Coral colonies have started to grow across Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port which are now being nurtured and studied through a research project, its China-backed operating company said.

The port said eco-conscious policies of being a ‘green port’ has provided a sanctuary for the natural growth of different species of coral along the port’s breakwaters and on the artificial island.

The port was dug out of dry land and later flooded with sea water. The artificial island was built out of excavated material.

“This project originates from the ecosystem nurtured by Hambantota International Port. Several thriving coral colonies have developed within the port’s channel and basin,” Wilson Qu, chief executive of Hambantota International Port group said in a statement.

“Recently, we decided that it wasn’t enough to simply foster this natural growth—we also needed to investigate the phenomenon scientifically.”

The green port concept minimises the port’s ecological footprint while striking a balance between industrial activity and environmental preservation.

Under the Coral Reef Protection Project, the Ocean University of Sri Lanka (OCUSL), will conduct a comprehensive baseline study to assess coral cover, species diversity, and the presence of various marine organisms, such as fish, invertebrates and algae.

Corals are invertebrates but the polyps contributing reef building have a calcium carbonate (limestone) external skeleton. Some of the corals get their colours of algae growing on their surface. Soft corals are anemones without skeletons.

M.F.M. Fairoz, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Fisheries and Ocean Science at OCUSL, will lead the monitoring efforts, conducting research over the next five months, HIP said.

“Our research aims to evaluate the current state of coral cover and species diversity,” Fairoz said in the statement.

“We also seek to establish a baseline for future monitoring that will help us understand ecological balance and provide insights into global coral conservation and restoration initiatives.”

“It provides university students with hands-on experience in marine biology and marine conservation, allowing them to participate in fieldwork and data analysis that will enhance their practical skills while contributing to cutting-edge marine research.”

The Hambantota port has released pictures showing what appears to be lettuce leaf coral, staghorn coral and small formations brain grooved coral, where some species of fish are seen swimming.

Among requirements for some types of corals is to be protected from strong wave action.

The study will also evaluate sea water quality, macroalgae growth, with the ultimate goal of assessing the health of coral ecosystems and their potential as models for future conservation and restoration efforts.

Hambantota International Port has initially allocated 1.2 million rupees for the first phase of the project, Jeevan Premasara – Senior General Manager HR and Admin said.

The first phase will be completed in May 2025.

Sri Lanka is strategically vital for the Indo-Pacific region amid rising co-operation among authoritative nations, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Admiral Samuel J. Paparo said.

“The Indo-Pacific isn’t just vital to our militaries, it’s the engine of global prosperity,” Paparo said in Colombo at a meeting with top military officers.

“These waters carry over half of the world’s trade and the security environment we shape today will determine the nations’ future generations.”

Sri Lanka’s key position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean is strategically vital, he said.

“These shores border key sea lanes that connect the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and to all seas,” he said.

“This geography allows Sri Lanka to influence maritime activities crucial to the entire Pacific.”

Some nations were threatening regional stability and international norms, by the ‘assertive behavior’ directly affecting freedom of navigation vital to commerce, he said.

“We see increased military cooperation among authoritarian nations, creating strategic challenges that demand immediate attention,”

“This is why strengthening democratic partnerships is imperative.”

Sri Lanka had joined peacekeeping mission and joined the Operation Prosperity and was leading the Combined Task Force 154 activity, making the country an essential partner, he said.

“We back our commitments with action, with shared intelligence capabilities, with joint and combined exercises, with professional military education, with advanced technology partnerships,” he said.

“And we together deliver real security results. We all recognize that securing these vast waters requires collaborative effort from all regional partners committed to peace and stability.”

The US has transferred three Coast Guard cutters to Sri Lanka and another one was expected next January. A Beechcraft reconnaissance aircraft was also provided.

The US was also working on providing two C-130 aircraft and H-57 helicopters.

The third reading of the Appropriation Bill (2025) was passed in Parliament today with a majority of 114.

While 159 votes were cast in favour, 45 MPs cast their votes against.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake presented the budget speech to Parliament on th 10th of February.

A post on X by Russian-backed network RT on the unredacted files related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963—posted on the website of the US National Archives and Records Administration—claimed that the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) maintained a “secret base” in Colombo among other cities in the world.

CIA secret bases, also referred to as “black sites,” are clandestine facilities used by the agency for various intelligence operations, including detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists.

It is a known fact that the agency operated secret bases globally, including facilities in Ukraine that support intelligence efforts against Russia.

According to the X post, the CIA also held two secret bases in India, in New Delhi and Kolkata.

As per the list, the New York division of the CIA maintained secret bases in Kolkata, New Delhi, Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Tehran in Iran, Seoul in South Korea, and Tokyo in Japan among other places.