The combating Coastal Erosion dates back to many centuries, and Coast Protection works were handled by various departments at various times prior to 1963. The realization of the government, that a comprehensive approach to coastal erosion control is required, led to establishment of a Coast Protection Engineering Unit in the Colombo Port Commission in 1963. In 1978, the Coast Protection Engineering Unit was transferred to Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) and was functioned as Coast Conservation Division.

In 1981, the Parliament enacted the Coast Conservation Act No. 57 of 1981, and given the status of a Grade I engineering Department. Accordingly the Coast Conservation Division was upgraded to Coast Conservation Department (CCD), in 1981. The Department has three divisions for Coast protection, Coastal research & designs and Coastal resource management. The management of the coastal zone has been vested with Director, Coast Conservation the head of the Department. Amendment to the Act was passed in 1988 as the Coast Conservation (Amendment) Act No. 64 of 1988. The department was further upgrade in July 2009, by appointing the first Director General, Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department and amended by the Act No. 49 of 2011.

The Coast Conservation Act requires having a survey of the Coastal Zone and preparation of a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). The CZMP, prepared by the CCD, was adopted by the Government and implemented as the Coastal Zone Management Plan 1990. A Resource Management strategy for Sri Lanka’s coastal region, “Coastal 2000”, which provided the direction for Coastal Resources Management of Sri Lanka, was prepared in1992. The revised CZMP was implemented in 1997 & 2004. The last revision of the CZMP was done in 2018 and is currently being implemented.

Objectives

Coastal regions are home to a large and growing population in Sri Lanka. The high densities of population have produced many economic benefits from the coastal resources, in particular from fishing, tourism, and maritime activities. More the economic activities have been result improved transportation links, developed industrial and urban centers, and modified physical nature in the coastal zone. Eventually the increasing beneficiaries cause for degrading the Natural Coastal Environment. Hence, Engineering and Management of Coastal Zone is vital for the sustainability of Coastal Resources.

Specifically CCD’s objectives are to;

• Improve the status of coastal environment.
• Develop and manage the shoreline.
• Improve the living standards of coastal communities.
• Promote and facilitate economic development based upon coastal resources.
• Safeguard Coastal Infrastructure & risk reduction of coastal communities

Outputs

• Added value for the coastal resources.
• Environmentally friendly developments.
• Increased contribution to the national economy.
• Secured social, economic and cultural values of Coastal Community.
• Increased productivity of coastal habitat.
• Mitigated disaster impacts on coastal inhabitants.