Like Sagara, most children living in the islet do not get a proper education, BBC Sandeshaya reports.

Battalangunduwas has a school building, but it remains closed for more than a year as the state has not given teacher.

A Navy officer has now mediated to reopen the school, which is sans other educational facilities, say children and parents.

Located 18 miles off Kalpitiya, Battalangunduwa is home to nearly 5,000 people from 800-odd families.

Traditional fishermen, they say their livelihood is threatened by Indian fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters using illegal methods.

They want authorities to open the shorter access road to the islet through Palugahature.

The people’s woes have been worsened by severe sea erosion that threaten to wipe Battalangunduwa out of the map.

Their situation is similar to the Palliyawattu islet in the northwestern sea, whose population dwindled from nearly 5,000 to nearly 50 families at present, following sea erosion.

Its school, police station and the post office have all being washed away by the sea.