Coastal Cleanup Day Marked Across Sri Lanka

COLOMBO(News 1st); Today marks International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Coinciding with this, Ocean Conservation Week also begins today.

International Coastal Cleanup Day, initiated around 30 years ago, is observed annually on the third Saturday of September to protect coastal environments worldwide.

On this day, individuals and organizations across the globe unite to carry out beach and waterway cleanups.

according to the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Sri Lanka has been participating in International Coastal Cleanup Day since 2008, 

Due to increased urbanization and development, Sri Lanka’s coastal areas have suffered significant pollution over the years.

In 2016, a cabinet paper officially designated a week as “Marine Resources Conservation Week,” aligning it with International Coastal Cleanup Day to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices.

MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekara announced, The official state ceremony for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day will take place this morning at Panadura Beach Park, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya, 

Meanwhile, MEPA Assistant Manager (Operations), Prabath Amaranayake, stated that scientific methods will be used during the cleanups to collect data on coastal waste.