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St. Peter’s College: Pioneering Ecosystem restoration education to broaden student experiential learning
Embracing Nature, Environmental stewardship, and Ecosystem Restoration education are being prioritized at St. Peter’s College as crucial skills for young Peterites as they embark into a world where nature needs a lot of healing and nurturing, a ews releasing covering this development said.
As a premier Catholic educational institution in Sri Lanka, the foundations for this pioneering vision were put in motion a while back through the acquisition of a largely cultivated 50-acre block of land in Dodangoda, Matugama, which was renamed “The Rock”. As a second step, the construction of accommodation facilities commenced, which will soon enable students to spend a few days in residence and go through an immersive holistic experiential educational which will be a blend of classroom content, nature friendly experiences and hands on exposure to multiple elements around the location,the release said.
In a major pioneering move on this journey, St. Peter’s became the First Educational Institute to partner with WNPS PLANT which is Sri Lanka’s largest Private Sector driven ecosystem conservation initiative, seeking to develop forest corridors within the endemic-rich southwestern parts of Sri Lanka. WNPS PLANT (Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Limited) currently works in over 34 locations, is developing over 50 kilometers of forest corridor, is creating hundreds of acres of new forests and plays refuge to over 1,300 species across its different conservation partnership locations.
PLANT is establishing natural sanctuaries and reserves directly and through partners, to prevent the destruction and harmful commercial exploitation of species of wild animal and plants and is keen to co-operate actively with other persons and organizations in Sri Lanka and in other countries in the interests of nature conservation and to give support for study and research concerning wildlife.
PLANT has access to multiple academic and research-oriented individuals, institutions and initiatives, and will support St. Peter’s by further sharing this knowledge among students. PLANT was established by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), which is Sri Lanka’s largest and most active conservation entity, and is backed by over 40 global and local partners. PLANT will conduct a biodiversity assessment of the location and hopes to develop forest corridors along the perimeter of this property to facilitate seamless wildlife movement and peaceful coexistence with agricultural lands.
Students and members of the college Eco Club will have the opportunity to engage in restoration activities, tree planting, and supportive forms of research engagement. Students also have new opportunities to engage in broader conservation work on outside locations, through the PLANT and WNPS networks. Against the backdrop of the terrible floods and landslides in recent times, St. Peter’s is demonstrating through this partnership, that Ecosystem conservation is the responsibility of all parties and communities in Sri Lanka, and this move will hopefully signal the start of many more educational institutions to foster these values among youth and seek partnership with the likes of PLANT and WNPS in the future.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026
The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).
For the Land area:
DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.
Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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