Sri Lanka, May 1 -- The Cabinet has granted consent to the proposal to make the Mirissa marine zone a Blue Flag coastal zone and a marine wildlife sanctuary conforming to international standards, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said.

"This will increase the Southern province's tourism-based economy by fivefold," he said.

The Minister was speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.

The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.

In the meeting held on May 22, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the proposal regarding the...