Sinhala Documentary on Coral Reefs Released

4 April 2001

The Sri Lanka Environmental Television Project (SLETP) launched a new Sinhala documentary on coral reefs at the public exhibition on coral reefs held at the BMICH, Colombo, from March 28 to April 4.

The 45 minute documentary, called Hirigal Thrikonaya, was launched on March 29, at the BMICH Cinema Hall, and was repeated several times during the week-long exhibition. The exhibition, titled A Tomorrow for our Reefs, was organised by IUCN - the World Conservation Union, in collaboration with several government and non-governmental organisations.

Hirigal Thrikonaya is the Sinhala version of an outstanding television programme called Coral Triangle, produced in the mid-1990s by the BBC and the International Television Trust for the Environment (TVE). It tells the story of the coral reefs surrounding the 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines, which are being dynamited, poisoned, quarried and sold for short-term profit. The documentary assesses the pressures put on the country's most valuable resource by a growing population.

The film has breath-taking sequences of coral reef biodiversity filmed underwater, including one that shows a group of young Filipino boys driving shoals of fish into huge underwater nets, in the dangerous technique known as maru ami, or chamber-net fishing. But as the film argues, the treasures of the reef could be exploited on a more sustainable basis if importers and tourists respect international regulations on endangered species. The Filipino experience holds valuable lessons for Sri Lanka as we struggle to conserve coral reefs that are under similar pressures.

The SLETP voice-dubbed this documentary into Sinhala as part of its on-going process to introduce outstanding environment and development films to Sri Lankan audiences. The script was translated by senior journalist Banduransi Perera, and the dubbing process was coordinated by SLETP Executive Director Nalaka Gunawardene. The programme is narrated by Kamal Deshapriya.

Both Sinhala and English version of this coral reef programme - along with many other films on marine themes - are now available for sale from the SLETP office at 18/1, Main Street, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. Phone: +94-11-5042380