There are fringing and offshore reefs of varying conditions around the country. These have been categorized into three main habitat types. They are the true coral habitats consisting of live coral as well as calcareous substances, sandstone and rocky habitats. According to Swan (1983) about 2% of the coastline contains near shore fringing reefs. The growth of coral reefs around Sri Lanka is influenced mainly by the monsoons which has a major impact on the level of turbidity and fresh water input into the coastal waters. As a result extensive coral reef habitats are limited to areas with lower levels of sedimentation with semi-dry climates found in the north-western and eastern coastal areas. Coral reef development in the southwestern sector of the coastline is poor due to heavy rainfall.
Coral Reef Locations
1 . Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary
Shallow coral area are partially damaged, deep coral area are in good condition
Crown of Thorns Starfish, Threat -destructive Fishing, uncontrolled harvesting, boat anchors
2 . Kandakuliya
Shallow coral areas are heavily damaged
destructive fishing, boat anchors, uncontrolled harvesting
3 . Talawila
Shallow coral areas are damageddestructive fishing, boat anchors, uncontrolled harvesting
4 . Chilaw
Partially damaged
destructive fishing, uncontrolled harvesting
5 . Negombo
Mostly in good condition, damage is evident, inshore reefs are damaged
destructive fishing, sedimentation on inshore reefs, uncontrolled harvesting
6 . Colombo
Inshore reefs degraded, offshore reefs are in good condition
sedimentation, uncontrolled harvesting, pollution
7 . Ambalangoda to Hikkaduwa
Inshore reefs degraded offshore reef relatively good
coral mining, sedimentation, destructive fishing, uncontrolled harvesting
8 . Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary
Partially degraded
sedimentation, boat anchoring, reef trampling, pollution, use of glass bottom boats, increase of Halimeda
9 . Galle including Rumasssala reef
Degraded
sedimentation, uncontrolled harvesting, destructive fishing, pollution
10 . Unawatuna
Partially degraded
sedimentation, pollution, reef trampling, anchors, uncontrolled harvesting
11 . Weligama
Partially degraded
sedimentation, pollution, reef trampling, anchors, destructive collecting, uncontrolled harvesting
11 . Polhena, Matara
Heavily degradedcoconut husk seasoning, sedimentation, uncontrolled harvesting
12 . Tangalle
Partially degradedsedimentation, reef tramplina, souvenir collection
13 . Batticoloa & Trincomalee
Some locations degradeddestructive fishing, uncontrolled harvesting
