Jetwing Vil Uyana Wins PATA Gold Award for Transforming Degraded Land into a Thriving Wetland Ecosystem
The restored wetland ecosystem at Jetwing Vil Uyana. Image credit: Tourism Quest.
Jetwing Vil Uyana, A Luxury Reserve, has received the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2026 in the Ecosystem and Wildlife Conservation Initiative category, becoming the only Sri Lankan hospitality brand to receive a PATA Gold Award this year and securing the property’s third recognition in the prestigious programme.
The award highlights a conservation story that is particularly significant within Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, where ancient engineering, agricultural knowledge and biodiversity are closely connected. Located near the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Jetwing Vil Uyana has demonstrated how responsible tourism can be combined with habitat restoration, water conservation and high-quality hospitality without treating environmental stewardship as a secondary consideration.
From degraded agricultural land to a functioning wetland
When Jetwing Vil Uyana opened in 2006, its 28-acre site represented a substantially degraded agricultural landscape. Over the subsequent two decades, the property was carefully reshaped into a wetland ecosystem comprising interconnected lakes, waterways, vegetation zones and wildlife habitats.
The transformation was not limited to landscape beautification. It was designed to recreate ecological functions that had been weakened by earlier land use, while establishing a setting in which visitors could experience Sri Lanka’s natural heritage in a responsible manner. The result is an evolving ecosystem in which plant life, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have found increasingly suitable conditions.
The project also reflects a distinctly Sri Lankan approach to water management. Its interconnected lakes and waterways harvest rainwater, replenish groundwater and help support nearby agricultural communities. The system draws inspiration from the island’s ancient cascade irrigation networks, which connected tanks and waterways across landscapes in order to retain, distribute and reuse water.
The threatened grey slender loris, for which Jetwing Vil Uyana has become a notable observation location. Image credit: Tourism Quest.
Conservation measured across twenty years
A central strength of the project is the availability of long-term scientific evidence. An independent biodiversity assessment conducted in 2005 was replicated in 2025 by a research team from the University of Colombo, allowing changes in the site’s ecological condition to be examined over a twenty-year period.
The comparative assessments revealed substantial increases in plant, bird, reptile, amphibian and fish populations across the restored landscape. Such findings provide a more reliable measure of conservation success than short-term observations, because they show how ecological systems have developed over time rather than merely recording the presence of species at a single point.
The results also demonstrate the value of restoring degraded land in regions where pressure on water and natural habitats can be considerable. By allowing the wetland to mature and by monitoring its biological development, Jetwing Vil Uyana has created a practical example of how hospitality properties can contribute to wider environmental resilience.
The property has additionally become a premier location for observing the threatened grey slender loris, a small nocturnal primate native to Sri Lanka. Three acres have been dedicated as a loris conservation site, supported by an information centre intended to strengthen public understanding of the species, its habitat and the importance of minimising disturbance.
A model for responsible tourism
The recognition is significant because it places biodiversity at the centre of a tourism model traditionally associated with accommodation, recreation and visitor services. At Jetwing Vil Uyana, the landscape itself has become an essential part of the experience, while the conservation programme provides an educational dimension that can encourage more informed attitudes towards Sri Lanka’s wildlife.
The property’s approach also illustrates how responsible tourism can create value beyond the boundaries of a resort. Rainwater harvesting reduces dependence on external water sources, groundwater replenishment contributes to local water security, and the restored habitat supports species that require healthy wetland environments. These outcomes are particularly relevant as communities and businesses seek practical responses to changing rainfall patterns and increasing pressure on natural resources.
The project’s value is therefore both ecological and institutional. It suggests that private hospitality operators can play an instrumental role in conservation when restoration is supported by long-term planning, independent assessment and an understanding of local environmental systems.
Hashan Cooray, Director of Marketing and Development at Jetwing Hotels, said:
> “At Jetwing Hotels, sustainability is measured not only by the initiatives we implement today, but by the positive impact they create over time. The biodiversity gains recorded at Jetwing Vil Uyana over the past two decades demonstrate what can be achieved through long-term commitment, innovation, and responsible tourism. We are humbled to see these efforts recognised through a respected platform such as the PATA Gold Awards.”
Wildlife habitat within the Jetwing Vil Uyana ecosystem. Image credit: Tourism Quest.
Recognition from the PATA Gold Awards
The PATA Gold Awards have recognised excellence in the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism sector since 1984. The awards cover a broad range of fields, including destination marketing, sustainability, conservation, climate action, community-based tourism, technology, inclusivity and human capital development.
The 2026 recognition places Jetwing Vil Uyana among organisations whose work demonstrates that innovation in tourism can extend beyond commercial performance. The award also acknowledges the importance of measurable results, particularly when conservation initiatives are assessed through independent research and long-term comparison.
PATA Chief Executive Officer Noor Ahmad Hamid broadly emphasised that the 2026 winners reflected creativity, innovation and commitment across a more sustainable tourism industry. The winning initiatives were described as examples of how bold ideas can generate lasting benefits in areas including conservation, climate action, inclusion and community empowerment.
For Sri Lanka, the award provides an encouraging example of national expertise being applied to an international environmental challenge. The restoration of Jetwing Vil Uyana was developed in a landscape shaped by ancient water systems and long-established relationships between people, agriculture and nature. Its success demonstrates that modern hospitality can draw upon this heritage while applying contemporary ecological monitoring and conservation practice.
Formerly degraded land associated with the restoration story at Jetwing Vil Uyana. Image credit: Tourism Quest.
Sri Lankan innovation with global relevance
Jetwing Vil Uyana’s third PATA Gold Award represents more than an institutional achievement. It offers a positive case study in how damaged landscapes can be restored through patient investment, scientific observation and careful integration with surrounding communities.
The project’s combination of wetland creation, groundwater replenishment, wildlife protection and environmental education provides a versatile framework for future conservation-led developments. Its achievements further suggest that Sri Lanka’s ecological knowledge, including the principles represented by its historic cascade irrigation systems, remains highly relevant to modern sustainability planning.
As international attention increasingly turns towards nature-positive tourism, Jetwing Vil Uyana demonstrates that luxury and conservation need not be regarded as opposing objectives. When supported by credible evidence and responsible management, a hospitality property can become a place where economic activity, biodiversity protection and community water security are advanced together.
The achievement is therefore a notable contribution to Sri Lanka’s environmental reputation and a source of encouragement for institutions, businesses and communities seeking to protect the island’s natural heritage. Further information about Sri Lankan achievements, community initiatives and positive stories from around the world is available through eLanka.
This article was written based on the source https://tourismquest.com/2026/09/10/jetwing-vil-uyana-wins-pata-gold-for-turning-degraded-land-into-a-thriving-wetland-ecosystem/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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