Nature & Wildlife · The Sea
Oceans & Coastlines
Ringed by more than a thousand kilometres of coast, Sri Lanka lives by the sea — its reefs, lagoons, turtle beaches and fishing towns.
5 min read
An educational feature from the Nature & Wildlife collection.
01
Coral reefs
Reefs such as those at Pigeon Island near Trincomalee and Hikkaduwa on the south-west coast shelter colourful fish and corals. Like reefs worldwide, they are vulnerable to warming seas and coral bleaching.
02
Coastal ecosystems
Mangroves, lagoons and seagrass beds protect shorelines and serve as nurseries for fish and shellfish, supporting both biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.
03
Marine turtles
Five of the world’s seven species of marine turtle nest on Sri Lankan beaches, including the green turtle, olive ridley and leatherback. Rekawa on the south coast is an important nesting site.
04
Fishing communities
Fishing families along the coast use everything from traditional oru outrigger canoes to modern multi-day boats, and fish markets remain lively hubs of coastal life.
Did you know
Interesting facts
01
Five of the seven marine turtle species nest in Sri Lanka.
02
Pigeon Island is a protected marine national park.
03
Mangroves help protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges.
References & further reading
- Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka
- Marine Environment Protection Authority
- Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department
Content is summarised from the sources above for educational purposes. LANKA. is an independent publication.
