Kelani River Conservation: The Key to a Bright Future- Changing the Course from Pollution to Protection

The iconic Kelani River is to be part of a conservation project which will not only remedy the neglected areas of the famed river and its catchment areas but also preserve this massive body of water for future generations through conservation efforts. Officially dubbed The Kelani River Basin Multi-Stakeholder Partnership the massive conservation and development initiative will take place with the aid of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the insights of over 60 international agencies who gathered vital statistics regarding the Kelani River under the sponsorship of UNICEF and the CEA. The efforts will take place in a four year period from 2016 to 2020 in which areas such as catchment protection and eco tourism will be addressed. The historic river on whose bank lies the sacred Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya is a popular stopover for tourist heading to Club Hotel Dolphin or any other hotel in Negombo or similar southern beach hubs and a chief water source for the residents of the capital Colombo.