– A high-level discussion aimed at protecting Sri Lanka’s northern coastal waters and marine ecosystems was held today at the Environment Ministry, with special focus on preventing environmental pollution and strengthening marine conservation efforts.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Environment Deputy MinisterAnton Jayakody and Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara.

Senior naval officers, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K.R. Uduwawala, Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Samantha Gunasekara, Director General of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department Prof. Turny Pradeep Kumara, Conservator General of Forests Palamakumbura, officials from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Ministry of Environment, as well as senior ecologists from International Union for Conservation of Nature attended the discussion.During the meeting, attention was focused on tackling environmental threats in the northern seas and accelerating the declaration of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the region. Officials stressed that protecting the marine ecosystem is essential for conserving biodiversity, safeguarding the livelihoods of fishing communities and strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime standing internationally.

The discussion also highlighted the growing threat posed by Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. The Deputy Ministers noted that such practices pose serious risks to marine biodiversity and the economic stability of local fishermen, calling for stronger surveillance and stricter law enforcement measures.Concerns were also raised over destructive fishing methods, including dynamite fishing, unauthorized spearfishing and the use of banned fishing gear, which continue to damage coral reefs and threaten endangered marine species.Officials further discussed shortcomings in the management and regulation of fishing harbours, identifying the absence of proper governance mechanisms as a major vulnerability.

As part of the conservation initiative, several islands and surrounding marine zones in the Northern Province have been identified to be declared as Marine Protected Areas. Authorities clarified that the proposed MPAs would not affect the livelihoods of local communities, but instead promote sustainable fishing practices and eco-tourism opportunities.The meeting also proposed the establishment of a multi-sector working group comprising representatives from the Ministries of Tourism, Fisheries, Defense, Environment and Justice to implement a joint mechanism to protect the country’s coastal and marine resources, with the Ministry of Environment taking the lead role.Officials said the initiative would help Sri Lanka strengthen its commitment to global biodiversity conservation while enhancing the international recognition of the country’s northern marine zones.