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Sallitivu Islet significant for rich biodiversity, is located in the Batticaloa District in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 33,000 square meters (8.2 acres) in size, 240 metres in length and 200 meters wide at the widest section. The island is connected to mainland over a sand bar about 200 meters in length. This sand bar is exposed during the low tide and even during the high tide, its only few inches below water. This island is protected by a ring of coral reef with a 200 meter wide reef on the eastern side.
Sallitivu Islet is uninhabited and there is no freshwater here. The island is used as a rest stop by the local fisherman in the area. It has a wide and a pristine beach but unfortunately its covered with a thick layer of washed in coral rubble. The sandy beaches had been filled with this rubble only after the Tsunami of 2004.
The reef region is very shallow, 10-60 cm in depth. Much of the reef crest is exposed above water during the low tide. Sadly the most of the coral reef is dead and during a research it was found that the live coral cover was less than 5%.
All plant species observed in the island are native to Sri Lanka with a total number of 50 plant species, comprising one nationally endangered, two nationally vulnerable and four nationally near threatened plant species. The natural habitats observed in the island support a very rich biodiversity (Ex mangroves, coastal scrub, beach and beach associated vegetation).
As revealed by an environmental organisation, an illegal tourism project had been initiated in 2017 under the patronage of powerful politicians including a hotel on this highly environmentally sensitive island itself. The hotel was partially complete when the Environmental Foundation Ltd went to courts against this illegal project and finally, the relevant parties agreed to remove all the unauthorized structures in the island.
If you are visiting Batticaloa, Pasikuda / Kalkuda or Trincomalee, this is ideal trip of half day where you could spend few hours in an uninhabited island enjoying the pristine beaches of Vakarai.
Also See
- Attractions of Sri Lanka
- Heritage of Sri Lanka
- Waterfalls of Sri Lanka
- Nature and Wildlife of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Sallitivu Island in Vakarai, Sri Lanka
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Travel Directions to Sallitivu Island in Vakarai, Sri Lanka
| Route from Trincomalee to Sallitivu Island | Route from Batticaloa to Sallitivu Island |
|---|---|
| Through : Mutur – Verugal Distance : 81 km Travel time : 2 hours Time to Spend : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map | Through : Eravur – Oddamavadi Distance : 68 km Travel time : 1.30 hours Time to Spend : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map |