The Ministry of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation has decided to designate the area around Sampalativu Lagoon in Trincomalee district as a sensitive ecological zone as well as a natural forest reserve.
This decision was taken in a discussion held at the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera. The area around the sampling area is also an area with a large mangrove population. In the last few years, the mangrove ecosystem in Trincomalee which was 2043 hectares has reduced to 1491 hectares.
Accordingly, it was decided to designate this area of 239.58 hectares as a sensitive ecological zone as well as a natural forest reserve in the vicinity of the Sampalativu Lagoon, belonging to the Illuppaikulamla Varodhaya Nagar and Uppuveli Grama Niladhari domains.