R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
13.5
Coastal Zone Management in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an Indian Ocean island with a 1760 krn long coastline and is serrated by a
number of estuaries, lagoons and river basins. The Sri Lankan economy is highly dependent on coastal resources. Most of its vital sectors such as tourism, industry, mining and fishing are concentrated in coastal areas and over half of its population are
settled in coastal districts. The fishery sector in Sri Lanka faces serious threats from
degradation of the coastal environment, especially since the most important fishery
resources are derived from lagoons and estuaries, coral reefs and nearshore shallow
waters, which are highly vulnerable to coastal degradation.
11.5.1
Coastal Marine Habitats
Ecosystems such as the mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass are common along the
Sri Lankan coast. Mangroves are found all along the sheltered coastline. A rough estimate of Sri Lanka's total mangrove area would be 10 000 to 13 000 ha, including the
disturbed northern part of the island (Table 13.4).Amarasingha (1988) reported 21 mangrove species and 17 mangrove associated species in the island. Many present activiTable 13.4. Distribution of
mangroves in Sri Lanka
(After Dassanayake 1994)
Table 13.5. District-wise distribution of coral reefs in Sri Lanka
(After Dassanayake 1994)
District
Colombo
Gampaha
Puttalam
Trincomalee
Batticaloa
Amparai
Total
District
Mannar
Jaffna
Trincomalee
Mullaitivu
Batticaloa
Reef
Vakulai
Arippu
Silvathurai
Extent (ha)
9
723
2970
1070
1520
53
6345
Linear extent (km)
4+
7
2
Point Pedro-Keerimalai 10
Foul Point
6
Coral Point
2
Nilaveli
1-2
Pigeon Island
2-3
ThennadiBay
8
Palavi Point
Palavai Bay
Elephant Point
4
Vandeloos Bay
Pasikudah
Kalkudah .,
13.5
Coastal Zone Management in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an Indian Ocean island with a 1760 krn long coastline and is serrated by a
number of estuaries, lagoons and river basins. The Sri Lankan economy is highly dependent on coastal resources. Most of its vital sectors such as tourism, industry, mining and fishing are concentrated in coastal areas and over half of its population are
settled in coastal districts. The fishery sector in Sri Lanka faces serious threats from
degradation of the coastal environment, especially since the most important fishery
resources are derived from lagoons and estuaries, coral reefs and nearshore shallow
waters, which are highly vulnerable to coastal degradation.
11.5.1
Coastal Marine Habitats
Ecosystems such as the mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass are common along the
Sri Lankan coast. Mangroves are found all along the sheltered coastline. A rough estimate of Sri Lanka's total mangrove area would be 10 000 to 13 000 ha, including the
disturbed northern part of the island (Table 13.4).Amarasingha (1988) reported 21 mangrove species and 17 mangrove associated species in the island. Many present activiTable 13.4. Distribution of
mangroves in Sri Lanka
(After Dassanayake 1994)
Table 13.5. District-wise distribution of coral reefs in Sri Lanka
(After Dassanayake 1994)
District
Colombo
Gampaha
Puttalam
Trincomalee
Batticaloa
Amparai
Total
District
Mannar
Jaffna
Trincomalee
Mullaitivu
Batticaloa
Reef
Vakulai
Arippu
Silvathurai
Extent (ha)
9
723
2970
1070
1520
53
6345
Linear extent (km)
4+
7
2
Point Pedro-Keerimalai 10
Foul Point
6
Coral Point
2
Nilaveli
1-2
Pigeon Island
2-3
ThennadiBay
8
Palavi Point
Palavai Bay
Elephant Point
4
Vandeloos Bay
Pasikudah
Kalkudah .,