Breathing life back into Bellanwila: WNPS and Abans unite with DWC to restore urban wetland sanctuary

From left: Abans Corporate Communications Head Chanaka Tissera, Director of Business Development Tanaz Pestonjee, WNPS PLANT Chairman Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Green Isle Project Chairperson Sohan Patrick, WNPS Legal Officer Sachini Boraluwa and PLANT Senior Executive Pavi Attanayake 

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), in partnership with Abans PLC and under the guidance of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), is further restoring one of Colombo’s most vital ecological sites, the Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary, through a flagship conservation initiative known as the Green Isle Project which focuses on an important island section within the sanctuary. The initiative was commenced in 2019, and Abans PLC renewed their support for five more years through to 2030 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between WNPS and Abans PLC on 31 May 2025.

Spread across 372 hectares, the Bellanwila-Attidiya wetland, which was gazetted in 1990 is home to over 150 bird species (including rare migratory visitors), endemic reptiles, mammals like the Otter and Rusty-spotted Cat, and the endangered Purple-faced Leaf Monkey. This key wetland sanctuary adjacent to Colombo (being the only wetland Capital City in the world), is protected with the status of “Sanctuary” under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance (FFPO) of Sri Lanka. Years of invasive species persisting, and unmanaged pollution had reduced the sanctuary’s ecological integrity, which prompted the need for urgent restoration.

The Green Isle Project is focused on reversing this degradation through scientific habitat restoration, habitat enrichment, public awareness, and long-term ecological monitoring on the 40 acre island. These efforts are now managed by the WNPS PLANT (Preserving Land and Nature) subcommittee which has years of experience in preserving large areas of lands with sensitive eco systems around Sri Lanka, and are engaged in developing over 20 kilometres of Forest corridors across sensitive landscapes.

“This is not just about restoring a wetland — it’s about securing a future where both people and nature can thrive together in our capital city,” said the WNPS President Graham Marshall. “The sanctuary performs critical ecological services such as flood mitigation, carbon absorption, and water purification, all while providing a home for Sri Lanka’s endangered urban wildlife. We are deeply thankful to the Department of Wildlife Conservation for their trust, and to Abans PLC for their continued support of this ambitious project.”

Within the last five years, over 2,000 native trees have been planted, with hundreds more growing in the on-site nursery. Invasive alien species like Pond Apple and Water Hyacinth are being systematically removed and replaced with native flora to restore biodiversity. The new phase of this project through to 2030 will focus more on enriching the habitat even further and building upon the conservation work done in the past. Teams will soon embark on doing a Rapid Biodiveristy Assessment on the Island and the surrounding area, which will provide critical insights on the different lifeforms within this ecosystem. Under this initiative, the entry of more urban wildlife into the area is expected, in addition to a boost in the research conducted within the area. The area will be enriched with over a thousand trees to increase the sources of food through fruit trees and to enhance biodiversity. Through these actions, the habitat loss of the endangered and endemic Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Western subspecies nestor) is expected to be mitigated.  New camera traps will be placed to document wildlife within their habitat, and this is expected to yield some insights into the animal nightlife in that area.

Abans PLC Chairperson Aban Pestonjee shared her perspective on supporting the initiative:

“Abans has always stood as a brand that is dedicated to the protection of the environment, with loving kindness at the forefront, to protect and to promote values that empower lives. We’re focused on long-term sustainability and how our actions impact the safety of the future for all, because ‘empowering lives’, for us is a generation-to-generation, dependable brand promise,” Chairperson Aban Pestonjee emphasised. 

This was reiterated by Abans Director Tanaz Pestonjee: “Sustainability remains one of the cornerstones of our brand. Abans is always concerned about what impact we leave behind, and the positive green footprint that we leave behind through initiatives such as biodiversity conservation, saving endangered and endemic species and acting in line with the expertise of ecologists ensures that Abans remains aligned with ecological balance, while contributing meaningfully to the preservation of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.”

The Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary, unique as a major wetland ecosystem in a capital city, is a prime example of the powerful potential of public-private partnerships in conservation. With wetlands playing a vital role in climate resilience, urban cooling, wildlife corridors, and clean water systems, the Green Isle Project is more than a CSR project; it’s a scalable model for sustainable urban ecology.