CELEBRATING WORLD TURTLE DAY BY SRI LANKA COAST GUARD TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT

World Turtle Day is an annual observance held every 23^rd of May. The day was created as a yearly observance since year 2000 to help people celebrate and protect turtles and their disappearing habitats. Moreover, this day is used to encourage human action to help them survive. Sea turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem of oceans as a special species by making significant influence on the environment along with various other species.

To mark this very special day, Sri Lanka Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project also celebrated the world turtle day on 23^rd May 2025 by releasing 72 no of Olive Ridleys baby turtles back to the ocean with the participance of tourists, coast guard crew and local community at the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Headquarters premises Mirissa. The occasion was graced by the Deputy Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Cmde Manoj Leelarathne with the presence of other directors and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project (CGTCP) was initiated in 2016 with the aim of preserving sea turtles along with raising the awareness about turtle conservation in Sri Lanka. The Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project is strategically located at Mirissa beach within the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Headquarters premises as identified as one of the most suitable locations for turtle nesting. Sri Lanka is renowned for hosting five types, including Green Turtles, Leatherbacks, Olive Ridleys, Hawksbills, and Loggerheads, which frequently visit the sandy beaches, especially in the Southern region, for nesting.

After gaining a huge popularity within short period of time, particularly among tourists, who recognized it as a significant event during their visits to Sri Lanka, The Sri Lanka Coast Guard has expanded its efforts beyond CGHQ Premises, establishing hatcheries near all lifesaving posts Panadura, Wellawatta, Moraglla, Benthota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Mt Lavenia.

The Coast Guard Turtle Conservation Project is mainly focusing on its hatchery, providing a safe environment for collected and rescued eggs to hatch away from predators as well as taking care of hatchlings until they ready to go back to the sea by increasing their chances of survival through the critical early stages of life. Other than that, Sri Lanka Coast Guard also involves on educating fishing and coastal communities through awareness programs to ensure safer seas for these hatchlings.

To enhance the awareness of this special creature, Sri Lanka Coast Guard welcomes visitors to witness the realising of hatchlings and providing them a rewarding experience of returning thousands of baby turtles back to their ocean homes. The information regarding the turtle hatchery initiative conducted by SLCG since 2016 is outlined below.