Date: 1/4/2005
Plans are afoot to declare the Rekawa beach area as Sri Lankaâs first Turtle Conservation Sanctuary.
The plans are being formulated by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) in coordination with
the IUCN (World Conservation Union), the Coast Conservation Department and the Turtle Conservation
Project (TCP). The beach stretch is approximately 6 km. in length and consists of estuarine mangrove
systems, gently sloping broad sandy beaches backed by coconut plantations and home gardens and
rocky shores. Turtles visit the Rekawa beach for nesting purposes and the Turtle Conservation Project
has been pioneering conservation of turtles along this beach for several years.