RUK

RUK

Rekawa,
Ussangoda
& Kalametiya

There is an area of Sri Lanka referred to by the tourist cognoscenti as RUK’ While in acronym form it is doesn't mean much, if you take the three places that the letters stand for — Rekawa, Ussangoda and Kalametiya — it starts to make sense, for these villages fall on the south coast between Tangalle and Hambantotag

Source
http://ecoislandsrilanka.com/Rekawa%20Turtle%20Watching%20in%20Sri%20Lanka.html

RUK is one of Sri Lanka's up-and-coming ecotourism hotspots, It covers an area of coastline from Rekawa, 10km east of Tangalle, to Godawaya near Ambalantota and includes all of the lagoons, Lfarmland and villages in-between. It's a very rural area - fishing and farming predominates - very scenic and characterized by a variety of ecologically important coastal habitats that, have become great places for community and nature-based tourism.

Climatically, RUK is split into, different zones; Rekawa to the west, lies in the intermediate zone, while the rest of the RUK area to the east is located in the dry zone and receives very little,rainfall. The area is made up of three large lagoons (Rekawa, Kalametiya and Lunama) that sustain many communities through fishing. Although the three main areas Rekawa, Ussangoda and kalametiya are protected in their own right, work is ongoing to protect this area as a whole.

REKAWA

Of the three, Rekawa is certainly the best-known on account of its importance as a turtle nesting site in Sri Lanka - so much so that nightly' turtle watches' are held. The stretch of coastline at Rekawa is typically 'southern' and very unspoilt with crashing waves, a wide, shell-swept beach, and sand dunes. A handful of villages surrounding Rekawa - such as Medilla, Medagama, Weheragala and Nidahasgama - are home to large areas of vital mangrove cover while Rekawa Lagoon, Kahandamodera Lagoon and Kunakalliya Lewaya see large amounts of birdlife passing through on migratory paths, especially pelicans.

The Turtle Conservation Project (TCP), a local NGO, is very, active in Rekawa. Since 1994, they have worked with the people of this low-income fishing village to educate them on conservation and environmental awareness. Initially set up to protect endangered sea turtles that use this beach as a nesting ground, TCP went on to inform and employ as nest protectors the very people who once poached turtle eggs. Today, these protectors take pride in earning a living as government-registered tour guides who patrol the beaches, safeguard the eggs from predators and entertain tourists on nightly tourist watches.

By actively involving the community and making villagers aware from a young age about environmental awareness, TCP has made a huge difference to the survival of marine turtles in Rekawa. Similarly, through education and; insight, TCP has shown villagers the damage they are doing to the natural environment - such as mangrove deforestation and the degradation of reefs through coral mining. (The latter is a process in which coral is mined then burned in mangrove-fuelled kilns to make lime for the construction industry.) By giving the villagers alternate income-generating initiatives, such as ornamental fish breeding, TCP hopes these practices will discontinue. As villagers generate income, it allows them to be self-sufficient, to use it for vital small-scale village development schemes such as school-repairs.

Scenic and picturesque, the greener, western part of RUK- offers the visitor plenty to explore: wild beaches, rural villages fringed by paddy plantations and kitchen gardens, fields full of buffalo, Buddhist temples and of course nightly turtle watches at Rekawa beach from 8.30pm!

USSANGODA 

Ussangoda is located east of Rekawa and Kalametiya pear the village of Nonagama. It's a very peculiar place shrouded in mystery, and yet to be fully explored. A lunar landscape prevails the earth is a dark red, and the area devoid of trees, Instead, moss short grass and bush dominate the place, growing in strange formations. From inland the area gently slopes down towards the coast where cliffs hang over a sandy bay. Although declared a prehistoric site - most of it comes under the authority of the Department of Archaeology - there are other stories that aim to explain its uncharacteristic appearance.

Source: http://www.imagine.lk/attraction-detail/ussangoda-national-park.html

One is that a meteorite fell here, which would account for the barren nature of the soil. Another story is connected to the epic Ramayana legend claiming- it was- here that the King of Lanka, Ravana, landed his mythological flying machine (dandumonara) when he came to capture the wife of Prince Rama of India. Meanwhile the villagers say that many meters below the surface is fresh water which is unusual since it is too close to the sea.

Ussangoda is undoubtedly a fascinating place] where rare medicinal plants, protect flowers and herbaceous shrubs thrive on highly lateralized serpentine soils. The sheltered beach also offers the rare opportunity in this area of safe swimming, while a walks are enjoyable. The view over Kalametiya Sanctuary, the coastline and out to sea is breathtaking. Close to Ussangoda is the village of Godawaya. Fringed by mangrove stands, it is another popular 

KALAMETIYA

SOURCE  http://www.srilankajetaime.com/newblog/

Kalametiya Sanctuary is an extensive wetlands area of lagoons and mangrove swamps popular with rotating birds. It is considered to be one, of the few remaining diversity rich areas on the west coast. Fact it's included in the Directory Asian Wetlands. Kalametiya is actually one of Sri Lanka's eldest bird sanctuaries, having been declared in 1940. However, due to local opposition it was divided in 1946 after tireless campaigning by conservation bodies Kalametiya war re - declared

 Due to the complex system of wetlands and terrestrial habitats, Kalametiya has high bird diversity from Kingfisher, Kites and flamingos to sandpipers, Terns and Plovers and it is also an important refuge for smaller mammals such as mongoose’s hares, squirrels and monkeys.