Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Midway between Bentota to the North and Ahangalla to the South, blink and you would miss the small hamlet of Kosgoda.

Nestled between the main road and the beautiful sandy beach Kosgoda is famous for its turtle hatchery, operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. First established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles population from the pressure placed upon their natural environment by man. The hatcheries pay fishermen for the turtle eggs collected at night along the long sandy beach. Tourist are encouraged to visit the hatchery and are shown large tanks filled with filtered sea water where newly born, lively turtle hatchlings are kept; (this provides a rare opportunity to see these fascinating creatures at close quarters).

After being fed the hatchlings are taken to the sea and released when they are two to four days old, where possible they are released during the safer hours of darkness - although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year. The Marine Conservation Society has joined hands with local fishermen in Sri Lanka and introduced a turtle friendly fishing hook in an effort to protect the island's endangered species of sea turtles. It is estimated that thousands of Sri Lanka's endangered species of sea turtles are accidentally snagged by long line fishing hooks every year. The Marine Conservation Society are introducing more than 30,000 circular turtle friendly fishing hooks to the fishermen of Sri Lanka in a determined effort to relieve pressure on the turtle population. The new circular fishing hooks will replace the traditional “J” shaped hooks which frequently snag turtles leading to suffocation or internal bleeding caused by injuries sustained.