Gothatuwa Wetland Park

Work Areas

Main CEPA work area

Communication:
Maintain an active online presence through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram, use printed media such as newspapers and leaflets to communicate wetland park features, wetland values and responsible visitor behavior.
Education:
Gothatuwa Wetland Park hosts hands-on environmental education activities for schoolchildren, including practical science activities (e.g., bird watching, soil and water testing), and interactive learning sessions
aligned with national curricula, field learning programs.
Participation:
Engage diverse stakeholder groups in wetland stewardship through community-led wetland clean-up and tree planting events, citizen science initiatives in water quality testing, volunteer programs involving Rotaract club, school groups, and CSR partners.
Awareness-Raising:
Public engagement is fostered through celebrations of environmental days with youth-focused programs and awareness sessions tailored to
different age groups.

Top three successes

1. Protecting Gothatuwa Wetland from Public Encroachment. The Gothatuwa wetland, once an active paddy field, has faced significant encroachment due to rapid urbanization. Initial efforts like building a protective periphery canal helped somewhat but were insufficient to stop land invasion. To restore the lost connection between residents and the wetland, a barrier was constructed and transformed into a cycling track and walking path encouraging cycling and walking around the wetland. This initiative not only helps protect the wetland but also promotes healthy lifestyles and stress reduction in the densely populated area, addressing non-communicable diseases through recreational engagement with nature.
2. Public Health Camp at Gothatuwa Wetland Park, themed “Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People,” This initiative connected wetland conservation with urban public health, highlighting how healthy wetlands contribute to community well-being. The camp promoted sustainable wetland management while showcasing Gothatuwa Wetland Park as a hub for recreation and environmental education. By framing wetlands as essential for both ecological and human health, the event attracted strong public participation and interest.
3. World Wetland Day commemoration - 2025 A collaborative event bringing together experts, conservationists, youth, and community members to promote wetland preservation. Funded by the UNDP GEF/SGP OP7 Colombo Wetlands Programme and organized by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation with partner organizations, the program featured knowledge-sharing sessions and interactive activities, reinforcing collective responsibility for conserving wetlands for future generations.

Top three challenges

1. Pollution from the catchment
   Inflow of wastewater, solid waste, and other pollutants from upstream drainage and nearby settlements, degrading water quality and biodiversity.
2. Limited Resources for Management and Outreach
   Constraints in funding hinder regular maintenance and construction completion.
3. Flooding
   Being a wetland, Gothatuwa Wetland Park is vulnerable to flooding due to intense rainfall, altered natural drainage paths, and irregular upstream water inflows. Flood events can damage infrastructure, disrupt visitor activities, affect surrounding communities, and impact wetland habitats and biodiversity. Addressing these challenges is critical to the park’s sustainability and its role as an urban nature-based solution.