Five beach access roads in Dehiwala have been formally named as part of a new initiative to accurately identify and map public routes to Sri Lanka’s beaches.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the move is designed to prevent illegal coastal encroachments and obstructions, ensuring the public’s and tourists’ right to unobstructed beach access.
Officials noted that the system will also help rescue teams reach locations more quickly during natural disasters or emergencies along the coastline.
Alongside the road‑naming, several environmental programmes were rolled out, including the planting of coastal‑resilient vegetation to maintain ecological balance and minimize erosion caused by waves and winds. Deep‑rooted plants are expected to enhance biodiversity while creating a natural green barrier against harsh sunlight and saline winds.
A massive community cleanup campaign (Shramadana) was also launched to remove plastics and polythene, transforming Mount Lavinia beach into a cleaner, safer zone.
The series of conservation activities was held on Thursday (11) around Dehiwala beach under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, coinciding with World Environment Day.
Parallel to these efforts, the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management organized the World Environment Day commemoration ceremony at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Hall of the Dehiwala Municipal Council.
In Hambantota, a sand dune area near Magama was declared a protected zone via gazette notification, officially announced at the National Environment Day Commemoration Ceremony on June 5, 2026, under the patronage of the President.
Further nationwide projects are underway, including the construction of 100 beach recreational parks, 39 of which were opened to the public in 2025, and plans for “Ocean Pool” facilities to provide safe sea‑bathing areas and reduce drowning incidents along the coast. (Newswire)
