Sri Lanka's wetlands are transforming from waste dumps to vital flood buffers

Once neglected and polluted, the Sri Lankan capital’s wetlands are now being restored by community and government efforts, helping to manage floods and improve biodiversity.

Zinara Rathnayake reports for the BBC.

In short:

• Colombo’s wetlands, crucial for flood control, have been cleaned and revived after years of pollution and neglect.
• Community groups and government initiatives are working together to restore ecosystems and raise awareness of their environmental importance.
• Despite progress, the wetlands continue to face threats from urban development, losing significant land area since 2009.

Key quote:

"Wetlands help Colombo mitigate pollution and natural disasters. They help reduce human stress as more and more people are now living in high rise buildings."

— Chethika Gunasiri, environmental scientist at the University of Tokyo

Why this matters:

Wetlands act as natural flood barriers and carbon sinks, critical for Colombo's climate resilience. Without continued restoration and protection, the city faces increased flooding, pollution and biodiversity loss.