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| Year and Month | 2017 March 05 |
| Number of Days | Half day |
| Crew | 09-Amila, Ashan, Chamara, Kasun, Keshan, Harinda, forest officer, Nilanga and My self |
| Accommodation | Not applicable |
| Transport | Ashan’s vehicle |
| Activities | Garbage cleaning |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Colombo->Waga (වග)->Indikada Mukalana (ඉදිකඩ මූකලාන)->Back to same route |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark | 1. Wear personal protective equipments in this kind of project. At least pair of rubber gloves and shoes. Ashan get injured to his leg by broken glass.2. It is better you can categorize the garbage you collect: Polythene, plastic, degradable items, glasses, broken glasses and metals. Then it is easy to hand over.
3. There should be someone at other end to accept this garbage. In our project, Amila has handed over to local authority. There are agent who buy bottles, plastic items separately. 4. Cleaning is one aspect. Public awareness and restriction are other methods. 5. Better have community involvement.
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| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
This small report is to note down the garbage cleaning activity done at natural water stream flows across the small forest reserve called Indikada Mukalana (ඉදිකඩ මූකලාන). Always we are getting something from the environment and this time decided to do something for the nature.
Indikada Mukalana and it’s water stream is a famous bathing place at Waga area. As it is situated in Colombo district a lot of visitors come in weekend for bath and drink here. This water stream starts from Indikada Mukalana and flows through rubber estate called Srinivasa estate. Usually our people don’t know how to enjoy the nature and put garbage everywhere after eating and drinking. As Indikada Mukalana is also a famous bathing place there are polythene, glass bottles on either side of the water stream.
Our friend Amila has noticed it on his way and suggested to a have cleaning project. There is a nursery belongs to forest department closer to this water stream. Large amount of garbage was infront of this nursery. Main factor was the people who come for bathing here and put empty bottles, polythene and plastics. Sometimes they break glass bottles and it will injure someone else leg.
Indikada Mukalana/ Indikada forest reserve connects with Siriniwasa (සිරිනිවාස) rubber estate. Actually entrance to the water stream is situated at Siriniwasa estate and easily the management can regulate it.
This water stream has some fish species and Nilanga who is an undergraduate came to get pictures of them. Then he also joined with us to collect garbage.
At the end we were able to collect five fertilizer bags of bottles and broken bottles. There were polythene and plastic bags were well.
Amila has handed over it to Pradeshiya Sabha.
At the end we suggested followings:
1. Restrict the entrance by putting a gate. It can be easily done as entrance through private property.
2. Make this area liquor and beer free. Police visits need to avoid liquor here.
3. Public awareness by putting some notices.
 Map of Indikada Mukalana-Photo credit-Ashan |
 Entering to Siriniwasa Estate |
 Nicely painted old tea factory. Still functioning |
 Gravel road at Siriniwasa estate |
 It is a rubber estate |
 It is a rubber estate |
 The bridge over the stream |
 Siriniwasa estate |
 Water stream….Where you can find enough bottles and polythene |
 Nursery of forest department |
 Chamra in work |
 Chamra in work |
 Amila-The man behind this work |
 The board was found…. Photo credit-Ashan |
 Kind request…. But nobody follows. photo credit-Ashan |
 Empty beer cans and polythene… |
 Keshan takes plastic cups and polythene out of water |
 Scattered garbage |
 Empty liquor bottles and broken bottles was a real problem |
 Kasun in action |
 The road at Siriniwasa estate |
 Harinda and Chamara |
 Our luxurious breakfast. Thank you Mrs. Shermila Ragunathan for providing this. |
 Having breakfast |
 This water stream is a home for different species |
 Nice place for bath |
 Amila is happy at the end. |
 Clean water |
 Carrying what we collected |
 At the end |
 At the end |
 Hats off guys … |
Thanks for reading