Ifham Nizam
Sri Lanka has moved to strengthen the financial backbone of its marine conservation efforts with the establishment of the country’s first CORALL Conservation Trust Fund, a landmark initiative that positions coral reef protection firmly within the framework of sustainable finance and long-term economic value creation.
The Trust Deed establishing the CORALL (Conservation of Reefs for All Lives and Livelihoods) Conservation Trust Fund was signed on December 31, 2025, by Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL) as Settlor together with the inaugural Board of Trustees. The Fund is designed to support the conservation of Pigeon Island National Park, Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary and Kayankerni Marine Sanctuary, along with their associated seascapes—areas that are central not only to marine biodiversity but also to fisheries, tourism and coastal protection.
From a business and policy perspective, the Trust Fund represents a decisive shift away from short-term, donor-driven conservation projects towards a structured and enduring financing mechanism. It is a key component of the Sri Lanka Coral Reef Initiative (SLCRI), a six-year national programme funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but critically, the Trust itself is structured to continue well beyond the project’s lifespan, offering a permanent vehicle for mobilising state, private sector and international sustainability-linked funding.
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Coral reefs within the three targeted seascapes have been increasingly degraded by destructive fishing methods such as blast fishing, overfishing, coastal pollution, unregulated tourism and unplanned coastal development. These pressures carry significant economic consequences, undermining fish stocks, tourism revenues and the natural coastal protection that reefs provide. Project partners note that a major driver of this degradation is the limited understanding among communities and institutions of the true economic value of coral reefs as natural capital that underpins livelihoods and resilience.
EFL, as an implementing partner to IUCN, played a central role in shaping the Trust’s institutional and financial architecture. It carried out a comprehensive legal, policy and institutional review, provided recommendations on the structure of Conservation Trust Funds, and drafted both the Trust Deed and an operational manual embedding governance, accountability and transparency safeguards. These features are seen as critical in building investor and donor confidence, particularly at a time when environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly influencing capital flows.
The Board of Trustees, selected by IUCN and the SLCRI National Steering Committee following a public call for applications, brings together expertise from investment banking, commercial banking and marine science. The Trustees—Palitha Gamage, Prof. (Ms.) Sevvandi Jayakody, Nalin Karunatileka, Dr. (Ms.) Nishanthi Perera, Chanaka Wickramasuriya and Nishad Wijetunga—will oversee grant funding for conservation and restoration proposals submitted by Special Management Area Coordinating Committees, while also ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation to safeguard long-term financial and ecological sustainability.
“This marks a significant step in sustainable financing to conserve coral reef ecosystems which are critical for marine biodiversity conservation, coastal protection, climate resilience, and the livelihoods of coastal communities, said Dr. Shamen Widanage, Country Representative of IUCN Sri Lanka, highlighting the wider economic and social returns expected from the initiative.
EFL chairperson Deshini Abeyewardena said the Trust Fund reflects a broader shift towards innovative financing models for environmental protection.
“EFL is honoured to have been selected by IUCN to implement this landmark initiative. The establishment of the CORALL Conservation Trust Fund reflects EFL’s long-standing commitment to advancing environmental justice through strong governance, legal safeguards and innovative financing mechanisms. As Sri Lanka faces increasing pressures on its marine ecosystems, this Trust provides a credible and transparent platform to secure sustained investment for coral reef conservation, she said.
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