Cabinet paper to declare sea area as highly sensitive marine ecological zone

The sea area from Mannar to Rameshwaram in India should be immediately designated as a High Sensitive Marine Ecological Zone in our country, the Environment Ministry said.

According to a report prepared by the Ministry, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera decided to submit a report to the Cabinet with all scientific facts in this regard in order to protect the highly sensitive ecological zones in our country.

The evaluation report for the protection of such zones was handed over to the Environment Minister last week.

"Currently, the Indian fishermen are wreaking havoc in the Sri Lankan waters using bottom trawling. About 3,000 Indian fishing boats enter our marine territory three days a week and gobble up our marine resources, "he said.

However, protected marine species, such as dolphins, blue whales and turtles, migrate to this sea zone. This region is also important for the breeding of fish in our coastal areas.

Therefore, the Cabinet will be notified to declare the sea zone from Mannar to Rameshwaram as a High Sensitive Ecological ocean Zone, the minister said.

The report also stressed the need to designate the Trincomalee Ocean Zone and the Galle, Matara and Hambantota South Zones also as Highly Sensitive Marine Ecological Zones. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)