Business
Conservation now a business imperative, WNPS tells corporate sector
Environmental crises in Sri Lanka are no longer merely conservation issues but constitute an economic and corporate survival challenge that directly threatens the country’s water security, agriculture, exports and long-term business sustainability, speakers at the latest monthly lecture of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) warned on Thursday.
At a time when climate shocks, biodiversity collapse and environmental degradation are beginning to impact supply chains, tourism, food production and investor confidence, the lecture titled “Conservation in Action: Driving Impact – Hill Country to Courtrooms: Science, Community and the Next Generation in Action” highlighted how conservation is increasingly becoming intertwined with economics, corporate governance and national resilience.
Held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall with support from Nations Trust Bank, the event drew leading corporate executives, conservationists, lawyers, architects, researchers and youth leaders.
Corporate leader and conservation advocate Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne delivered one of the strongest messages of the evening, stressing that Sri Lanka’s montane ecosystems were effectively the economic backbone of the nation.
“You block up the montane region, we lose our water, our agriculture and our exports, he said.
His remarks reflected a growing global shift where environmental protection is increasingly viewed not as philanthropy, but as a strategic investment linked directly to economic continuity and climate resilience.
Wijeyeratne explained how the WNPS-led “Plant” initiative has rapidly evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s most ambitious privately supported ecological restoration programmes, demonstrating how businesses can move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility into measurable environmental investment.
Within just five years, the initiative has begun restoring around 200 acres of degraded landscapes while establishing approximately 30 kilometres of ecological corridors in the central highlands.
Importantly, he said, the programme was designed not to centralise conservation under a single organisation but to create a scalable model for wider private-sector adoption.
“We are not trying to become the answer. Plant is meant to prove that private-sector-led restoration is possible and that businesses can actively participate in rebuilding ecosystems, he said.
The initiative already involves partnerships with multiple private-sector stakeholders investing in ecological restoration in the hill country — an area critical to tea, hydropower, water resources and downstream agriculture.
One of the clearest examples discussed during the lecture was the growing collaboration between conservationists and Sri Lanka’s architectural and urban planning sectors.
Following discussions initiated at the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, the prestigious Geoffrey Bawa architectural awards were restructured into the “Monamal Award,” recognising projects that integrate biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and environmentally sensitive design.
“This is about redefining what good development means, Wijeyeratne said.
“The future gold standard of architecture must be buildings and landscapes that embrace ecosystems rather than destroy them.”
The lecture also explored how climate change is reshaping social vulnerability and labour resilience — key concerns for businesses operating in agriculture, plantations and rural economies.
Wildlife photographer and conservationist Riaz Cader highlighted another emerging business concern — the growing interaction between wildlife and human-dominated production landscapes.
Supported by LOLC Holdings, the WNPS leopard conservation initiative has established research stations in Belihuloya and Kotagala to study leopards living within tea plantation regions.
Using community-based data collection, camera trap technology and local informer networks, researchers are mapping leopard movement, conflict zones and habitat fragmentation across estate landscapes.
Cader noted that increasing human pressure had altered leopard behaviour significantly.
“We have effectively pushed many of these leopards into nocturnal behaviour because of constant human activity, he said.
The research has major implications for plantation management, land-use planning and biodiversity compliance standards increasingly demanded by global markets and sustainability certification bodies.
Cader also pointed to encouraging signs emerging from restored habitats such as Budunwala, where camera traps recorded a mother leopard and cub moving freely during daylight hours — behaviour rarely observed in heavily disturbed environments.
Researchers have additionally documented elusive rusty-spotted cats and pangolins at restoration sites, reinforcing the ecological value of reconnecting fragmented landscapes.
Beyond biodiversity outcomes, the restoration programmes are generating direct socio-economic benefits.
The lecture further revealed how conservation organisations are increasingly engaging with law enforcement and governance systems to combat environmental crime — another growing risk area with economic implications.
WNPS recently launched a specialised police training programme at the Rodella Hill Club aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal wildlife trade, snaring and poaching in the hill country.
Speakers warned that organised wildlife crime, habitat destruction and illegal exploitation of natural resources continue to undermine both biodiversity and sustainable economic development.
Questions from the audience also broadened the discussion into marine ecosystems and blue economy concerns, including the lingering environmental and economic fallout from the X-Press Pearl Disaster.
WNPS officials said their marine subcommittee was actively engaged in mangrove restoration, blue carbon ecosystem protection and marine conservation initiatives.
They noted that Sri Lanka’s mangrove restoration efforts had already received international recognition through UN-backed environmental awards.
Throughout the evening, speakers repeatedly stressed that conservation is no longer the exclusive responsibility of scientists or environmental activists.
By Ifham Nizam
Senior business leaders, economists and international development experts, alongside the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will headline the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12 and 13 October at the Shangri-La Colombo.
