Three New Wetlands To Be Declared Under Ramsar Convention This Year- Minister
Editor
February 2, 2024
Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that the Wildlife Department has planned to declare three new wetlands in Sri Lanka as wetlands under the Ramsar Convention.
The minister mentioned this while speaking to the media on the occasion of “World Wetlands Day” that fell on February 2.
The Wildlife Department has planned to designate the Viduthalaithivu Nature Reserve in Mannar district, Adam’s Bridge National Park and the Chundikulam National Park in Jaffna district as new wetland zones in 2024.
The minister further said that steps have also been taken to expand the Wankalai Sanctuary up to the Wedithalativu Nature Reserve.
She said that necessary activities are underway to announce the Mirissa Marine Sanctuary this year.
Wildlife Department Director Manjula Amararatne said that the Narangala mountain range and the surrounding area of 239 hectares belonging to the Badulla Soranathota Divisional Secretariat, which is the feeding area for many streams and waterfalls, was designated as a sanctuary on December 5 last year. Meanwhile the national event for World Wetlands Day was held today in Diyasaru wetland park today. “Wetlands and human well-being” has been named as the theme of the 2024 World Wetlands Day by the United Nations