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The
Lanka council of waterfalls (LCWF), a non-profit scientific organization
is focused on the socio cultural protection of the country's wealth of
waterfalls, they do this by making both sri Lankans and foreigners
aware of this great asset says LCWF president.
They
have several study areas, among them the life-style of the people who live
near the waterfalls, the flora and fauna, the economic benefits, related
myths and legends and the specific sounds of water.
With
measurements done by the survey department, the LCWF has been instrumental
in getting three Sri Lankan waterfalls listed in the 100 highest
waterfalls of the world.
The
three are Bambarakanda fall,
241 meters high, placed 48th, Kuruduoya
fall 189 meters high, placed 58th and Diyaluma
fall, 171metres high, placed 62nd.
The
LCWF plans to draw international attention to the country's waterfalls by
conducting an international meeting on waterfalls by 2005.
Recently
launched is a diploma course with lecturers comprising university students and
professionals of the field like J.B Disanayaka, emeritus professor of
Sinhala Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya, prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe, prof. Sarath
Kotagama and prof. Mahinda Rupasinghe. The syllabus includes an
introduction to water, water management, definition of water, the
formation of a waterfall, geological background, measuring methods,
conservation, bio- diversity and economic benefits, the four- month
diploma is part time, held on weekends and is open to anyone interested in
the field.
The
LCWF includes a study centre as well as an information centre.
Developed
countries utilize waterfalls to generate hydropower without affection
their natural state. Sri Lanka however, being a developing countries faces
huge challenges in operating such projects with conservationists objection
on several grounds.
We
have gathered that the occasional awareness programmes on the value of
waterfalls do not make any sense to poverty stricken people. We need to
teach them the value of waterfalls in a practical way. When the number of
tourists grows, they automatically start to sense the growth of their
economics state as well, "says LCWF coordinator. The LCWF is planning
to activate eco-tourism projects, he added.
The LCWF is also searching for waterfall related songs and have their own theme song written by Dharmasiri Gamage with music directed by Rohana Weerasinghe. Those interested in the study of waterfalls should log on to their website www.srilankanwaterfalls.org. (Source : http://www.sundaytimes.lk)
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Lanka
Council On Waterfalls (LCWF), PO BOX 26, 434/3 Sri Jayawardenapura-Sri
Lanka.
E-mail: waterfalls@sltnet.lk, afejchairman@yahoo.com/ phone: +94 (0)11 5648151/+94 (0)71 2733986
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