AP PHOTOS: In Sri Lanka, fishers suffer as sea erosion destroys homes and beaches
AP PHOTOS: In Sri Lanka, fishers suffer as sea erosion destroys homes and beaches
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean as he stands by the remains of his family’s home in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjith Sunimal Fernando gestures as he looks for salvageable items at his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. He salvaged what he could from the wreck of what was once his home — wooden support beams, sections of roof and other building materials — to build another further inland. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap against an eroded shoreline with Ranjith Sunimal Fernando’s family home visible in the distance in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Fishing boats are docked as a man throws a fishing net by a sand dune in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands between a washed out stretch of land in his backyard on an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. “I don’t know what will happen in the future but I still keep my faith,” Fernando said, one of a few in Iranawila whose house remains intact. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Jassintha, the wife of Ranjith Sunimal Fernando, sits at their temporary dwelling in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara salvages a doorway from their home destroyed by erosion along the coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves gush on to the banks of the seashore in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjit Sunimal Fernando, front, salvages reusable rafters from the wreck of his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap up against the remains of the Ranjit Sunimal Fernando family home in Iranawila, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean sitting by the wreck of his family house destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 17, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands on a fallen coconut tree trunk at a washed out land stretch at the backyard of his house along the eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Tidal waves lap a a barrier to slow erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
A man watches Nuwan Fernando, left, in the water, who wades in the tide to collect stones washed out from his land due to coastal erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara, front, and his father Ranjit Sunimal Fernando look at the ocean as they stand by the wreck of their washed out house, remains at an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean as he stands by the remains of his family’s home in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean as he stands by the remains of his family’s home in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjith Sunimal Fernando gestures as he looks for salvageable items at his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. He salvaged what he could from the wreck of what was once his home — wooden support beams, sections of roof and other building materials — to build another further inland. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjith Sunimal Fernando gestures as he looks for salvageable items at his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. He salvaged what he could from the wreck of what was once his home — wooden support beams, sections of roof and other building materials — to build another further inland. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap against an eroded shoreline with Ranjith Sunimal Fernando’s family home visible in the distance in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap against an eroded shoreline with Ranjith Sunimal Fernando’s family home visible in the distance in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Fishing boats are docked as a man throws a fishing net by a sand dune in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Fishing boats are docked as a man throws a fishing net by a sand dune in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands between a washed out stretch of land in his backyard on an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. “I don’t know what will happen in the future but I still keep my faith,” Fernando said, one of a few in Iranawila whose house remains intact. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands between a washed out stretch of land in his backyard on an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. “I don’t know what will happen in the future but I still keep my faith,” Fernando said, one of a few in Iranawila whose house remains intact. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Jassintha, the wife of Ranjith Sunimal Fernando, sits at their temporary dwelling in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Jassintha, the wife of Ranjith Sunimal Fernando, sits at their temporary dwelling in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara salvages a doorway from their home destroyed by erosion along the coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara salvages a doorway from their home destroyed by erosion along the coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves gush on to the banks of the seashore in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves gush on to the banks of the seashore in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjit Sunimal Fernando, front, salvages reusable rafters from the wreck of his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjit Sunimal Fernando, front, salvages reusable rafters from the wreck of his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap up against the remains of the Ranjit Sunimal Fernando family home in Iranawila, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap up against the remains of the Ranjit Sunimal Fernando family home in Iranawila, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean sitting by the wreck of his family house destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 17, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean sitting by the wreck of his family house destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 17, 2023. Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands on a fallen coconut tree trunk at a washed out land stretch at the backyard of his house along the eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands on a fallen coconut tree trunk at a washed out land stretch at the backyard of his house along the eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Tidal waves lap a a barrier to slow erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Tidal waves lap a a barrier to slow erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
A man watches Nuwan Fernando, left, in the water, who wades in the tide to collect stones washed out from his land due to coastal erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
A man watches Nuwan Fernando, left, in the water, who wades in the tide to collect stones washed out from his land due to coastal erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara, front, and his father Ranjit Sunimal Fernando look at the ocean as they stand by the wreck of their washed out house, remains at an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara, front, and his father Ranjit Sunimal Fernando look at the ocean as they stand by the wreck of their washed out house, remains at an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
IRANAWILA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Ranjith Sunimal Fernando now has a shell of a home at the edge of Sri Lanka’s coast, lost to the sea. Waves lap past the broken walls into damaged, empty rooms.
“One night last month, my son went to the bathroom and I suddenly heard him screaming, ‘our house has gone into the sea!’,” said Fernando, a 58-year-old fisher born and raised in Iranawila, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital, Colombo.
“I saw parts of my house were already eaten up by the sea and my son coming out of the water, carrying our commode. Our home’s foundation was completely washed out and we were forced to shift further inland.”
Ranjith Sunimal Fernando gestures as he looks for salvageable items at his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjith Sunimal Fernando gestures as he looks for salvageable items at his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap against an eroded shoreline with Ranjith Sunimal Fernando’s family home visible in the distance in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap against an eroded shoreline with Ranjith Sunimal Fernando’s family home visible in the distance in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
He salvaged what he could from the wreck of what was once his home — wooden support beams, sections of roof and other building materials — to build another further inland. Others go out to the water to recover items they lost to the sea.
Much like the hundreds of other fishing hamlets that dot the coastline, the village of Iranawila suffers from coastal erosion. Cyclones, surging seas and flooding are taking away people’s homes and sometimes their livelihoods.
There is measly protection: sections of sea walls are already toppled by crashing waves.
Almost everyone in Iranawila are fishers. With increasing erosion from the encroaching sea, they have less space to anchor their boats. Fernando and others fishers in the village said they are unable to go fishing because of these problems.
Nuwan Fernando stands between a washed out stretch of land in his backyard on an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands between a washed out stretch of land in his backyard on an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Locals say increasing severe weather and the development of a sea reclamation project not far from Iranawila are the main reasons for the increased erosion that is leading to so much destruction. They say that the sea shore has moved in a few hundred meters (yards) in the last three years.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future but I still keep my faith,” said Nuwan Fernando, one of a few in Iranawila whose house, which is slightly elevated off the shoreline, remains intact. “There is a lot of work on big reclamation projects but no proper plan to protect people like us.”
Tens of millions of people in South Asia, among the most densely populated region in the world, live along coastlines and are vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Dilrukshan Kumara salvages a doorway from their home destroyed by erosion along the coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara salvages a doorway from their home destroyed by erosion along the coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Jassintha, the wife of Ranjith Sunimal Fernando, sits at their temporary dwelling in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Jassintha, the wife of Ranjith Sunimal Fernando, sits at their temporary dwelling in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjit Sunimal Fernando, front, salvages reusable rafters from the wreck of his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Ranjit Sunimal Fernando, front, salvages reusable rafters from the wreck of his home destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap up against the remains of the Ranjit Sunimal Fernando family home in Iranawila, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Waves lap up against the remains of the Ranjit Sunimal Fernando family home in Iranawila, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean sitting by the wreck of his family house destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara looks at the ocean sitting by the wreck of his family house destroyed by erosion in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands on a fallen coconut tree trunk at a washed out land stretch at the backyard of his house along the eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Nuwan Fernando stands on a fallen coconut tree trunk at a washed out land stretch at the backyard of his house along the eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara, front, and his father Ranjit Sunimal Fernando look at the ocean as they stand by the wreck of their washed out house, remains at an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Dilrukshan Kumara, front, and his father Ranjit Sunimal Fernando look at the ocean as they stand by the wreck of their washed out house, remains at an eroding coast in Iranawila, Sri Lanka, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
