Sri Lanka and the UK have joined forces to protect the marine environment through a new agreement.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The initiative will be carried out through the UK's Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP).

The OCPP aims to support the health of marine ecosystems and improve the lives of coastal communities dependent on them. The program will focus on three key areas: marine biodiversity, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood.

This agreement builds on past successful collaborations between the two countries and expands on areas like marine pollution emergency response and sustainable seafood production.

By working together, Sri Lanka and the UK aim to gather crucial data on the marine environment, reduce pollution, and promote the sustainable growth of Sri Lanka's blue economy.

The OCPP has also partnered with the Association of Commonwealth Universities to offer scholarships for Sri Lankan students focused on marine research.