Five Dehiwala beach access roads formally named; Ocean Pool project planned

Colombo, June 11 (Daily Mirror) - Five public access roads leading to Dehiwala Beach were formally named today as part of a series of environmental conservation programmes held to mark World Environment Day, with authorities also announcing plans to construct safe sea-bathing pools around the country.

The programmes, aimed at ensuring the sustainability and protection of Sri Lanka’s coastal ecosystem, were conducted in and around the Dehiwala coastline under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody.

The event was attended by Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, government officials, school students and community representatives. A parallel World Environment Day commemoration ceremony organised by the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management was held at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Hall of the Dehiwala Municipal Council.

Under the initiative led by the Deputy Minister, five beach access roads in Dehiwala were officially named to improve the identification and mapping of public routes to the coastline.

Officials said the programme is intended to safeguard public and tourist access to beaches by preventing illegal encroachments and obstructions. The naming system is also expected to assist emergency responders and rescue teams in quickly locating affected areas during natural disasters and coastal emergencies.

As part of the environmental programme, coastal vegetation capable of withstanding harsh shoreline conditions was planted to help maintain the ecological balance of the Dehiwala beach area. Authorities said the deep-rooted plants would help reduce coastal erosion caused by waves and strong winds while enhancing biodiversity and the natural beauty of the coastline.

A large-scale community cleanup campaign was also launched to remove plastic, polythene and other non-biodegradable waste from the beach environment. The initiative aims to improve the condition of the Mount Lavinia-Dehiwala coastal stretch and create a cleaner and safer environment for visitors.

Meanwhile, authorities highlighted several national coastal conservation initiatives announced in conjunction with World Environment Day. A sand dune area near Magama in the Hambantota District was recently declared a protected zone through a gazette notification, a decision announced during the National Environment Day celebrations held on June 5 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Officials also revealed that a programme to establish 100 beach recreational parks across the country is underway, with 39 parks already handed over to the public in 2025.

In addition, plans are being formulated to launch an "Ocean Pool" project to construct safe sea-bathing pools along the coast. The initiative is aimed at reducing drowning incidents and improving public safety at popular beach destinations.