Biodiversity Action Forum 2026 explores how healthy oceans can create new opportunities for investment, innovation and sustainable growthMaldives News
The Biodiversity Action Forum 2026, organised by Biodiversity Sri Lanka under the theme ‘Biodiversity Means Business: Pathways to a Nature-Positive Economy’, will be held on August 25, at Shangri-La Colombo.
Pollution, overfishing, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and climate change are creating growing risks for ocean-dependent industries.
At the same time, new approaches from blue finance and sustainable aquaculture to Marine Protected Areas, blue carbon, reef-positive tourism and nature-based solutions are creating opportunities for investment and innovation.
The Forum’s breakout session, “The Next Wave of Blue Growth: Private Sector Entry Points for Productive Investment, Conservation, CSR and Blue Finance,” will explore how Sri Lankan businesses can seize these opportunities.
UNDP Economist Dr Vagisha Gunasekara, will deliver the keynote, examining how Marine Spatial Planning and Marine Protected Areas can protect critical ecosystems while reducing investment uncertainty and enabling sustainable ocean-based industries.
A panel discussion, on ‘Blue Economy in Action: Unlocking Investment and Sustainable Growth’, will turn from policy to practice.
Moderated by Dr Sandun Perera, Programme Coordinator at IUCN Sri Lanka, the panel will feature Prof. Terney Pradeep Kumara, Director General of the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management; Sivalingam Sivakanthan of DFCC Bank; Shan Meemanage, Director and Co-founder of Divron Bioventures and Harshini de Silva Pandithasekera, Head of Sustainability at Aitken Spence Hotel Managements.
Together, they will explore a critical question: How can businesses actually participate in Sri Lanka’s blue economy?
The discussion will look at practical opportunities for investment, financing, conservation, CSR and ESG partnerships, while identifying potential initiatives that could continue beyond the Forum.
No single business, bank, government agency or conservation organisation can safeguard Sri Lanka’s marine wealth alone. The opportunity lies in bringing business, finance, science, government and communities together around shared priorities.
That is the larger purpose of the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026: moving from individual projects towards collective action for nature.
The event is supported by Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company and Hatton National Bank PLC as Platinum Sponsors; Cleantech (Pvt) Ltd. as Gold Sponsor; and Citizens Development Business Finance PLC, DIMO and Hayleys Plantations as Presenting Partners.
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