Business

Defending Mangroves and Afforesting Underwater

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/18

Having had a keen interest in marine conservation since the inception of its environmental arm, Dilmah Tea is strengthening its investments in blue carbon – particularly mangrove conservation and sustainable seaweed harvesting in keeping in line with the UN decade of (ecosystem) restoration in 25 acres of land in Kappaladi Kite Lagoon in Kalpitiya, a company news release said.

Dilmah Conservation (DC), the sustainability arm of the tea company, is restoring mangroves. Currently a nursery with over 800 mangroves saplings consisting of seven species has been established and once at a ready height the saplings are planted in the degraded mangrove forest area. Meanwhile in Mannar, around 10 acres of land are being used for seaweed cultivation through sustainable methods, the release said.

Investing in blue carbon by restoring such ecosystems can contribute towards climate resilience as mangroves and Seaweed are better at storing carbon that terrestrial forests. Mangroves can absorb up to five times more carbon than forest trees. Similarly, seaweed generates more oxygen that land plants and absorbs more carbon too, it explained.

“A standout feature of Dilmah Conservation has been its collaborations and partnerships with different stakeholders and establishing the project on a strong scientific foundation. The organization partly attributes public-private partnerships for the long-term success of its marine conservation-related projects and therefore collaborates with the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and National Aquaculture Development Association (NAQDA) and maintains dialogues with universities and independent organizations such as Pearl Protectors,” the release said.

“Under the Defending Mangroves project, a baseline survey in collaboration with MEPA helped identify types of mangroves existing in the area, suitable locations for restoration, and ideal mangrove species suited to the area. Hands-on experiential learning sessions with schools in the area have also been instrumental in generating awareness about the importance of these ecosystems.

Harvesting seaweed in Pesalai.

“For maintaining a nursery Dilmah has employed community members. The value of mangrove ecosystems stands in stark contrast to the dearth of available research. Therefore, Dilmah will establish a research station to strengthen the success of the project and make it replicable in other parts of the island as well.”

Under the sustainable seaweed cultivation project: Afforesting Underwater, DC has sought technical expertise and works closely with the National Aquaculture Development Association (NAQDA) to develop community fishermen into sustainable seaweed farmers. So far, around 10 acres have been cultivated in Pesalai, and plans to expand to other parts of the coastline are underway, the release further said.

“As conservation and culture overlap Dilmah takes into consideration sustainable livelihood upliftment in its projects. Thereby, in a collaborative effort seaweed agripreneurs were empowered through an incubator program known as the Lost Ingredients Lab.

“Education and awareness are one of the important pillars for Dilmah Conservation, thus the organization has consecutively sponsored the Pearl Protectors’ World Ocean Summit – a landmark event spearheaded by the independent marine conservation organization. In 2021 this was the largest virtual summit in Sri Lanka. This year the event was held at One Galle Face Mall to the enthusiasm of the public.”

Muditha Katuwawala, Founder of Pearl Protectors said, “We are absolutely delighted to have Dilmah Conservation onboard towards celebrating World Oceans Day for the second year. The Pearl Protectors have been consecutively celebrating world oceans day through knowledge sharing, art competitions, and inspiring the generation of Ocean enthusiasts. We hope our collaborative efforts will continue to positively impact the marine environment in Sri Lanka”

Driven by Dilmah Tea founder’s vision of creating a better tea for people and the planet, the tea company has constantly initiated projects to impact terrestrial ecosystems. Marine ecosystems are also close to Dilmah’s heart. In the past initiatives such as enabling the gazetting of an important reef called Kayernkerni in Kalkudah as a marine sanctuary, education, and awareness creation about Dugons in a fishing community, and keeping 50 km of the coastlines free by employing 50 caretakers, the release concluded.

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:Dilmah Conservation Ecosystem:Kalkudah marine sanctuary National Aquaculture Development Association Underwater

Up Next

Central Bank of Sri Lanka adopts further policy measures to strengthen macroeconomic stability

Don't Miss

Ceylinco Life’s sales professionals win 5 awards at SLIM – NASCO

Click to comment

Business

Charting a worker-centered AI future: Colombo hosts landmark ITF conference

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

The ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Artificial intelligence and automation present serious challenges for workers – such as job consequences seen in docks and rail systems – and emphasises that workers cannot simply stop technological progress. By gathering young trade unionists in Sri Lanka, the ITF aims to establish key principles for engaging with technology, ensuring workers have a strong voice at the bargaining table, and encouraging constructive social dialogue with corporations and governments.

