THE LUNAWA lagoon in southwest Sri Lanka is being polluted by various dyes and toxic chemicals being discharged by industries, especially textile plants, writes Tinil Fernando for Biosphere.

The livelihood of many people have been affected and 74 per cent of the fisherfolk of the region had to give up their occupation because of declining fish catches. Besides, 30 per cent of the population has stopped using well water because it has been contaminated by the effluents.