Large parts of Sri Lanka’s coastline were devastated by the Tsunami of December 2004, and coastal vegetation was often destroyed leaving the coastline vulnerable to further damage from erosion. It was observed too that coastal areas tree cover suffered significantly less damage from the waves. Ruk Rakaganno therefore regarded the re-vegetating and rehabilitation of the affected areas, and increasing the tree cover around the coast an immediate and urgent priority. Tree planting is currently being carried out in conjunction with schools along the coast. School children participate in an initial awareness raising workshop, and then in planting trees in their school grounds as well on the beach. The first phase of the project took us to 75 schools along the southern coast. Funding for this project has been received from the International Dendrology Society, UK., and further funding pledged by the consortium for Humanitarian Agencies (CHA).
It is proposed to extend this program to the eastern seaboard shortly, adapting the program to sit the local Muslim, Tamil speaking communities as well.
Ruk Rakaganno set up a nursery in the southern city of Galle, to provide planting material for the lands affected by the tsunami. This is located on Rumassala, the mountain overlooking Galle harbor, famed for its diversity of medicinal plants. Satellite nurseries and training workshops are planned, to provide livelihood development for local communities, providing skills training and self employment opportunities.
Another objective of the project is to make the coast, in particular the town of Galle, more attractive to visitors through re-vegetation. Visitors are invited to sponsor planting in selected sites or to participate in the planting themselves. Plants have been supplied to rehabilitate the denuded coastal strip.
Initial sponsorship was provided by the Responsible Tourism Partnership, Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Travel Foundation U. K.