The Summit will open with a keynote address by T. Krishnakumar, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, who brings more than four decades of experience in the consumer brands and FMCG sectors. Having previously served as President of Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, with extensive experience in building businesses and driving growth across emerging markets, Krishnakumar, more popularly known as Kk, now leads Reliance Consumer Products as it expands across categories and builds new customer, partnership and market opportunities.
Day 2 will bring together four international perspectives across discussions on economic resilience, regional connectivity, sector growth and digital transformation.
Lilia Aleksanyan, Senior Country Economist for Sri Lanka at the Asian Development Bank, will open the day’s discussions with a focus on Sri Lanka’s economic resilience. Her work covers the country’s macroeconomic outlook, policy advice and macro-fiscal and financial-sector reform. Her international policy experience also includes roles at the French Ministry of Finance and the French Central Bank.
The Summit will then turn to Sri Lanka’s connections with regional markets, with P. D. Singh, Chief Executive Officer, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, delivering the keynote for the session on trade corridors and value chains. Singh counts close to three decades of experience in banking and finance, with senior leadership roles spanning Standard Chartered, JPMorgan Chase Bank and HSBC.
The Sector Deep Dives will bring international perspectives to discussions on healthcare and energy.
Tushar Shroff, Chief Financial Officer, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd, will deliver the keynote for the healthcare discussion, drawing on more than three decades of experience in corporate finance, strategic investment and financial transformation. His career spans senior finance and leadership roles with ABB, Piramal Healthcare, Intas Pharmaceuticals and Vedanta Group, giving him a broad perspective on the business and investment decisions shaping the healthcare sector.
For the energy-focused deep dive, Edore Onomakpome, Regional Infrastructure Industry Manager for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal at the International Finance Corporation, will bring extensive experience in infrastructure investment and project finance across emerging markets. Since joining IFC in 2013, she has held senior roles across Africa and South Asia, including managing IFC’s infrastructure portfolio across 16 countries.
The Summit will conclude its keynote programme with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who will deliver the keynote for “Nation Building in the Digital Age.” The Prime Minister also oversees the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, bringing a direct policy perspective to discussions on digital transformation, innovation, education and the skills needed for a changing economy.
Together, these perspectives will bring regional, international and policy insight to SLEIS 2026 as Sri Lanka considers how to strengthen economic resilience, attract investment, deepen regional connections and develop new sources of growth.
Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will take place on 12 and 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.
The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 is supported by its valued sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsor – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Gold Sponsor – VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd., Bronze Sponsor – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., Strategic Development Partner – Asian Development Bank, Telecommunication Partner – Dialog Telecommunication, Television Partner – Dialog Television, Session Sponsors – David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Ltd., Microsoft Sri Lanka (Pvt) Limited, Official Logistics Partner – Hayleys Advantis Limited, Official Airline – SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Official Hospitality Partner – Shangri-La Colombo, Airline Partner – China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.
Registrations for SLEIS 2026 are now closed. The Ceylon Chamber looks forward to welcoming participants to the discussions on Sri Lanka’s future trajectory on 12 and 13 October.
Commercial Bank of Ceylon has launched ‘Prestige’, a three-tier banking proposition aimed at high-net-worth (HNW) clients, combining wealth management, advisory services and lifestyle benefits.
The initiative replaces the bank’s existing ‘Elite’ private banking brand with Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond tiers, designed to cater to customers according to their wealth profiles and banking relationships.
The bank said Prestige would provide dedicated relationship managers, priority branch services, preferential rates on loans and deposits, enhanced card privileges, family banking programmes and offshore account solutions.
Its wealth and investment management services include access to capital-protected income solutions, dual-currency investments, institutional deals and estate and portfolio governance.
Clients will also have access to specialist financial and corporate advisory services, including assistance with international relocation, overseas property and capital repatriation.
The programme includes lifestyle benefits such as VIP airport lounge access, travel concierge services, property management and medical coordination, as well as access to selected art and culinary events.
The bank said its flagship Prestige banking residence at R.G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 07, had been refurbished, with the service to be extended to other economically important cities.
Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said Prestige was intended to support customers in managing their wealth, business interests, family needs and long-term legacy.
Existing Elite clients are being transitioned to the new programme, the bank said.
Ceylinco Life has rewarded 80 members of its sales force with overseas tours to Vietnam and China for their outstanding performance in the company’s 2025 sales competitions.
The group comprised 62 sales achievers who travelled to Vietnam and 18 who visited China.
The Vietnam tour included visits to Hanoi’s Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Hoan Kiem Lake. The group also travelled to Ha Long Bay, where they went on an Aurora Cruise and explored attractions including Sung Sot Cave, Luun Cave and Titop Island.
The tour also featured a sunset party aboard the cruise, with music and refreshments.
The 18 achievers who travelled to China visited several of Beijing’s major historical and cultural attractions, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. They also took a boat ride on Kunming Lake.
A highlight of the China tour was a visit to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, including a round-trip cable car ride. The group also attended an acrobatic show at Chaoyang Theatre and visited the Panda Garden at Beijing Zoo.
The company said the tours were organised to recognise and reward sales personnel for their performance and achievements.
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