Navy celebrates World Wetlands Day
 

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2^nd February every year to raise global awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. It also marks the date of adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year's theme of World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands and Climate Change’.

Marking the importance of this significant day, Sri Lanka Navy organized a programme to plant over 1,000 mangroves saplings in the Northwestern Naval Command, in collaboration with civil society organizations.

Deputy Area Commander Northwestern Naval Command, Commodore Rohitha Perera, naval personnel attached to the North Western Naval Command, university students, school children and fisher folk in the region took part in this worthy cause. The programme was also conducted at the Rapid Action Boat Squadron, SLNS Barana, Vijaya, Therapuththa and Thambapanni in the Northwestern Naval Command, in parallel with the main event.

Further, a large number of mangrove plantation projects have been launched by the Navy in lagoon areas and suitable habitats, under the directives of Commander of the Navy and Marine and Eco Friendly Projects Steering Committee Head, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. These projects are currently up and running in Northern, North Central, Northwestern and Southeastern Naval Areas, in a bid to help stabilize the coastline and prevent erosion from waves and storms.