Ramsar International commends Ritzbury for its contribution towards the protection of Wetlands

'Ritzbury', the number one selling brand of chocolates in Sri Lanka from CBL, along with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Central Environment Authority celebrated the World Wetlands Day in a grand scale at the Water's Edge recently. This was the second consecutive year in which Ritzbury sponsored the Wetlands day celebrations. The theme for the event this year was "Wetlands and Water Management".

While Ritzbury sponsored the World Wetlands Day event, they also sponsored a poster competition. The competition was organized by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Central Environment Authority and the Education Ministry. The aim of this competition was to show children the importance of protecting wetlands, hence the theme for the competition was "Wetlands and Water Management". The winners were; Senior Secondary Category : Vindya Nuwangi Tennakoon (Holy Family Convent), Senior Category : Kalana Thilian Molagoda (Kosvana Special School) and Junior Category : Rehan Thenuka Koddikara (Vidura College) and U.K.D.Senaratne (Open category)

The Wilpattu National Park and Yodha Wewa area was named as Sri Lanka's sixth Wetland, at the event. The Ramsar Convention, to which Sri Lanka is a signatory, was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. Currently with 160 signatories, this is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Bundala was classified as Sri Lanka's first Ramsar wetland, followed by Anawilundawa in Chilaw, Madu river, Kumana forest reservation and the Vankalai Sanctuary.