Why was the destruction of the coral reefs a perfect example of the improvidence of the Ceylonese?

The Ceylonese were dynamiting the coral reefs to burn in the production of lime. But the destruction of the corals led to shore erosion, which needed to be addressed through a government program to cement the reefs. Ironically, cement is made with lime, thereby providing the Ceylonese with an incentive to dynamite more of the reefs. Theroux pointed out that the "industry" was self-consuming and achieved nothing.