Digital mapping of Negombo lagoon pollution sources

The Collective to protect Negombo Lagoon was formed by fishermen, organizations, and interested individuals in the Negombo Lagoon area to work as a people's movement to save the Negombo Lagoon which is becoming a dead zoon due to human activities. Janawabodha Kendra a leading Civil Society Organization in Negombo area took the initiative to build this movement and at present the YMCA of Pamunugama is also taking part in its activities.

Collective has already intervened on several occasions to prevent environmental damage around the Negombo Lagoon. In order to assist the interventions collective decided a prepare a digital map of the Negombo lagoon which indicates the places with pollution sources in and around Negombo lagoon. Four young people interested in the environment, the staff of the Janawabodha Kendra and the YMCA of Pamunugama are currently contributing to the initial phase of the work.

Accordingly, a preliminary planning discussion on the mapping program was held on 23rd October 2021 at the YMCA of Pamunugama. Then the volunteers travelled around the Negombo lagoon on November 21, 2021 in two groups to gather information such as mangrove deforestation, land invasions, buildings and docks built illegally. This information is currently being computerized with the help of the Google My Map application.

Further information will be gathered and the map will continue to be updated. Further action on the data and information obtained will be taken with the intervention of the Collective. 

(Translated from Sinhala to English using google translation)