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 Works: | Founding The Pearl Protectors |
| Honours: | Recognised as May Sea Hero by Scuba Diving Magazine |
Katuwawala attended the Royal College of Colombo. He later studied economics at the University of Texas at Arlington.[2]
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]
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]
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]