Cabinet approval has been granted to proceed with plans to restore Calido Beach, the Kalutara lagoon, and the mouth of the Kalu River following severe coastal erosion caused by flood mitigation measures implemented in 2017.
According to the Cabinet decision, the erosion occurred after the Calido sandbar at the Kalu River mouth was cut open to control flooding during the severe floods experienced that year.
This action resulted in the complete washing away of the sandbar, triggering intense coastal erosion along nearly 2.5 kilometres of the Kalutara coastline.
Despite several years having passed, the Kalu River mouth has not regained its natural stability, leading to continued rapid erosion along the northern Kalutara coastal belt.
The ongoing erosion poses a serious threat to tourism activities as well as critical infrastructure in the area.
Environmental concerns have also grown in the Kalutara lagoon, where poor water circulation, pollution, and sediment accumulation have contributed to ecological damage and fisheries-related issues.
