The Kiralakele Mangrove Center was dedicated in April 2001 and the construction of the store was completed in 2002. An October 2003 Seacology expedition visited the Kiralakele Mangrove Center and store. The Center continues to be a very popular tourist destination and is being utilized heavily by local schoolchildren and eco-tourists. On average 80 bottles of Kirala juice sell at the store every day, creating additional income to maintain the Center. Visitors are asking for more information on coastal resource conservation and coastal habitats. In 2004, after the last general election, the former Minister of Fisheries who gave the land to set up Kiralakele Mangrove Center became Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister. He visited the Center this past May and agreed to give his fullest cooperation to extend the activities of Kiralakele to all the schools and other areas of the country.