Last updated: May 2025
Sri Lanka, particularly its low-lying coastal areas, faces recurring flooding challenges exacerbated by climate change, coastal erosion, and urbanization (1). Wetlands have emerged as crucial ecosystems in mitigating these risks, acting as natural sponges during heavy rainfall and releasing water gradually as flood levels subside (1). Beyond flood control, wetlands play a vital role in environmental quality. Their biodiversity helps filter pollutants and chemicals from the air and water, creating a healthier environment for both humans and wildlife (1). In 2018, Colombo was designated as a Global Wetland City under the Ramsar Convention, becoming the first and only capital city to receive this recognition (1). Recognizing the significance of wetlands as nature-based solutions, international institutions have prioritized their conservation through financing programs (1), and the city has developed projects to raise awareness and involve its citizens in their protection (1). These efforts have resulted in the creation of four wetland parks in the city, that comparing to a wetland, the wetland parks have more human intervention. Thus, they are focused on different topics and activities (2): Diyasaru Park, Beddagana Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), Kotte Rampart Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), and the Gothatuwa Wetland Park (managed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation) (2). Gothatuwa Park is the newest wetland park and it is located in the flood-prone Gothatuwa neighbourhood (1). Inaugurated in 2024, It has a recreational focus, with trails for cyclists and hikers, and together with the other wetland complex, this park is designed to make the wetlands a cornerstone of local people's lives (1). Currently, environmental education activities are carried out in the park, focusing on managing aquatic invasive plants, tree planting and solid waste collection (3).
Gothatuwa Wetland Park
Kasun Bandara Hettinayaka
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Invasive alien species
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Disconnection from nature
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Updated management structure of existing green spaces (e.g. parks), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Protection of natural ecosystems, Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation
Project objectives
To provide leisure, education, and relaxation spaces for the citizens in Colombo (1, 2)
To turn wetlands into a cornerstone of locals' lives (1)
To provide facilities for visitors, such as parking, walkways, rest areas, and observation points to see wildlife more clearly and increase the number of sightings (2)
To engage the community in urban wetland management and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone (3)
To preserve the natural beauty of the wetland (3)
To serve as an urban oasis and reduces the gap between city life and the natural world (3)
To provide practical learning experiences on wetland ecosystems (3)
To promote a healthy lifestyle while preserving the ecological balance of the wetland (3)
Implementation activities
Activities to raise awareness and education programs have been carried out. The staff of the park and students of diverse institutions have participated in guided nature walks through the wetland and learned about the important functions that urban wetlands provide for the well-being of citizens while enjoying the beauty of Gothatuwa wetland (3)
Wetland clean-up sessions and removal and control of invasive aquatic plants in the park's canals have been organised (3)
Educational sessions have been held to promote awareness of the importance of solid waste disposal and invasive species to protect this ecosystem (3). In addition, tree planting (3) and information dissemination (3) have been carried out through CSR strategies. These have sought to provide visitors with knowledge about the importance of wetlands for biodiversity and environmental equity. There are also interpretation trails, guided tours and educational programmes highlighting the need for wetland features and conservation (3).
To support the park's objectives, running and cycling paths have been built, as well as a butterfly park (1, 2, 3)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Riverfront communities
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Capacity building
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation: a semi-governmental body that handles and develops the nation's low-lying marshlands. Initiator and management agent of the park (1, 2)
Institutions that have participated in activities in the Park: Ocean Network Express Lanka Pvt. Ltd, Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company, Rotary Club – Colombo Metropolitan, through their CSR strategies and school children and researchers have participated in training and educational spaces (3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The city of Colombo was declared the first capital city to be accredited as an International Wetland City by Ramsar, which involves a treaty promoting the conservation of wetlands (1)
A main goal of the Urban Development Authority’s (UDA) ‘Colombo Commercial City Development Plan – 2019-2030,’ (CCCDP – 2019-2030) is to create a citywide network of green spaces linked by wetlands and waterways (4))
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Other
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Expected improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Achieved enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Expected increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Social justice and conflicts, Lack of social acceptance
References
1.
Bove, T. (2024). Once used as trash dumps, Sri Lanka’s wetlands are remade as flood-buffering parks. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Daily News (2024). Colombo’s Hidden Oasis. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Gothatuwa Wetland Park (2023). Gothatuwa Wetland Park Facebook Page. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link];
4.
International Water Management Institute (2024). Urban wetlands and the built environment: how Colombo’s green spaces enhance city life. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development (2019). Strategic Social Assessment . Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link];
Dragonfly at the Gothatuwa Wetland Park
Gothatuwa Wetland Park Facebook Page
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.