There have been repeated pleas to stop coral mining in the coastal areas of the country. It is now an accepted fact that the destruction wrought by the tsunami of Dec 25, 2004 was worsened on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka owing to the practice of coral mining.

Diving enthusiasts such as Sir Arthur C. Clarke have been campaigning for coral reef protection and other matters relating to coastal preservation for long a long time, to no avail.

The coral reefs from Akurela to Hikkaduwa have been mined for years to make lime which is used in the construction of buildings. Although this area had become very famous for its lime, the depletion of the corals had resulted in the killer waves lashing the shore with an unprecedented ferocity.

It took only a matter of a few minutes for 1500 people to be killed in Peraliya, which is situated 96 km south of Colombo. This occurred when the railway train in which they were traveling was struck by giant waves twice in quick succession. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will see that although it has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, the battered, dented and rusted train continues to be a grim reminder of it of the devastation caused by the Tsunami. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the town of Peraliya has suffered heavy losses, with 2,500 recorded as having died and an additional 450 families rendered homeless.

When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the coral gardens at Hikkaduwa and Akurela have survived the fury as they are better able to stand the waves than the species on land. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that they continue to be tourist attractions in their own right.

When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the palm fringed coastline from Colombo to Galle has been a major tourist attraction, especially for Westerners looking for surf, sun and sand. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the place bristles with small and large lodges and hotels, several of them right on the shoreline.

The Tsunami had induced some awareness of coastal management and it was comforting to observe the government introduced rule that there should be no construction within hundred metres of the shoreline. However, When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the implementation of these conservation measures could be more effective.

When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that the sea has eroded the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka to a considerable degree. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that that the beaches are becoming scarce all along the Colombo-Galle road. When you visit beach resorts Sri Lanka you will find that, in many places, the shoreline is barely a few yards away from the main road and rail line.