A joint marine conservation taskforce comprising Sri Lanka Navy diving teams, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and local volunteer scuba divers completed an extensive underwater reef cleanup operation in Trincomalee today, September 24, 2026.

Operating across the subtidal zones of historic Swami Rock and outer Nilaveli reefs, the expedition removed over 1,200 kilograms of discarded synthetic fishing nets, monofilament lines, and marine plastic waste that posed immediate threats to local coral systems and migratory whale populations. Marine biologists noted that the targeted clearance significantly relieves ecological stress on shallow fringing reefs, paving the way for long-term artificial reef regeneration projects.