Visitor centres for research and education activities

by Imantha Caldera

Visitor centres were opened to provide facilities for research and education activities by the Coast Conservation Department.

Deputy Director, Coast Conservation Department, Gamini Hewage, said, "The Coastal Resources Management Project (CRMP) is a major institution of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, with US 80 million Dollars from the Asian Development Bank and the Governments of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) under the Coastal Resources Management Project of 2000-2005 has expanded the Special Area Management (SAM) process to several sites, namely the Bar Reef, Negombo Estuary/Muthurajawela Marsh, Lunawa lagoons, Madu Ganga Estuary, Hikkaduwa Nation Resource and Environs, Unawatuna Bay including Koggala Estuary, the Mawella and Kalamatiya lagoons and the coastal stretch in Hambantota.

The Coastal Resources Management Project tasks were completed in December and its service were extended by opening three visitor centres at the Bar Reef at Kalpitiya, Madu ganga at Balapitiya and the Kudawella lagoon at Kudawella.

The visitor centres will provide facilities to make people aware of the coastal eco-systems, provide research facilities and provide an aesthetic environment to ride boats and enjoy the residential facilities.

The main purpose of setting up these visitor centres is to provide facilities for research and educational activities.

These centres will provide information on the coastal environment. The centres provide accommodation and environmental education.

Special Area Management (SAM) is a local geographical specified planing process. It is highly participatory and provides a comprehensive management of natural resources with the action commitment of the local community as the main stakeholder group. It comprises co-management of resources with government institution s and other planning agencies.

He said the natural beauty of coastal habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, lagoons and beaches have considerable economic and aesthetic value.

They are also used for roving of small fishing craft and other fishery related activities. The Coast Conservation Department is one of the many institutions that has jurisdiction over the management of Coastal Resources.