These compelling words from ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton underscored the urgent reality facing modern labor as rapid technological advancements sweep across global industries.

Confronting this shifting landscape head-on, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in partnership with the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka (NUSS), convened a ground-breaking conference on artificial intelligence in Colombo from September 15–17.

As the ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka, the landmark event marked a critical milestone in balancing technological innovation with worker-centered safeguards.

Representing over 16.6 million transport workers worldwide, the ITF designed the gathering to tackle the multifaceted impacts of AI on safety, operations, workforce development, and governance. Rather than resisting progress, the conference focused on proactive engagement, establishing guiding principles to protect workers’ rights and privacy both at sea and on land.

Key discussions centred on sharing best practices for upskilling and reskilling transport personnel, ensuring that human oversight remains central to AI-driven logistics, routing, and maintenance.

Reflecting on the historic nature of the event, Boa Athu, CEO of National Union of Seafarers Asia Pacific, noted that the conference represented a monumental moment as AI emerges as a permanent fixture of contemporary life.

Highlighting NUSS’s pride in hosting the event in Colombo, Athu emphasised that AI offers transformative potential when guided by strong social dialogue, equitable access to training, and robust governance safeguards.

Ultimately, the Colombo conference demonstrated that the future of transport must be shaped by those who keep the world moving. By uniting international labour leaders, affiliates, port operators, and regulators, the event laid a vital foundation for inclusive policy frameworks that champion fair labour standards, securing a powerful voice for workers in an automated tomorrow.

Business

Bridging the digital divide: Sri Lanka’s airport licence challenge

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

As tourism surges from digitally advanced markets like India, modern independent travelers arriving at BIA find themselves caught in a mismatch between cloudstored credentials and local paper-based transport protocols.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

As Sri Lanka experiences a surge in visitors from its largest tourist market, India, a modern administrative hurdle has emerged at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

While nations like India and Pakistan have successfully transitioned to fully digital driving licences and cashless ecosystems, Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic counter still requires a physical card to issue temporary local permits, The Island Financial Review learns.

This mismatch creates significant friction for independent travelers who rely entirely on smartphones and cloud-stored credentials. Tourists turned away at the airport – and sometimes redirected to the Werahera office in vain – find themselves unable to legally rent and drive vehicles. Consequently, this policy gap harms local car rental operators, causes tourist frustration, and deprives the government of valuable permit revenue.

The situation highlights a distinct irony: Sri Lankan motorists easily travel abroad using International Driving Permits that are readily accepted in India and Pakistan, yet local infrastructure cannot reciprocate due to outdated verification systems.

Recognizing the problem, Department of Motor Traffic officials have noted that upgrades and new equipment are currently in the works to integrate foreign digital platforms.

For a nation aggressively pursuing a national digitalisation drive, rapidly modernising these transport protocols is essential to keeping pace with global travelers and unlocking the full potential of its tourism economy.

Business

International Afro-Latin Dance Festival in Colombo to grow into a larger regional tourism draw

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

Founder X Director – ALIF – J D RUBAN

ALIF-SL, Sri Lanka’s first-ever international Afro-Latin dance festival, returns for its 4th edition from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The festival will bring together over 30 international and national artists and 175–200 participants from more than 20 countries, reaffirming its place as the region’s leading platform for Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.

This year’s edition is headlined by Tropical Gem, the world’s No. 1 salsa team, travelling from Italy to perform and teach alongside a stellar international line-up. Attendees can also look forward to the ALIF Cup Sri Lanka Open, a keenly contested competition judged by an international panel, giving local dancers a rare opportunity to compete and connect with world-class talent.

“Every year, ALIF connects Sri Lanka to the world. With this year’s artist line-up and the ALIF Cup competition, we’re not just hosting a festival, we’re putting Sri Lanka on the map as a top destination for dance,” said JD Ruban, Founder and Director of ALIF-SL

Beyond the dance floor, ALIF-SL continues to support Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, drawing dancers, judges and enthusiasts from across the globe to Colombo and positioning the capital as an emerging regional hub for social dance. Organizers plan to grow the festival into a larger regional tourism draw, introduce new competition categories, and bring in even bigger headline acts in future editions.