The Western Provincial Council officially ratified a comprehensive Coastal Resilience and Anti-Erosion Master Plan for the Kalutara coastline during its legislative session today, October 2, 2026, allocating capital engineering funds to safeguard residential settlements and tourism infrastructure.

The coastal belt extending from Panadura through Wadduwa, Maggona, and Beruwala has faced intensified coastal erosion over recent years, with strong wave actions and tidal surges encroaching on coastal roadways, artisanal fishing anchorages, and beachfront hotel properties. Following extensive bathymetric and hydrodynamic modeling conducted by the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) and university coastal engineers, the approved master plan authorizes the construction of three offshore submerged rock revetments and five artificial reef groynes designed to dissipate heavy wave energy before it impacts the shore.

In addition to structural hard engineering defenses, the initiative emphasizes nature-based coastal stabilization. Over 12 kilometers of degraded coastal dunes will be re-profiled and stabilized through community planting of native coastal creepers, pandanus groves, and coconut buffers. Dedicated beach access corridors will be established for local fishing societies, ensuring that traditional artisanal beach-seine (madel) operators retain unhindered access to their customary coastal hauling grounds.

Provincial Minister of Environment K. Liyanage stated that proactive coastal protection is crucial for safeguarding economic livelihoods and municipal infrastructure along the southwestern seaboard. Civil construction contracts will commence within the next fortnight under strict environmental monitoring protocols to protect localized marine habitats and ensure uninterrupted recreational beach access for local communities and visiting tourists.