Eight mangrove ecosystems in the Puttalam District are set to receive legal protection. The move forms part of the government’s efforts to safeguard some of the country’s most valuable coastal habitats.
The Ministry of Environment will gazette the eight ecosystems as protected forest reserves on July 27, coinciding with the national programme marking the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
The declaration forms part of the Ministry’s new “Let Mangroves Thrive” programme. The initiative aims to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems by bringing selected habitats under long-term legal protection.
The initiative also supports the government’s broader environmental policy to conserve forest ecosystems for future generations.
Protecting a Vital Coastal Ecosystem
The eight protected areas cover 162.72 hectares of mangrove habitat in Puttalam, home to the country’s largest concentration of mangrove forests.
Mangroves help protect shorelines from erosion. They also provide breeding grounds for fish and other marine life while supporting coastal biodiversity.
The Ministry said the latest declaration is part of a wider programme that will gradually identify and protect mangrove ecosystems across the country.
Puttalam at the Centre of Conservation Efforts
The country has about 12,500 hectares of mangrove forests, with the largest extent found around the estuarine areas of the Puttalam District.
Mangrove habitats are also spread across lagoons in the south-western, southern and north-eastern regions.
Research has identified 11 mangrove species, highlighting the ecological importance of these coastal forests.
The Ministry expects the new protected status to preserve these mangrove habitats for future generations. It also hopes to strengthen long-term conservation efforts through its national environmental programme.
Gazette Release Ministerial Update
Last modified: July 24, 2026
