Muditha Katuwawala (Sinhala: මුදිත කටුවාවල) is a Sri Lankan conservationist and economist.[1] He is the founder of The Pearl Protectors.

Muditha Katuwawala
OccupationEconomist
OrganizationThe Pearl Protectors
Known forMarine Conservation
Notable workFounding the The Pearl Protectors
HonoursRecognised as May Sea Hero by Scuba Diving Magazine

Early life and education

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Katuwawala attended the Royal College of Colombo. He later studied economics at the University of Texas at Arlington.[2]

Career

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In 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

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Katuwawala 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

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Katuwawala 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

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  1. ^ "'Everybody should be ocean-minded'". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Muditha Katuwawala on five years of meaningful marine conservation". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  4. ^ "Plasticcycle partners The Pearl Protectors' 'Cleaner seabeds for Sri Lanka' expedition | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "'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.
  7. ^ "'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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Economist Turned Conservationist Muditha Katuwawala Named May Sea Hero | Scuba Diving". www.scubadiving.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.