Stop Atman Psychedelic Festival from happening at the Rekawa marine turtle sanctuary.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO) of Sri Lanka announced yesterday its knowledge of a large scale international rave festival that happens along a stretch of beach within the Rekawa Marine Turtle Sanctuary and calls on the relevant authorities in charge to take immediate action to preserve the country’s marine biology and natural resources. The Atman Festival is a 5-day psychedelic rave that has been planned from the 20th to the 25th of January, which coincides with the start of the turtle-nesting season. The highly destructive event deliberately misleads by false marketing as an “eco-sustainable festival”. Already in its second consecutive year, the event violates Sri Lanka’s environmental laws and causes a massive disturbance to 5 of the 7 globally threatened turtle species that frequent the beach to lay eggs.
Declared as Sri Lanka’s first marine turtle sanctuary by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Coast Conservation Department, it is estimated that an average of 17 turtles come ashore daily to lay eggs, during the peak months between January and July. The increased human presence, pollution brought about by the festival and light pollution all indirectly affect the animals, potentially leading to turtle deaths and a reduction of numbers frequenting the beach. “We are not against people having a good time and enjoying the beaches of this island. We are advocating that raves and parties like this should be moved away from marine turtle sanctuaries and protected areas, held elsewhere in locations where disturbances caused to the environment are minimized” said the Chairman of FEO Mr. Rukshan Jayewardene. The FEO calls on the relevant authorities to act on this matter swiftly and ban this music festival from happening within the Rekawa Marine Turtle Sanctuary. Thereby not allowing the marine resources of our country to be jeopardized.Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 11, 2014
December 9, 2014
One hundred people have joined this fight to protect the Rekawa nesting beach. Seeing this level of concern for these turtles gives me the hope I need to keep pushing for their safety.
Reached 100 supporters
December 8, 2014
December 8, 2014
My heart sinks thinking about those nesting turtles facing lights and noise instead of the quiet beach they deserve. We need to reach two hundred and fifty names today so the authorities understand this destruction cannot continue under the guise of an eco-friendly event. Please pass this link along to someone who cares about our coastlines right now.
242 Comments
this cannot be a good thing - the local people are trying to protect the turtles and also using it as a way of attracting tourists to see the turtles - please do not let these large parties happen
What the hell! Do this in Hikka...that's what hikka beach is there for. Rekawa has 5 of the world's 7 species of marine turtles coming there to nest. The importance of Rekawa is beyond compare. LEAVE IT ALONE!
I love psytrance...I go to every festival there is in every country is possible, last year I went to Sri Lanka..made it to Rekawa, the turtle sanctuary itself, and I saw a turtle laying eggs. That place should be left alone the turtles are WAY more important than any festival ANYWHERE.
Understand that this article states we are petitioning for the rave to be MOVED. NOT for it to be STOPPED. I am of the opinion it will bring much needed revenue & tourism into the country. But it must NOT happen at the expense of our wildlife.
Its so sad to see that there is no one to continue the conservation efforts that i initiated in 1993 by sleeping on the beach. I will be coming back to Sri Lanka soon and will make a change once again.
Let’s say this is eco-friendly and you do this. Imagine the amount of events that will follow claiming the area as a party land. We cannot make Turtles to understand that they can use some other area as we are partying at your nest today!
All sorts of pollutions ,enough is enough
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Stop Atman Psychedelic Festival from happening at the Rekawa marine turtle sanctuary.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO) of Sri Lanka announced yesterday its knowledge of a large scale international rave festival that happens along a stretch of beach within the Rekawa Marine Turtle Sanctuary and calls on the relevant authorities in charge to take immediate action to preserve the country’s marine biology and natural resources. The Atman Festival is a 5-day psychedelic rave that has been planned from the 20th to the 25th of January, which coincides with the start of the turtle-nesting season. The highly destructive event deliberately misleads by false marketing as an “eco-sustainable festival”. Already in its second consecutive year, the event violates Sri Lanka’s environmental laws and causes a massive disturbance to 5 of the 7 globally threatened turtle species that frequent the beach to lay eggs.
Declared as Sri Lanka’s first marine turtle sanctuary by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Coast Conservation Department, it is estimated that an average of 17 turtles come ashore daily to lay eggs, during the peak months between January and July. The increased human presence, pollution brought about by the festival and light pollution all indirectly affect the animals, potentially leading to turtle deaths and a reduction of numbers frequenting the beach. “We are not against people having a good time and enjoying the beaches of this island. We are advocating that raves and parties like this should be moved away from marine turtle sanctuaries and protected areas, held elsewhere in locations where disturbances caused to the environment are minimized” said the Chairman of FEO Mr. Rukshan Jayewardene. The FEO calls on the relevant authorities to act on this matter swiftly and ban this music festival from happening within the Rekawa Marine Turtle Sanctuary. Thereby not allowing the marine resources of our country to be jeopardized.Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 11, 2014
December 9, 2014
One hundred people have joined this fight to protect the Rekawa nesting beach. Seeing this level of concern for these turtles gives me the hope I need to keep pushing for their safety.
Reached 100 supporters
December 8, 2014
December 8, 2014
My heart sinks thinking about those nesting turtles facing lights and noise instead of the quiet beach they deserve. We need to reach two hundred and fifty names today so the authorities understand this destruction cannot continue under the guise of an eco-friendly event. Please pass this link along to someone who cares about our coastlines right now.
242 Comments
Let’s say this is eco-friendly and you do this. Imagine the amount of events that will follow claiming the area as a party land. We cannot make Turtles to understand that they can use some other area as we are partying at your nest today!
this cannot be a good thing - the local people are trying to protect the turtles and also using it as a way of attracting tourists to see the turtles - please do not let these large parties happen
What the hell! Do this in Hikka...that's what hikka beach is there for. Rekawa has 5 of the world's 7 species of marine turtles coming there to nest. The importance of Rekawa is beyond compare. LEAVE IT ALONE!
I love psytrance...I go to every festival there is in every country is possible, last year I went to Sri Lanka..made it to Rekawa, the turtle sanctuary itself, and I saw a turtle laying eggs. That place should be left alone the turtles are WAY more important than any festival ANYWHERE.
Understand that this article states we are petitioning for the rave to be MOVED. NOT for it to be STOPPED. I am of the opinion it will bring much needed revenue & tourism into the country. But it must NOT happen at the expense of our wildlife.
Its so sad to see that there is no one to continue the conservation efforts that i initiated in 1993 by sleeping on the beach. I will be coming back to Sri Lanka soon and will make a change once again.
Let’s say this is eco-friendly and you do this. Imagine the amount of events that will follow claiming the area as a party land. We cannot make Turtles to understand that they can use some other area as we are partying at your nest today!
All sorts of pollutions ,enough is enough
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Let’s say this is eco-friendly and you do this. Imagine the amount of events that will follow claiming the area as a party land. We cannot make Turtles to understand that they can use some other area as we are partying at your nest today!