The Pre-Conference Workshop organized by the Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (CESSD), in association with the International Research Conference (IRC) of the Open University of Sri Lanka, was successfully held on the 5th and 6th of November 2024. The two-day event featured a lecture series on November 5th, followed by a field visit to the Kadolkale Mangrove Forest in Negombo on November 6th. Themed “Reviving Coastal Ecosystems: Taxonomy, Threats, Conservation Strategies & GIS/Remote Sensing Applications,” the lecture series was delivered by distinguished experts including Prof. K.Kandasamy (Annamalai University), India, Prof. Sewwandi Jayakody (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), Dr. Manoj Prasanna (Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka), and Dr. Buddika Madurapperuma (The Open University of Sri Lanka). With strong participation from academics, researchers, and students—both in person and via online platforms—the workshop fostered valuable knowledge exchange and highlighted the critical importance of conserving coastal ecosystems through science-based strategies and technological tools.
