Abstract:
Geo-environmental assessment
after the recent mega tsunami, along the
southern and western coastal belt indicates
varying effects to the beach profile, mineral
deposits, surface and ground water, and soil.
The most significant effect was due to the
beach erosion which had changed the beach
profile creating deep water near the shore
allowing waves to break much further
inland than usual triggering further coastal
erosion with the south western monsoon.
Destruction of live corals, salinization of
drinking water and agricultural soils, water
logging in abandoned inland coral pits
severely causing epidemic threats, are some
of the other major geo-environmental issues
along this coastal region. Considerable
amount of heavy minerals (from Beruwela
to Hambanthota) which are potential placer
deposits of ilmanite, rutile, monazite,
zircon, and garnet has been removed from
the coast line and deposited further inland in
a wide scatted area, thus, degrading this
potential placer deposit. Immediate actions
have to be undertaken to rectify most of
these environmental issues.
