Navy completes plantation of 100,000 mangrove saplings in a bid to conserve marine environment
 

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) that contributes immensely for marine environment conservation including mangrove conservation in realization of its drive for a clean and green environment, has planted nearly 100,000 mangrove saplings all around the country, through its Marine and Ecofriendly Projects as of now.

The Steering Committee for Marine and Eco Friendly Projects and Marine Conservation and Monitoring Unit are exclusively established in SLN to implement and monitor those projects and all naval commands engage in marine/environment conservation activities in a well-organized manner. Accordingly, many such projects have been completed to date with the assistance of governmental and non-governmental organizations. SLN has planted these 100,000 mangrove saplings across the country during the last two years in collaboration with Seacology, Small Fishers Federation and many other organizations.

With the plantation of 700 mangrove saplings in the lagoon area of Panama under the patronage of officers and sailors attached to SLNS Mahanaga in the Southeastern Naval Command on 21 February, this significant feat of planting 100,000 mangrove saplings was achieved. Deputy Area Commander Southeastern Naval Command, Commodore Kalana Jinadasa and a group of senior naval officers were also present on the occasion.

On the sidelines of mangrove plantation project, an awareness programme on the importance of mangrove in protection of shorelines, fish and endangered species was also organized. The programme was conducted by Mr. Douglas Thissera, Director Mangrove Conservation of Small Fishers Federation.

In addition to the Mangrove Conservation Project, SLN has initiated projects such as beach cleaning, reforestation, coral conservation, turtle conservation and bio gas projects with a roaring success. These projects are continued under the supervision of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, the Director General Operations and Head of Steering Committee for Marine & Eco-friendly Projects, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva and Director Maritime Surveillance, Commodore Sanjeewa Dias.