The Pearl Protectors is a youth-led marine conservation organisation. Established in 2018, The Pearl Protectors seek to reduce plastic pollution and conserve the marine environment through youth engagement, volunteerism, awareness and advocacy.
Formation | 2018 |
---|---|
Founder | Muditha Katuwawala |
Type | Non-governmental Organization |
Purpose | Marine Conservation, Volunteerism, Youth engagement, Advocacy |
Location | |
Website | pearlprotectors.org |
In the wake of the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, The Pearl Protectors initiated the Nurdle Free Lanka campaign to mobilize volunteers to clean nurdles, educate the public and advocate for nurdle spills to be prevented at the source domestically with a petition. [1]
The Pearl Protectors is known for the launching of the 'Pearl Protector Approved' Accredited Standardisation Certificate [2] a certificate that for the first time recognises restaurants and food vendors in Sri Lanka that eliminate single-use plastic items based on three levels of commitments. The certificate has been adapted by Ranbath Organics [3] and Café Kumbuk. [4]
Turtle Patrol is a annual project by The Pearl Protectors that involves volunteers to patrol the Colombo beaches throughout the nesting season. The project helps protect sea turtle eggs from illegal poachers. [5]
Cleaner Seabeds of Sri Lanka aims to keep Sri Lanka's coral reefs and the seabed free from plastic pollution. [6] The Pearl Protectors produced a documentary on underwater plastic pollution. [7]
The Pearl Protectors advocates for policies to ban single-use plastic items, [8] [9] maintains a volunteer platform, constructs a Christmas tree annually out of discarded plastic bottles accumulated from beaches and displays it at Wellawatte Beach to highlight single-use plastic pollution, [10] mobilizes volunteers to help cleanup efforts during maritime accidents like oil spills, [11] host educational events, [12] conducts school and public awareness sessions and workshops, [13] [14] carries out beach cleanups, [15] conducts advocacy research, [16] advocates for Environmental Impact Assessments to be carried out for development projects and aquaculture in the coastal zone, [17] [18] volunteers to rescue stranded marine life, [19] advocates against unethical fishing practices, [20] collaborates with AIESEC Sri Lanka [21] for youth-engagement in marine environmental protection and promotes upcycling. [22]
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is the naval arm of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is classed as the country's most vital defence force due to its island geography. It is responsible for the maritime defence of the Sri Lankan nation and its interests. The role of the Sri Lanka Navy is to conduct operations at sea for the defence of the nation and its interests and conduct prompt and sustainable combat operations at sea in accordance with the national policies.
Ocean Conservancy is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., United States. The organization seeks to promote healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems, prevent marine pollution, climate change and advocates against practices that threaten oceanic and human life.
Plastic pellet pollution is a type of marine debris originating from the plastic particles that are universally used to manufacture large-scale plastics. In the context of plastic pollution, these pre-production plastic pellets are commonly known as 'nurdles'. These microplastics are created separately from the user plastics they are melted down to form, and pellet loss can occur during both the manufacturing and transport stages. When released into the open environment, they create persistent pollution both in the oceans and on beaches. About 230,000 tonnes of nurdles are thought to be deposited in the oceans each year, where they are often mistaken for food by seabirds, fish and other wildlife. Due to their small size, they are notoriously difficult to clear up from beaches and elsewhere.
Pre-production plastic pellets, commonly known as nurdles, are tiny plastic pellets that are universally used in the plastics industry for the manufacture of plastic products. These microplastics are made primarily from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and other plastics or synthetic resins. Nurdles are the building block, via plastic extrusion or injection molding, for items for everyday life including plastic water bottles, containers, and bags.
The following tables present the ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Army. The ranks are similar to the British army officer ranks and the other ranks.
Kamilo Beach, is a beach located on the southeast coast of the island of Hawaii. It is known for its accumulation of plastic marine debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Savumiamoorthy Arumugam Ramanathan Thondaman was a Sri Lankan politician who served as a Cabinet Minister. He was the grandson of prominent unionist Saumyamoorthi Thondaman. He was the leader of the Ceylon Workers' Congress, a Member of Parliament representing the Nuwara Eliya District and was an advocate for the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka. His career as a politician spanned over 20 years, holding several ministerial portfolios in different governments. He was regarded as one of the prominent politicians from Nuwara Eliya.
Halkedaliya Lekamlage alias Mahawela Lekamlage Premalal Jayasekara, also known by his pseudonym Choka Malli is a Sri Lankan convicted murderer, politician, and is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a former government deputy minister.
Kalpitiya is a coastal town located in western region of Puttalam District. The Kalpitiya peninsula consists of a total fourteen islands. It is developing as a tourist destination.
Deshamanya Vajira Chitrasena is a veteran Sri Lankan traditional dancer, choreographer and teacher. Vajira is regarded as Sri Lanka's first prima ballerina. She is the first Sri Lankan woman to practice the traditional Kandyan dance which was traditionally performed only by men. Vajira is credited for creating brand for female style of Kandyan dancing and set the tone for women to become ritual dancers. She was married to Chitrasena who was a well known legendary dancer and dance guru. On 26 January 2020, she along with late professor Indra Dassanayake was conferred with the Padma Shri award which is one of the highest Indian civilian awards coinciding with the 71st Republic Day of India.
Indra Dassanayake was a Sri Lankan academic, emeritus professor in Hindi, a scholar, and known for promoting Hindi-language and North Indian culture in Sri Lanka through educational institutions. On 26 January 2020, she received the Padma Shri award.
Mohamed Uvais Mohamed Ali Sabry, PC, MP, also known as Ali Sabry, is a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He is the Current Minister of Foreign Affairs serving since 22 July 2022. He previously served as the Minister of Finance until 9 May 2022. He was a Member of Parliament, appointed from the national list of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. He also served as the Minister of Justice until 9 May 2022. He served as the defense counsel of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, chief legal adviser and President of the Muslim Federation of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
Jagath Gunawardana is a lawyer, environmentalist and educator based in Sri Lanka. Gunawardana is known for his advocacy in wildlife conservation and environmental protection.
Oceanswell is Sri Lanka's first marine conservation and research education organisation and was founded by marine biologist Asha de Vos.
Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) is a public interest litigation and environmental conservation organisation in Sri Lanka. Established in 1981, EFL seeks to protect and conserve the natural environment through litigation, advocacy, awareness and youth-engagement.
Centre for Environmental Justice is an environmental conservation and public interest litigation organisation in Sri Lanka. The organisation is a member of the Friends of the Earth International network which is the world's largest international grassroots environmental network.
X-Press Pearl was a Singapore-registered Super Eco 2700–class container ship. The vessel entered service in February 2021 and was around 186 metres (610 ft) long. It was operated by X-Press Feeders.
Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC is the largest listed real estate company in Sri Lanka. The company is the developer and the proprietor of World Trade Center Colombo and Havelock City. The company was incorporated in 1980 and was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1982. The company is ranked amongst the LMD 100, moving 17 positions up to number 76 for the fiscal year 2019/20.
Cinnamon Bentota Beach, formerly known as Bentota Beach Hotel, is a luxury five-star hotel in Bentota, Sri Lanka. The hotel was built in 1967 and designed by Geoffrey Bawa. After refurbishment, the hotel reopened in 2019. The hotel is owned and operated by a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings under its luxury hotel chain, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Cinnamon Bentota Beach is known for its architecture and decor.
Muditha Katuwawala is a Sri Lankan conservationist and economist. He is the founder of The Pearl Protectors.