Features

Legacy of tea plantations and their impact on Sri Lanka’s biodiversity

Published

1 year ago

2024/09/27

Thilina Walpola

Rajika with the team of experts

By Ifham Nizam

The establishment of Sri Lanka’s iconic tea industry dates back to 1865, when tea seeds from the Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya were planted by the then superintendent of the ‘Loolkandura’ estate in Deltota, James Taylor.

This initial effort, led by James Taylor, succeeded within two years, expanding the plantation to 19 acres. Taylor, widely recognised as the pioneer of the Sri Lankan tea industry, faced numerous challenges, including labor shortages.

As noted by Scientist and Author Rajika Gamage in his recent book, Biodiversity of Up Country Wet Zone Landscape, Taylor’s solution lay in sourcing labour from drought-prone South India, where people were living under harsh conditions.

“This labour migration dramatically altered the socio-cultural fabric of the region, as the new workers had to adapt to unfamiliar living conditions in the wet zone mountain areas, leading to significant transformations in their lives and cultural identities,” says Rajika who is the Conservation biologist, Tea Research Institute, Talawakelle.

However, he added this was just the beginning of the ecological changes brought about by tea plantations. Alongside labour, European planters also introduced various plant and animal species, many of which turned invasive, altering the delicate balance of the highland ecosystems. These species, often thriving in the new environment, expanded their range, putting pressure on native flora and fauna. As a result, species like the Wild Boar, Sambar Deer, and various birds began encroaching on human settlements, further complicating the delicate balance between agriculture and wildlife. Illegal poaching became rampant, with animals like leopards and fishing cats becoming victims of this hidden trade.

: Blue Admiral

: Red Pierrot

: Pied Bush Chat

: Cinereous Tit

Yellow Eared Bulbul

Environmental Degradation and Agrochemicals

As the tea industry expanded, human settlements multiplied within the plantations, further straining the environment. The increased use of agrochemicals to control pests and enhance crop yields became commonplace, with devastating effects on the biodiversity of the region. The continuous use of pesticides and inorganic fertilisers has led to soil and water contamination, threatening the health of both wildlife and humans. Native plants, crucial for the survival of insects and birds, have been replaced by invasive species and crops that rely heavily on chemical inputs.

Over time, invasive plants like Ice Cream-bean and Calliandra began to dominate the landscape. These species, capable of producing large quantities of seeds, attracted new animal populations, such as rodents and snakes, creating further ecological imbalances. The fragile ecosystem of the Up Country, already under threat, now faces the possibility of losing its unique biodiversity within the next 25 years, with invasive plants posing a more immediate danger than climate change.

The Threat to Biodiversity

The continuous degradation of the up-country’s ecosystem has led to a decline in both flora and fauna. Many native species are losing their habitats, while the increase in invasive species disrupts the food chain. Wild animals, such as the Wild Boar and the Toque Monkey, have thrived in this altered landscape, leading to further displacement of native species. Meanwhile, domestic animals like dogs and cats, introduced by human settlements, have also increased, further complicating the balance of wildlife in the region.

In the world of insects, the butterfly populations in the region have been severely affected by human activity. Of the 248 butterfly species in Sri Lanka, 31 are endemic to the country. The spread of alien plant species and the destruction of native habitats have significantly impacted their survival. Protected areas, like Horton Plains and Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, remain crucial for the conservation of these fragile species.

Reptiles, another group significantly impacted, have found it hard to adapt to the cool, wet climate of the Up Country. Endemic species like the Black-cheek Lizard and the Rhino Horn Lizard are under constant threat from habitat loss and human encroachment.

Rajika with his family team

Birds and Agro-ecosystems

Bird species in the up-country wet zone have also been affected by the expansion of tea plantations. While some bird species thrive in tea estates, the loss of natural forests has negatively impacted forest-specialist birds. Endemic birds, such as the Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, are now restricted to the remaining montane forests. The introduction of agrochemical-laden crops further disrupts the balance, reducing the availability of native plants and insects that these birds rely on for food.

A Bleak Future for Biodiversity?

The future of the up-country wet zone’s biodiversity is at a critical juncture, said a concerned Rajika.

He added that the combination of invasive species, heavy agrochemical use, and human encroachment threatens to irreversibly alter the region’s ecosystems. The question remains whether it is possible to restore this unique environment to its pre-colonial state or if we must now focus on conserving what remains.

As Rajika highlights in his work, the key to preserving this landscape lies in sustainable management and the integration of biodiversity conservation within agricultural practices. Only then can we hope to maintain the balance between tea cultivation and the rich biodiversity that once flourished in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands.

All News Advertisement

Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the progressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world of democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.