Once the largest isle of the Kalpitiya islands, it was home to around 3,000 families a decade ago. However, with the rapid coastal erosion, many opted to leave and the isle is only inhabited by around 30 families now.

In the past, the isle held a police, a school, a church, a cinema hall and a sub post office. Now, only the church and a dilapidated sub post office remains.

Residents are of the view that the coastal erosion of the North Western coast had worsened sharply due to the dredging done for the Port City and other development activities taking place further south of Sri Lanka.

In this backdrop, most islanders are heading towards the neighbouring island of Paramunai, which is around one nautical mile away from Palliyawatta.

At the present, around 100 families live in Paramunai island.

Residents urge authorities to save their disappearing island before creating new cities on land reclaimed from the sea.

(BBC Sandeshaya - Prasad Poornimal Jayamanna)