CBL, CEA spearhead awareness campaign on wetlands

CBL-Ritzbury is partnering with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to spearhead an awareness campaign on the importance of conserving ‘wetlands’ in Sri Lanka. This is the first time a Sri Lankan company has extended its corporate social responsibility assistance towards this cause.

CBL-Ritzbury has always gone beyond its regular business practices and got in social causes. In taking this approach a step further, Ritzbury has extended a Rs. 2 m sponsorship to conduct an all-island inter-school quiz competition with the objective of creating awareness on the importance of protecting ‘wetlands’ which are considered as very rare, yet very important and sensitive eco systems in the world.   

The CEA and Department of Wildlife Conservation are planning to celebrate the World Wetlands Day which falls on 2 February on a grand scale next year and the school quiz competition is a part of this commemoration programme. The competition will be conducted at zonal, district, provincial and national levels and will encompass 2,800 Government schools. One student representing Grades 10 to 13 from each school can participate in this quiz competition. The overall winners will receive their trophies and certificates during the World Wetlands Day commemoration national event next year.  

The objective of celebrating World Wetlands Day is to raise public awareness on the importance of conserving wetlands due to their high water retention capacity, bio diversity and the positive impact they have on tourism. The wetland protecting ‘Ramsar Convention’ was signed in Ramsar, Iran and dates back to 1971. The wetlands that are classified under ‘Raamsar Convention’ in Sri Lanka are; Bundala forest reservation, Madu River eco system, Kumana forest reservation, Anavilundawa in Chilaw and Vankalai reservation in Mannar.

Speaking about sponsoring the school quiz competition in commemoration of World Wetlands Day, Ritzbury Snr. Brand Manager Nilupul de Silva said: “We at Ritzbury have taken it upon ourselves to educate our children about the importance of wetlands, which are a rare eco system that has a high environmental impact as part of our CSR program. In addition to this we have also been sponsoring a TV programme for the past six years aimed at children, called ‘Ritzbury Journey Day’ that showcases forest reservations, historical places, traditional industries, places of scenic beauty, etc., with the objective of educating our future generation on places of importance in Sri Lanka.”CBL Foods International Ltd. Assistant General Manager Nadeeja Karunathilake said: “Ritzbury, a brand that is dedicated to provide fresh and good quality chocolates takes pride in the opportunity the Central Environment Authority has given to sponsor this program, that not only appeals to the children but to the adult population as well. Ritzbury, just like it revolutionised the chocolate industry by introducing a range of new variants to the market, hopes to create an intellectual revolution among Sri Lankan students about preserving nature, through numerous initiatives.”

In addition to the quiz competition, Ritzbury is also planning to conduct a lengthy awareness programme to educate the masses on the importance of conserving wetlands in Sri Lanka.