A massive restoration effort is underway to restore mangrove cultivations in the Batticaloa lagoon which were severely damaged by the LTTE. The destruction caused to mangroves has also affected nearly fourteen thousand fishing families living around the lagoon.

The Batticaloa lagoon with an important eco-system provides protection for birds, flora and fauna unique to the area.
The Department of Fisheries has now begun a replanting programme to restore the declining mangrove forests.

According to research conducted by the Eastern University and North East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP), mangroves in about 800 hectares of land were destroyed during the past thirty to forty years.