alarm for the Rumassala reefs

The proposed construction of a large marina with a 150-metre berth for cruise ships is raising concerns over its possible impact on the Buona Vista coral reef, which boasts the highest biodiversity recorded in a marine habitat in Sri Lanka.

Colombo () – 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 important habitat for marine species. The goal of the project is to create “a full-fledged marina” with 44.97 hectares of reclaimed land for recreational and tourism activities, real estate investments, including a 150-meter berth for passenger cruise ships and superyachts, and a terminal state-of-the-art cruise ships, similar to the Colombo port city recovery project. The reclamation will extend some 300 meters seaward from Dewata Beach, a world-renowned surfing destination, and will require dredging 1.9 million tonnes of fill material from the Galle Bay seabed.

The project is the responsibility of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Department of Coastal Conservation and Resource Management, which is the authority responsible for approving it. In 2009, this last body approved an initial evaluation of the environmental impact of the project. In 2022 a plan was presented for a new reclamation of 40 hectares along Dewata Beach. 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 that “the area is also home to the Bona Vista Reef, which must be managed very carefully. This location is not suitable for a large cargo ship port, because it would disturb the ecosystems too much; “It should be a port for smaller ships.”

Currently, the plan foresees two offshore breakwaters of 850 and 150 meters in length, a cruise berth of 150 meters and a draft of 12.5 meters to accommodate large cruise ships, including a state-of-the-art cruise terminal. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has authorized these works. It is also planned to gain 44.97 hectares of land in Galle Bay to facilitate the development of infrastructure and recreational and tourism facilities.

«The Buona Vista reef is threatened, among other things by coral bleaching due to the El Niño phenomenon, the continuous warming of the water surface since the 1990s. In 2022, large portions of the Buona Vista reef, in Rumassala , were washed ashore by bad weather in Galle,” say Prashantha and Sampath. According to recent studies, the reef has the highest biodiversity recorded in a Sri Lankan marine habitat, a high density of live corals with more than 70% cover 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, a similar incident occurred in which huge amounts of reef washed ashore. Therefore, it is necessary to protect this precious resource.

According to senior Environment Ministry officials, the recent publication of a new Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment, which revives the Galle port development project, has raised fears that the planned cleanup could negatively affect the Galle port’s coral reefs. Rumassala Marine Sanctuary, due to its proximity to the development site and the sensitivity of the corals to changes in sediment load, water quality and circulation. Heavy impacts would also affect the local fishing community, including a thriving surf business that brings tourism to the area.