By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka is the best place in the world to see leopards, says Prof. Enoka Kudavidanage, Co-Chairman, Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS), Director, Tropical Ecosystem Research Network and Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
Prof. Kudavidanage said that Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is spread across the country. Yala, Kumana and Horton Plains national parks were places where they are especially congregated.
“A lot of tourists visit Sri Lanka to see our leopards. India is another place where tourists can see leopards easily. Mainly tourists come to Yala to see leopards, but in recent times a lot of foreigners go to Horton Plains to see leopards,” she said.
Prof. Kudavidanage indicated that WNPS is conducting research in six locations, i.e., Kilinochchi, Sigiriya, Kalawana, Belihuloya, Panama and Kotagala, on the interactions between leopards and humans.
“You can’t keep leopards inside national parks. We need to educate people on how they can live with leopards. Our research is on this.”
Prof. Kudavidanage said she personally conducts research at Horton Plains National Park on leopard population and other data that is important for the Park management and conservation of those animals.
“Horton Plains National Park is a small area. About 32 square kilometres. We identified 23 leopards. In some places in the world, there is only one leopard for 100 square kilometres. This is a unique feature.”
Prof. Kudavidanage said the Sri Lankan leopard is larger than the Indian one and that there are a lot more interactions between humans and leopards in India. There are a lot of urban leopards in India.
“There are about 1,000 leopards according to the last estimate. The carrying capacity must be estimated, we haven’t done this. People are increasingly encroaching in the areas where leopards live. So, we need to figure out what to do.”
Prof. Kudavidanage said forests in Sri Lanka have been fragmented due to human activity. In the case of the central highlands, tea plantations have fragmented forests and leopards have to go through villages.
“If they see a dog, it is easy to pray. Humans are also eating pray that leopards used to eat. The leopard is very adaptable. When we start settlements where they live, they start coming in.” The leopard is Sri Lanka’s only apex predator, she said. Leopard is also a keystone species. If the leopard is gone, the ecological balance will be gone, as well.
The event was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.
During the ceremony, ThaiPongal rituals were performed under the patronage of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The celebration was enriched with a range of vibrant cultural performances of Hindu culture and traditions.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Environment Minister Dammika Patabedi said yesterday he had ordered an inquiry into the withdrawal of China-based Amber Adventures (Private) Ltd., from the Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project.Addressing the media, the Minister said the Environment Ministry had no direct agreement with the company, as the project was under the purview of the Board of Investment (BOI).
He said construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone had been suspended following complaints from environmental organisations in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. All constructions in high-risk areas, he said, had been halted pending clearance by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
According to the Minister, complaints had been received that construction at Ambuluwawa was continuing without NBRO clearance.
In response, the Ministry instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to conduct an investigation and thereafter construction activities were suspended pending a technical assessment by experts.
The Ministry of Environment subsequently ordered the immediate suspension of all construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone until the assessment was completed, he said, adding that work could resume if expert evaluations cleared the project.
Following the suspension, Amber Adventures (Private) Ltd,, described as the country’s first cable car venture, formally withdrew from the project, citing what it termed “regulatory obstruction and arbitrary state action.”
The company, a major Chinese investor in the project, proposed as Sri Lanka’s first cable car initiative with both Chinese and American investment, officially informed the BOI of its decision on Wednesday (14). In a letter to the BOI, the company said it had obtained all required permits and approvals in line with BOI procedures but faced repeated disruptions that resulted in significant financial losses.
Company Director Yuan Yuping warned that legal action would be pursued at the International Court of Arbitration to recover losses incurred due to the suspension of the project, citing continuous interruptions and government decisions as the cause.
Meanwhile, the Ambuluwawa Trust Board said the withdrawal of investors from the project was a major loss to the country, noting that it was regrettable that decisions had been taken without proper investigation, based on allegations by parties lacking a clear understanding of the facts.
It warned that halting a large-scale project of that nature would result in the loss of direct and indirect employment opportunities, as well as income sources for communities in the surrounding areas.
By Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake ✍️
Balangoda Kassapa Thero, held in Trincomalee remand prison over alleged violations of the Coastal Conservation Act, reportedly refused meals yesterday (15).
Prison authorities, however, said it could not be confirmed whether the monk’s action amounted to a hunger strike. Prison Media Spokesperson A. C. Gajanayake added that an official statement on the matter would be issued today (16).
The monk and eight others were remanded until 19 Jan by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court over allegations of unauthorised construction of a shelter to place a Buddha statue at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraj Viharaya. Prison sources said Thero had also declined food brought from outside.
The case follows reports to the court by the Trincomalee Harbour Police that unauthorised constructions had been carried out, despite instructions from the Court of Appeal to resolve the dispute peacefully.
by Chaminda Silva ✍️
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