by Melani Manel Perera

The German embassy to Colombo, along with the local Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), has prepared an action plan for the population, which is already suffering from drought and unpredictable storms. Farmers and fishermen brought to their knees by the change of rainfall and water salinity. In the north of the country, the mango crops for commercial purposes is abandoned.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Improving "the awareness of civil society in Sri Lanka, at all levels, and the government, proposing sustainable policy changes, to develop the environmental conditions and contribute to achieving global climate change", these are the hopes Juergen Morhard, German Ambassador in Colombo.

He was speaking at the presentation of the "Civil Society Climate Action Plan", document prepared by the Centre for Environmental Justice (Cej) Sri Lanka with financial support of the German Embassy. The purpose of the text is to give directives to the civil society to contribute to address the challenges of climate change, which has serious consequences in the country.

Hemantha Withanage, CEJ executive director, said that "Sri Lanka is already having to face the calamities of climate change, like unexpected storms, prolonged droughts and landslides. The most affected people are farmers, fishermen, workers in the cultivation of tea and rubber and all those who are working outdoors. "

The "Civil Action Plan"  is the result of consultations held last June, which involved 100 participants and representatives of most of the districts of Sri Lanka. The plan calls for the cooperation of all civil society organizations to reduce disaster risks.

"During the consultations - says Withanage - we came to know that people are already suffering adverse impacts of climate change. The fishermen said that their fishing was not good in certain seasons and that the situation has changed completely compared to the past. Even the small farmers realized that they cannot follow their usual seasonal cultivation because the pattern of rainfall has changed. "

A farmer from Jaffna, in the far north of the island, said: "The mango is one Jaffna’s cash crops. Compared to the past, we no longer have full harvests. Because of the climate, the mango flowers are dried. It is really disappointing. So, many people decided to stop cultivating mango for commercial purposes".

A fisherman says that "living near the coast, it becomes increasingly difficult to find clean water for daily activities. Before the water salinity was lower. Now the high level of salt in springs near the houses leads us look for alternative sources. It is an extra burden for our lives. "

• SRI
• LANKA
• Civil
• society
• climate
• change