The Pearl Protectors

07/09/2026

Where does the plastic on our beaches come from❓

This article explores the hidden journey of plastic waste from inland communities through the Bolgoda River to Panadura Beach, and its impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. 🌊

♻️ The solution begins upstream.

✍️ Written by W.B.A. Withana

Read more here 👇
https://pearlprotectors.org/where-the-tide-meets-our-waste-the-hidden-journey-of-plastic-to-panadura-beach
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/E4ondEIF9im4PLolonng

31/08/2026

What happens when changes in ocean temperatures disrupt the delicate balance of marine life?🌡️🌍

Our latest article explores how El Niño can affect marine food chains, from phytoplankton and zooplankton to fish, predators, seabirds, and coral reefs, and what these changes could mean for Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. 💙

✍️ Written by Sajini Perera

Read more 👇
https://pearlprotectors.org/effects-of-el-nino-on-marine-food-chains/
https://www.thesun.lk/solar_hq/Effects-of-El-Ni%C3%B1o-on-Marine-Food-Chains/557-305791

30/08/2026

245 coral species identified along the eastern province of Sri Lanka.

A Coral Conservation Centre and Laboratory has been proposed to be established in Nilaveli (Trincomalee)

A total of 245 coral species have been identified along Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline, highlighting the importance of protecting the country’s diverse marine ecosystems. ..

24/08/2026

Concerns have arisen off the coast of Galle where 16 Iranian flagged very large crude oil carriers are positioned 12nm away from the Galle harbor which are claimed to have been sanctioned by the United States.

The vessels in question have been stationed for over weeks and some over a month. The vessels are supposed to have been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury's office of Foreign Assets Control with the ongoing undue conflict with Iran.

According to the Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation; Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku has stated that any private companies that provided them services and banks which enabled such actions ran the risk of US sanctions.

He further went onto state that the ministry doesn't have the means of knowing which vessels are sanctioned by the US Government. Usual notice of sanctioned vessels are communicated through the UN, but in this case no information is shared either by the UN or the US through its mission in Colombo.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy official, the Navy had been monitoring the vessels closely through Maritime Domain Awareness systems, but needed direction from the Government to do anything else. Further communication states that the Navy cannot do anything since the vessels are outside our territorial waters but warned that the US Navy had boarded several such tankers in international waters south of Sri Lanka and commandeered the vessels.

The situation becomes worrisome considering the unpredictable behavior of the United States where a similar incident such as the torpedo attacking IRIS DENA could unfold, which could lead to a catastrophic impact to the marine environment of Sri Lanka through a possible large scale oil spill and debris fall out.

24/08/2026

Concerning update on the recent sanctioning of Iranian oil tankers by the United States out of which most are anchored off the coast of Hikkaduwa

If the United States decides to attack any of the oil tankers similarly to the attack on IRIS Dena, Sri Lanka s Southern and western coastlines are at the risk of catastrophic impact.

US sanctions: Dozen Iranian tankers off Galle
Details👇
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/5Z4Ndxj6GnWEREe1s6vW

24/08/2026

🌊 What lies beneath Sri Lanka’s waters may not always be visible.

Our latest article explores the hidden chemical threats facing Sri Lanka’s deep-sea and coastal waters and why greater awareness is essential to protecting our marine ecosystems. 💙

✍️ Written by Abdul Basith Basheer

Read more 👇:
Tamil
https://pearlprotectors.org/%e0%ae%87%e0%ae%b2%e0%ae%99%e0%af%8d%e0%ae%95%e0%af%88%e0%ae%af%e0%ae%bf%e0%ae%a9%e0%af%8d-%e0%ae%86%e0%ae%b4%e0%af%8d%e0%ae%95%e0%ae%9f%e0%ae%b2%e0%af%8d-%e0%ae%ae%e0%ae%b1%e0%af%8d%e0%ae%b1%e0%af%81
English
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/PqPl7p8Icxs3897pL2zk

23/08/2026

1st phase of entangled Ghost fishing nets removal from SS British Sergeant was undertaken during the 47th Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka expedition

30kg of ghost fishing nets were removed from the hull area of SS British Sergeant shipwreck which is located 5 nautical miles off the coast of Passikudha. The net removal was conducted with the support of 7 volunteer divers from The Pearl Protectors.

