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Awareness programme for tour guides to promote eco-tourism in Dambulla

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/20

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka supported the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) to conduct an awareness programme for tour guides and tour operators to promote eco-tourism in Dambulla at the NIFS-Popham Arboretum.The UNDP has said in a media statement: “As one of the World’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, Sri Lanka has the highest biodiversity per unit area of land among all Asian countries. Protecting the country’s unique and diverse ecosystems is vital in the fight against accelerating climate change and as an indicator of the health and resilience of the environment. Along with protecting Sri Lanka’s biodiversity, we must look at the economic aspects of biodiversity conservation and livelihood management. To ensure the sustainability of managing biodiverse locations such as national parks, arboretums, bird parks and wetlands, it is necessary to explore innovative methods of raising financing.

“Tourism is an effective method of leveraging and mobilizing available natural resources for biodiversity financing. Accordingly, the UNDP supported the Biodiversity Secretariat of the MoE to conduct an awareness programme for tour guides and tour operators to promote eco-tourism in Dambulla at the NIFS-Popham Arboretum.

“This programme was conducted recently as a part of the “Environment Week” declared by the MoE to celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June. As such, 2 June was named Biodiversity Day, and the awareness programme was conducted in honour of this.

“Given the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, reliance only on state funding for conservation and protection is simply not sustainable. Accordingly, exploring methods of achieving financial sustainability for biodiversity conservation is vital. The sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity for livelihood and income generation is one such method of ensuring conservation whilst empowering communities in the surrounding areas.

“An arboretum is a botanical collection composed of a wide variety of species and trees. The NIFS-Popham Arboretum is situated 2.5 km away from Dambulla and was gifted to the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) in 1989 to carry out research and educational activities. This arboretum hosts many local and foreign researchers for ecological research purposes and is a popular tourist destination due to its unique biodiversity. The arboretum has rich vegetation of over 200 plant species and a variety of unique fauna to be found, and it acts as a restoration site for valuable and endangered indigenous forest species.

“There is significant potential for the arboretum to be further developed as an eco-tourism destination as it hosts many activities such as day and night safaris, camping, and offers other lodging and research facilities. The MoE has planned to develop this arboretum into a profitable and sustainable eco-tourism venture, whilst ensuring the maintenance of its unique and precious ecology. Speaking at the workshop, Dr. R.D.S. Jayathunga from the Ministry of Environment stated, “Biodiversity in Sri Lanka has faced many challenges. Eco-tourism has been identified as a major area to promote the conservation of biodiversity… It contributes to community development.”

“UNDP in Sri Lanka and the European Union (EU) have come together to support the revitalization of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry together with the Ministry of Tourism. With the overall support provided through the ‘Transforming Tourism in Sri Lanka: Emerging from crisis as a strong, resurgent and rebranded industry’ project, this awareness programme was only a step in developing this arboretum as a tourist experience, and it aims to provide tour guides and operators in the area with the knowledge to promote it as a sustainable nature-based experience. The participants were enriched with knowledge of the arboretum’s biodiversity value, the role of a tour guide in eco-tourism practices, and eco-tourism opportunities in the arboretum, with space provided for guides to share their ideas and experiences as well.

“Commenting on the EU’s overall support to the Tourism Industry, Ms. Harshani Halangode from the EU stated “with the valuable partnership with UNDP, we aim to revitalize and transform the tourism industry into a resilient, sustainable, and intrinsic sector. We are pleased to help upscale tour guides and tour operators in the area, supporting livelihoods, providing skills development for youth, and supporting rural communities”.

“The collaboration between the EU and UNDP signifies the critical importance of tourism to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery at this critical juncture.

“Speaking on the partnership, Ms. Malin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “In close partnership with the EU, we are working to protect natural and cultural assets, so that they are protected for tourism, and other needs and sectors. With the generous support of the EU for the Transforming Tourism Project, we are building initiatives to lay the foundation for more investments in an innovative and nature-based tourism sector”.

” The Transforming Tourism Project aims to address the urgent needs of the industry, strengthening the institutional framework and capacity to set it on a trajectory for a greener, more resilient future with a focus on such initiatives targeted at biodiversity conservation through the sustainable use of natural resources for livelihood and income generation.

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Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

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Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

13 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

13 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.