The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate eight mangrove ecosystems in the Puttalam District as new protected reserves this year as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of Sri Lanka’s forest ecosystems.
According to the Ministry, the relevant Gazette notification will be signed on July 27 in conjunction with the national programme marking the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader environmental conservation programme and aligns with its new environmental policy. The Ministry has also launched a programme titled “Let Mangroves Thrive” to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems across the country.
Under the programme, selected mangrove ecosystems will be declared protected forest reserves to ensure their long-term conservation.
The Ministry stated that the declaration of the eight mangrove ecosystems coincides with the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, observed annually on July 26.
A total of 162.72 hectares of mangrove habitats will be brought under protected reserve status through the new gazette.
Sri Lanka is home to approximately 12,500 hectares of mangrove forests, with the largest concentration located around the estuarine areas of the Puttalam District.
Mangrove forests are also found along lagoons in the south-western, southern and north-eastern regions of the country. According to the Ministry, research has identified 11 mangrove species native to Sri Lanka.
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