By Charles Haviland BBC News, Colombo

Turtle hatchlings should have the freedom to walk over the beach to the sea, but hatcheries were illegally putting walls and barriers, officials say

The authorities say turtle hatcheries are operating there which contravene conservation laws, and they are going to try and prosecute those involved.

Sri Lanka is a vital habitat for sea turtles as five of the seven species come ashore here to lay their eggs.

Watching adult and newly hatched turtles is also popular with tourists.

That seems to be contributing to the problems faced by these endearing reptiles.

'Harming the species'

The Sri Lankan Daily Mirror Online website says in a new report that hatcheries which use them for commercial or leisure purposes are harming the species.

It spoke to the environment minister, Champika Ranawaka.

	Minister says the Govt. has warned certain hatcheries to stop illegal practices

"The wildlife officers have informed all the hatcheries that selling the turtles or using them as meat or for any other commercial purpose is illegal," says Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka.

"They can only be used for educational purposes. We have investigated the illegal places and given them warnings not to do that."

A senior wildlife official, Sarath Dissanayake, told the BBC that turtle hatchlings should have the freedom to walk over the beach to the sea, but hatcheries were illegally putting walls and barriers in their way.

A tourist said he had recently been at a facility where guests were encouraged to pick up baby turtles and “set them free” into the ocean.

He said the place was like a zoo and that at least one hatchling appeared to be dead.

They have asked us to hatch them on the beaches. But we can’t do that. If we wanted to do that, we’d need at least 20,000 soldiers guarding these turtles   Hatchery owner

But this hatchery owner told Daily Mirror Online he is protecting the animals, not profiting from them.

"They have asked us to hatch them on the beaches. But we can’t do that. If we wanted to do that, we’d need at least 20,000 soldiers guarding these turtles, because people are hungy for them, most use them as meat," he said.

The authorities are not convinced. They’re preparing new guidelines on how turtle hatcheries should be maintained and say that those who violate them will be prosecuted.