Geo-environmental assessment along southern and western coastal belt of Sri Lanka after the Indian ocean mega Tsunami

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 mcnsoon. 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.