New coast management law to tackle unregulated beach development and align with tourism needs

A sweeping revision of Sri Lanka’s Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department (CC&CRMD) Act is on the horizon, with a draft expected within the next few months.

- BY TYRON DEVOTTA

The new law is set to bring some sections of beach tourism under the supervision of the CC&CRMD, while introducing strict new guidelines for coastal construction, taxation on illegal structures, and a regulatory framework aimed at balancing environmental preservation with sustainable livelihoods.

In an interview with the Daily FT, the CC&CRMD Director General and senior oceanographer, Prof. Terney Pradeep Kumara, explained the rationale behind the revisions.

"We are no longer just a conservation agency; we are also into coastal management. We want to create a balance between ecological integrity, tourism growth, and local community livelihoods."

Zoning the coastline by topography

A key feature of the revised law is a more scientific and flexible approach to coastal buffer zones. Instead of a single national standard, setback limits will now vary based on topography, erosion risk, and shoreline type. For instance, in rocky areas like parts of Colombo, the coastal reservation may be as little as 10 meters from the first vegetation line, while flat, sandy regions on the east coast may require setbacks of up to 50 meters to account for future sea-level rise.

"This is based on science, not politics," the Director General said. "We can't fight nature. The coastline must be allowed to define itself."

Bringing tourism into the fold