“Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” is the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2017.  This theme is selected to raise awareness and to highlight the vital roles of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on communities and in helping to build resilience.

To commemorate the World Wetlands Day, Urban Development Authority (UDA) of Sri Lanka through the Landscape and Environment Division organized a half-day training and discussion event to UDA Planners and staff. 

The event was held at the UDA Conference Room on 2 February 2017. IUCN Sri Lanka supported the UDA by providing two presentations out of the total of three.  IUCN provided a significant contribution where Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Coordinator Biodiversity Unit spoke on Wetland ecosystem disaster risk reduction while Dr Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative, IUCN Sri Lanka spoke on Climate change adaptation and ecosystem based risk reduction.

The UDA was established by an Act of parliament bearing No 41 of 1978 with a view to promote integrated Planning and implementation of Economic social and physical development of the areas declared by the Minister in-charge of the subject of Urban development. Accordingly, UDA has been empowered to function as the key urban planning and implementing agency of the country.