COLOMBO : The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has officially launched the “Ocean Watch” web-based mobile application as part of the Government’s digitalization policy to strengthen the protection of Sri Lanka’s marine and coastal environment.
The app is designed to support efforts to keep Sri Lanka’s coastline and marine ecosystem free from pollution by improving coordination among government agencies, local authorities, and organizations involved in coastal and port waste management.
Through the platform, users can identify coastal areas requiring clean-up, report marine pollution incidents and environmental complaints in real time, and access information on locations where barriers should be installed in canals to prevent land-based waste from reaching the sea. The app also facilitates coordination between organizations conducting beach clean-up programmes and the relevant state institutions.
In addition, the application encourages private sector companies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in maintaining designated coastal areas under agreed timeframes and to support beach conservation through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
MEPA stated that the new digital platform will improve the efficiency of marine environmental management while empowering citizens to contribute to protecting Sri Lanka’s marine resources and ensuring a cleaner, healthier ocean and coastline for future generations.
