Muditha Katuwawala (Sinhala: මුදිත කටුවාවල) is a Sri Lankan conservationist and economist.[1] He is the founder of The Pearl Protectors.
Muditha Katuwawala | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Economist |
| Organization | The Pearl Protectors |
| Known for | Marine Conservation |
| Notable work | Founding the The Pearl Protectors |
| Honours | Recognised as May Sea Hero by Scuba Diving Magazine |
Early life and education
editKatuwawala attended the Royal College of Colombo. He later studied economics at the University of Texas at Arlington.[2]
Career
editIn 2018, Katuwawala set up The Pearl Protectors to create awareness about plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.[3] Initially a social media-driven platform, The Pearl Protectors has grown into a conservation organisation with over 2,000 volunteers.[4]
The organisation runs various projects aimed at protecting marine ecosystems, including the Nurdle Free Lanka[5] campaign, which was launched in response to the 2021 MV X-Press Pearl disaster; Turtle Patrol to deter poachers from illegally taking sea turtle eggs;[6] Cleaner Seabeds of Sri Lanka to remove ghost nets from coral reefs.[7]
Advocacy
editKatuwawala has been vocal about the need for better management of marine resources and policies that protect Sri Lanka's marine environments.[8] His work includes educating the public on the negative impact of single-use plastics, mobilizing volunteers for marine conservation projects, and advocating for stronger policies and laws to protect Sri Lanka's marine environment.[9]
Awards and recognition
editKatuwawala was named May Sea Hero by Scuba Diving magazine in recognition of his work, his leadership in the aftermath of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, and his ongoing efforts in marine conservation.[10]
References
edit- ^ "'Everybody should be ocean-minded'". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo (2024-07-15). Kaleidoscope Let's Talk with Pearl Protectors' Muditha Katuwawala July 4th 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-09 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Muditha Katuwawala on five years of meaningful marine conservation". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Plasticcycle partners The Pearl Protectors' 'Cleaner seabeds for Sri Lanka' expedition | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Lanka, Steph Spyro in Sri (2022-02-27). "How world's largest plastic spill wrecked an island's beaches". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "'It's nice to help a life to live': meet Sri Lanka's turtle guardians". The Guardian. 2024-08-08. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "'We Will Not Give Up': Sri Lanka's battle against ghost nets". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "The Pearl Protectors Co-ordinator Muditha Katuwawala: Valuing water on World Water Day". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "SSI x Edges of Earth: How Sri Lanka's Divers are Fighting for Their Ocean's Future". www.divessi.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Economist Turned Conservationist Muditha Katuwawala Named May Sea Hero | Scuba Diving". www.scubadiving.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.