A sweeping amendment to Sri Lanka’s coastal laws is set to replace demolition with heavy fines, triggering debate over whether the new system protects the coast or legitimizes long-ignored illegal construction.
The Coastal Conservation Law is set to be amended to impose fines of millions of rupees instead of demolishing unauthorized constructions currently built along Sri Lanka’s coastline. Under the proposed changes, the government will levy substantial financial penalties rather than remove existing illegal structures on beaches.
The new law is scheduled to come into effect from January 2026, with the drafting and legal groundwork reportedly being handled by the Attorney General’s Department.
As part of the amendment, the post-tsunami regulation that restricted construction between 100 and 300 meters from the shoreline will be revised. This change reflects a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s coastal protection policy, particularly in areas heavily impacted by tourism development.
Previously, the Department of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management stated that the proposed reforms would introduce a system of annual permits for certain coastal constructions.
Director General of the Department, Professor H. Pradeep Kumara, told Mawbima that these amendments are being introduced because the existing 100-meter limit has become impractical due to rapid tourism expansion and weak enforcement against unauthorized coastal construction.
Under the current law, construction from the very edge of the beach is strictly prohibited. However, Professor Kumara emphasized that there are already around 1,600 unauthorized coastal buildings across the country.
He alleged that despite laws enacted after the tsunami to protect lives and coastal ecosystems, illegal construction continues daily, often ignored by authorities.
The Director General also pointed out that wealthy investors in the tourism industry have been able to escape accountability by paying small fines of ten to fifteen thousand rupees, making the existing legal framework ineffective.
As a result, the law will be amended to impose an annual fine ranging from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh on existing unauthorized coastal constructions.
He said the Department plans to continue imposing heavy annual fines on existing illegal structures while taking firm steps to prevent new construction along the coast.
Explaining the practical challenges, Professor Kumara said,
“We are already removing buildings built on the coast based on police complaints. However, if we go to demolish more than 1,600 buildings built so far, we will have to demolish none of the buildings in places like Mount Lavinia and Moratuwa. Some buildings are difficult to demolish because they cannot be accessed by backhoes. Therefore, the buildings built on the coast so far must be proven to have been there for so long and must be removed by paying a heavy fine. However, we will not allow new construction. The Attorney General’s Department will inform us of the necessary procedures in this regard. We will not allow new construction. They will take steps to retain us so that there is no injustice to the previous owners. We expect to be fined Rs. 2.5 or 3 lakh per year for that.”
The proposed amendment marks a critical turning point in coastal conservation policy, raising questions about enforcement, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s beaches.
