Sri Lanka has signed a five-year agreement with the United Nations Development Programme to implement a $4.507 million conservation initiative in the country's Eastern and Southern coastal regions, funded by the Global Environment Facility.
The Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme have formalized a partnership to protect coastal biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods in three districts. Secretary K.R. Uduwawala and UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota signed the project agreement, which will operate under the National Implementation Modality with financing from the Global Environment Facility.
The five-year initiative targets the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, and Hambantota, focusing on ecosystem conservation across terrestrial, coastal, and marine environments. The programme will strengthen governance structures for landscape and seascape management, develop financing mechanisms for nature-based solutions, and demonstrate ecosystem-based approaches in coastal areas. Implementation will include community engagement, knowledge-sharing activities, and gender mainstreaming across project activities.
Projectors anticipate the initiative will enhance climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities by creating environmentally sustainable economic opportunities while reducing pressure on fragile ecosystems. The project also aims to improve food security and support economic activity through biodiversity protection and ecosystem service preservation.