This is the first expedition cleanup in the Eastern Province for the year 2026.

SS British Sergeant shipwreck is a prominent historical landmark in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka as the ship which belonged to the British Tanker company was sunk by the Japanese Navy in 1942 during the air raid conducted targeting Trincomalee harbor.

Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka is an ongoing underwater cleanup effort to remove much of the marine debris such as ghost fishing nets and single use plastic waste from some of the most sensitive marine ecosystems around Sri Lanka

The cleanup required precision guidelines, resources, training, and coordination to execute 2 separate dives within a day without harming the marine environment during the process of the cleanup.

The expedition is partnered with:
plasticcycle

Special appreciation goes out to Scuba Addicts for being the diving partner for the 47th Cleanup

18/08/2026

The high level corruption behind MV XPress Pearl maritime disaster was taken up in Parliament today by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara following the complaint lodged at the Bribery Commission by Mr. Nagahananda Kodithuwakku.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned who gave instructions to the Chief Justice to terminate the Supreme Court verdict given the year before on demanding compensation from the Xpress Feeders company which the MV XPress Pearl vessel belonged to.

The undue influence communication by The London P&I which is the insurance company of the MV XPress Pearl was also tabled at the Parliament

11/08/2026

Sri Lanka's southern waters are home to a unique population of blue whales, bringing immense ecological value while also supporting responsible whale-watching tourism and coastal communities. 🐋🌊

This article explores the growing risk of ship strikes to Sri Lanka's blue whales and highlights the need for smarter maritime practices, safer shipping routes, and stronger cooperation between conservation and maritime sectors.

By: Amaya Wijesinghe

Read more here 👇
https://pearlprotectors.org/sri-lankas-blue-whales-and-ship-strikes
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/FOJnJUTqKwfTgXqC0hyy

07/08/2026

Nurdles are back on our shorelines!

Sri Lanka was impacted by the largest nurdle spills ever recorded, both by MV X-Press Pearl disaster in May 2021 and MSC Elsa disaster in May 2025.

Nurdles, the size of lentils, are virgin micro plastics used in the manufacturing of various plastic products. These tiny plastic pellets are primarily produced as a byproduct of oil refineries, leading to packaged and transported across the oceans through merchant vessels.

During the disasters which occurred off the coast of Negombo and off the coast of Kerala, billions of these nurdles were released into the sea, resulting in floating across our sea and washing up along our coastlines.

Although nurdle cleanup efforts were conducted through MEPA and the Nurdle Free Lanka campaign, the sheer number of plastic pellets has become impossible to recover since the disasters. Overtime, nurdles are covered in sedimentary sand which overlays our beaches during inter-monsoons. Resulting in these nurdles continuing to wash up along the beaches during times of sand erosion.

Observations of nurdles indicate that they weather during the process of being at sea and along the beaches resulting in discoloration and breaking into smaller plastic particles. This has resulted in recovering nurdles much difficult.

The distribution of nurdles overtime along the beaches also has made recovery cumbersome, where nurdles are now reported to be washing up in all beaches, compared to closer proximity distribution areas near to the initial disaster.

Fishermen continue to report nurdles being found inside fish gills and stomach as fish mistake floating plastic pellets to be fish eggs.

The post impact caused due to both these maritime disasters continues to haunt Sri Lanka s coastline and marine life. Yet, Sri Lanka has not received any compensation for the damages caused to the environment. The Supreme Coat verdict of USD 1 Billion damage compensation is still in a limbo while MEPA has to date failed to take any legal action against MSC Elsa shipping company for the damage caused to the marine environment of Sri Lanka.