Turtle Conservation Sri Lanka
Mangrove Planting SLCG
Coral Restoration
Marine Protected Area Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Coast Guard Blue-Green Domain Initiative

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) is expanding its institutional mandate from maritime law enforcement to the active stewardship of Sri Lanka's coastal biodiversity. The Blue-Green Domain Initiative integrates marine (blue) and coastal-terrestrial (green) ecosystem protection into daily operational activities and community engagement.

Under the legal authority of the Coast Guard Act, the SLCG performs vital duties to protect the marine environment, prevent pollution, and enforce maritime laws. Operating across four strategic regions, continuous near-shore presence and strong relationships with coastal communities uniquely position the SLCG to lead structured, long-term conservation programmes.

Our Conservation Programme

Sea Turtle Conservation and Rehabilitation

Sri Lanka's Marine Turtle Diversity

Sri Lanka's coastline hosts globally significant biodiversity, including vital nesting habitats for five of the world's seven sea turtle species:

Green Turtles Green Turtles
Leatherbacks Leatherbacks
Olive Ridleys Olive Ridleys
Hawksbills Hawksbills
Loggerheads Loggerheads

Turtle Conservation Gallery

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Turtle Conservation 1
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 2
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 3
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 4
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 5
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 6
Hatchling Release
Turtle Conservation 7
Hatchling Release

The Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project (CGTCP)

Launched in 2016 at the SLCG Headquarters Mirissa Beach, the CGTCP safeguards breeding grounds and operates protective hatcheries. With the success of the project, SLCG has expanded operations to include hatcheries at all lifesaving posts.

Hatchery Locations

Panadura
Wellawatta
Moragalla
Bentota
Hikkaduwa
Unawatuna
Mount Lavinia

Mangrove & Mudflat (Mudilla) Plantation Programme

Programme Overview

Coastal ecosystems vary based on salinity, tides, rainfall, and soil conditions. To combat historical plant mortality rates, the SLCG partners with stakeholders such as NARA, the Coastal Conservation Department, and the Department of Forest Conservation in making effort to plant Mudilla and Mangrove in selected areas.

Mangrove & Mudilla Plantation Gallery

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Mangrove Planting 1
Mangrove Planting
Mangrove Planting 2
Mangrove Planting
Mangrove Planting 3
Mudilla Plantation
Mangrove Planting 5
Mudilla Plantation
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Community Engagement
Mangrove Planting 4
Community Engagement

INSEE Cement Partnership

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard has recently launched a joint initiative with INSEE Cement Sri Lanka to plant 10,000 Mudilla and 10,000 mangrove trees annually. Under this project, Regional Directors are responsible for collecting saplings and establishing local nurseries.

Community Engagement

Regular planting events with school children, fishing communities, and environmental clubs. Join our World Environment Day (June 5th) mega-planting event.

  • Mangrove Species: Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia marina, Sonneratia caseolaris, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
  • Mudilla (Terminalia arjuna): Native coastal tree providing windbreaks and erosion control

Coral Reef Protection and Rehabilitation

Importance of Coral Reefs

Sri Lanka's coral reefs are the most productive marine ecosystems, serving as natural barriers against coastal erosion and sustaining local fisheries.

Threats to Reefs

  • Coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures
  • Destructive blast fishing and bottom trawling
  • Illegal coral mining and severe plastic pollution

Multi-Agency Institutional Framework

  • NARA: Directs scientific site selection and identifies priority coral species
  • MEPA: Monitors water quality and manages land-based pollution
  • CCD: Provides legal approvals and field-level technical consultations
  • SLCG: Conducts reef monitoring, enforces exclusion zones, and deploys artificial reef modules

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Sri Lanka's Marine Protected Areas

Sri Lanka features diverse marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and critical nesting beaches. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are demarcated zones managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

MPAs protect underwater ecosystems from over-exploitation, while the Sri Lanka Coast Guard serves as one of the lead enforcement agencies to safeguard these boundaries while balancing tourism, national security, and marine biodiversity.

SLCG Enforcement & Protection

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard enforces and protects these declared boundaries through:

  • Enforcing fishing regulations, stopping illegal entries, and detaining poachers inside MPA boundaries
  • Acting as the first responder to contain oil spills and mitigate marine pollution
  • Operating dedicated hatcheries to protect endangered sea turtles and rescue eggs from poachers under the Turtle Conservation Project
  • Coastal Preservation through the Blue Green Domain initiative by restoring coastal Mudilla and mangrove ecosystems while organizing beach cleanups to ensure sustainable tourism

Key MPA Sites

Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary, Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary, Pigeon Island, and many other critical habitats benefit from Coast Guard patrols and conservation efforts.