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Study on carnivorous fish of Sri Lanka

Published

6 years ago

2020/08/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Channa orientalis also known as the Ceylon snakehead is the only pelvic-fin less snakehead in Sri Lanka.

by Ifham Nizam

A team of ichthyologists in their latest study on carnivorous fish of Sri Lanka points out that Channa orientalis also known as the Ceylon snakehead, is the only pelvic-fin less snakehead in Sri Lanka.

Snakeheads are one of the main carnivorous groups of freshwater fish in Sri Lanka. They belong to the family Channidae and the genus Channa. There are six species of Channa in Sri Lanka, two of which are endemic. The two endemic species are Channa ara and Channa orientalis. Channa orientalis also known as the Ceylon snakehead is the only pelvic-fin less snakehead in Sri Lanka.

The latest study on the genetic diversity and morphological stasis in the Ceylon Snakehead found that the taxonomic identity and the type locality of this species were not certain.

Scientist Hiranya Sudasinghe told The Island yesterday: “We show that C. orientalis is composed of two geographically and genetically distinct lineages but which show remarkable morphological similarity between the two lineages. The recognition of two distinct genetic lineages is important because, when it comes to conservation management of this species, these two lineages could be recognised as two Evolutionary Significant Units that would deserve separate conservation attention.”

“We argue that the type locality of C. orientalis is south-western Sri Lanka, to which the species is endemic. Channa orientalis is distinguished from other species of Channa by the absence of pelvic fins, adult colouration in life, dorsal- and anal-fin ray counts, number of vertebrae, and scale counts,” the team pointed out.

This species feeds like a ciclids, experts point out.

The team of scientists comprises of Hiranya Sudasinghe of Evolutionary Ecology and Systematics Lab, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka/ Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, SriLanka, R.H.Tharindu Ranasinghe of Butterfly Conservation Society of Sri Lanka, Rohan Pethiyagoda of Ichthyology Section, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia, Madhava Meegaskumbura of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology & Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China and Ralf Britz Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, Museum für Tierkunde, Königsbrücker Landstrasse 159, 01109 Dresden, Germany

As the type species of the genus Channa, the identity of the pelvic-finless snakehead Channa orientalis Bloch is important to channid systematics. Although this name has been attached to a Sri Lankan species for the past 160 years, its vaguely specified type locality, ‘India Orientali’, has long cast doubt as to its origin.

Based on a collection across its range in the island and analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) barcoding gene, scientists show that the Sri Lankan pelvic-finless Channa is composed of two geographically discrete lineages separated by an uncorrected pairwise cox1 genetic distance of 6.9–8.1%.

The minimum genetic distance between these two lineages and other species of the Gachua group of Channa is 5.1%. Despite their genetic divergence, the two lineages exhibit remarkable morphological stasis: they are indistinguishable from each other in external morphology.

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Heat Index at Caution Level at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura districts

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/18

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 17 March 2026, valid for 18 March 2026.

The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.

Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.

Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.

Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.

Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491

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CIABOC questions Ex-President GR on house for CJ’s maid

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/18

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mohan / Gotabaya

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (17) recorded a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the allocation of a house for a maid working at the residence of the then Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, PC.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Secretary to the Ministry Defence and Urban Development, allegedly authorised the allocation of the house on the recommendation of the CJ during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term. The Rajapaksa government brought in Peiris as the Chief Justice after impeaching Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake in January 2013.

The allocation of the house was made by the Urban Development Authority (UDA), following the mandatory examination of the request, sources said, adding that during that time the government had launched several mega housing projects in Colombo and its suburbs to accommodate those living in shanties, etc.

CIABOC is expected to record a statement from ex-CJ Peiris who subsequently served as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Post-Ditwah Indian recovery assistance to SL: health experts from here visited India

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/18

Sahan Weerasooriya

As part of the assistance extended by the Government of India towards rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, a four-member technical delegation of health experts from Sri Lanka visited India recently.

The Indian HC said: “The delegation studied the Indian models of Medical Kiosks/Health ATMs, Mobile Diagnostic Laboratories and the telemedicine platform ‘eSanjeevani’ to explore replicating these initiatives in Sri Lanka in order to strengthen the local healthcare delivery system.

During the visit, the delegation participated in a series of technical sessions organized by premier Indian institutions like National Health Authority, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Visits were arranged for the delegation to Combined Hospital at Loni, Ghaziabad, and Civil Hospital, Sector 10, Gurugram as part of exposure to India’s digital health ecosystem. Demonstrations were conducted on Mobile Health Kiosks / Health ATMs, including basic diagnostics and their role in strengthening primary healthcare delivery. The Sri Lankan experts were also provided an overview of India’s highly successful Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. A live teleconsultation through eSanjeevani was demonstrated, highlighting the integration of remote consultations with digital health records.

The initiative reflects the continued robust cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in strengthening healthcare delivery systems, particularly in vulnerable areas, and supporting recovery efforts among affected communities.”