliness remains challenging, mainly due to public and tourist negligence. “This beach is managed by the Kattankudy UC, which has a dedicated team equipped with specialised machinery, including the region's only beach cleaning machine. Despite these efforts, maintaining the beach's cleanliness remains to be a challenge due to public and tourist negligence. Although garbage bins and public instructions are in place, many people ignore them and litter the area. A change in public attitude is crucial to improve the situation.”
Despite efforts by the authorities and local organisations to clean the beach and raise public awareness, the success of these initiatives depends on the active participation and responsible behaviour of beachgoers. The difference between the Kattankudy and Kallady beaches shows that community support and individual responsibility are vital for keeping coastal areas clean and beautiful. To ensure that the Kattankudy beach remains attractive for both locals and tourists, everyone – residents, visitors, and the authorities – must work together to promote environmental care. Only through this united effort can the Kattankudy beach become a pristine and welcoming place once again.