Features
Capturing wild beauty of Lanka: An exquisite photographic guide – Part II
by Ifham Nizam
(Second part of the interview with Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, lead author and lead photographer of ‘A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of Sri Lanka’ published by John Beaufoy Publishing.)
Q: Wildlife photography can be demanding. Could you share some memorable experiences or challenges you’ve encountered while capturing wildlife?
A: I remember once I saw a bull elephant standing still by a waterhole in Yala. My safari vehicle driver wanted to move on. There was nothing to see, he said. I thought there was something going on. The elephant was strangely still. Perhaps it was communicating with a herd using infrasound? Other vehicles drove up. ‘There is nothing to see’ I heard them say and they drove on hoping for a leopard or sloth bear or some elephants that were doing something. We waited, watched, waited and watched. Another bull elephant emerged and the two had clearly been in conversation. But not amicably. A brief fight ensued. I did not get any amazing pictures on that occasion but it was deeply satisfying to know my instinct had been correct.
On another occasion I did get some good images by positioning my vehicle unobtrusively behind some low scrub overlooking a grassy glade. A bull elephant was grazing peacefully and another arrived and a fight ensued, yards away from my vehicle. I was nervous. In Tsavo East National Park I was on a game drive and came to a waterhole with two hippos. The driver wanted to move on. I suggested we just stay and enjoy the bird life and watch the animals coming in procession to drink water. The driver reluctantly agreed and dozed off. A bull elephant arrived and there was this amazing display of aggression between one of the hippos and the elephant. But it does not have to be large animals.
I am just as thrilled if I am in Diyasaru Wetland Park and a huge Water Monitor walks past me. In the Gambia I was on foot photographing Baboons when I was hit by a branch that had snapped back as a large alpha male pushed past it. I froze as this fearsome male unexpectedly walked past within inches of me. As a rule, I am very careful to keep a safe distance and I think safety is very important. No photograph is worth a photographer risking injury or death or triggering an angry reaction from an animal. But when you are on foot and you are absorbed with watching wildlife and taking images, it is easy for animals to sneak up on you. So always be careful, especially if you are in an area where there are animals that could kill you or kill you and eat you.
Q: How do you approach ethical considerations in wildlife photography, especially when photographing rare or endangered species?
A:My general rule with all wildlife photography is that the welfare of the subject comes first. No photograph is worth disturbing an animal from its feeding or resting. My approach is to let an animal come to me or to approach it very carefully and let it get used to my presence. I will keep my distance and avoid forcing it to flee. Quite often by waiting at a distance an animal gets used to me and approaches me closely. This then makes it possible to observe and photograph natural behaviour.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects or books on the horizon that you’re excited about?
A. Well, I seem to be going back full circle. My recent book ‘A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of Sri Lanka’ was meant to be the one book a wildlife enthusiast or a professional naturalist would take if they only had the space and weight in their field bag for one book. Thanks to contributions from thirteen section contributors it goes some way to being that useful one book. Although having said that, we all know Sri Lanka is so biodiverse that there can never be one field guide.
The present book is a good compromise in size, approaching the upper limit of weight people will carry as a field guide. But following Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and the devaluation of the currency, the book is too expensive for many people who work in tourism and wildlife. The foundation for this book was laid in a series of simple photographic leaflets and booklets I did many years ago for people to have affordable field guide literature. These simple pictorial booklets had a huge impact. In the early days for a hundred rupees, you could buy one of these simple guides that helped you to put a name to a butterfly or dragonfly. I have been having discussions with my publisher to work with the tourism sector to going back to developing a series of such affordable mini guides for people who can’t afford the more expensive books.
PG Wildlife of Sri Lanka Hi-res back
Q: What advice would you give to budding naturalists and photographers who is keen to follow in your footsteps?
A: A good wildlife photographer is also a good naturalist. Try to learn as much as you can about the plants and animals around you. That will open up new worlds for photography which you had not imagined. Being a wildlife photographer requires two skills, as a photographer and as a naturalist. As a photographer you need to understand elements such as lighting, exposure, composition, how to frame a subject and so on. The skills that go into taking a portrait of a person are the same skills that are needed to take a gook wildlife image. Of course, with wildlife, you have no control over wild subjects. So sometimes you have to either position yourself or wait for the subject to move into the right position where lighting, background, composition all come together. Sometimes it never works out and you have to settle for record shots.
Also give some thought to what you are taking the images for. For many people wildlife photography is a creative pursuit to take stunning images to celebrate the natural world. If you are using it to illustrate an article, then you need a range of images to tell the story. If it is for a field guide to plants for example, then it can become quite technical as you first need to understand subtle features that distinguish one species from another. Fortunately, there is now a lot of knowledge available for free on the internet. You can also study the imagery of top photographers to understand how they approach composition.
In my own case, education and creating a livelihood for people out of wildlife tourism has become the main plank of my activities. As a result, even when I am in Yala, without driving around in pursuit of the perfect leopard photograph, I often stop to take pictures of plants which other people might think is quite boring or even a waste of precious time on a game drive.
Q: You’ve done a great deal to promote Eco-Tourism in the country. What more can be done to make it a sustainable industry?
At the macro level, we need the private sector and government agencies to collaborate to make the experience good for both the wildlife and people. In the open sea, if whale watching boats crowd around a whale that is stressful for a feeding whale. Many visitors also do not enjoy the experience. To improve whale watching it needs a combination of training the boat crews as well as enforcement. I was whale watching in Vancouver recently and I noticed how a patrol boat kept an eye on the whale watching boats to ensure they observed the guidelines on distance.
In places like Yala, the experience for visitors can be improved by having different routes with different numbers of vehicles allowed on the routes. People should also be able buy tickets in advance for different timed entry slots. This is not to create a situation where only people with money will be able to see leopards. Each route can be chosen so that on any of the routes there is a near equal likelihood of seeing a leopard. But it can be priced differently so that people who want routes with fewer vehicles allowed can buy tickets for more expensive routes. This will suit people who want a leopard encounter without being disturbed by too many other vehicles. People who just want to see what the park is like or are happy to see birds and plants can buy tickets for a cheaper route which allows a larger number of vehicles.
Then beyond the immediate visitor experience, there are a number of other things we should look at. Tourism, as with everything else, should adopt sustainability practices. The three Rs, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle come into mind. We should adopt this in our personal lives. For example, can we reduce the clothes we buy and wear them for longer. When a shirt is too frayed on the sleeves to be worn when going out, can we re-purpose it as a night shirt?
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne
The providers of tourist accommodation can play a bigger role by adopting sustainable practices. But they can also play a major part in education and habitat creation. The educational aspect is easier if you have a resident naturalist or a member of staff who is willing to take guests on a guided nature walk. My recent book, ‘A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of Sri Lanka’ which covers 1,180 species with section contributions from 13 others aims to be something that local naturalists can use as a learning tool.
Tourist hotels can also play a big part in habitat creation. At the larger end this can be the creation of man-made wetlands such as at Jetwing Vil Uyana. But it could be something as simple as planting a few wildlife friendly fruit trees. Or, leaving aside a small patch to grow wild. Nectar plants can be planted for pollinators. But remember, with all species you need to think about not just of their food source, but what physical conditions they require for their lifecycle. This included places to rest and places to reproduce.
Q: How do you balance the dual goals of attracting tourists and protecting natural habitats?
In a developing country like Sri Lanka there is a strong linkage. Yes, we can make commitments to sustainable goals such as the amount of forest cover we want to have. These make a lot of sense in terms of the ecosystem services provided by nature. However, what most people want is to be able to provide for their families. If you are poor and living next to a forest you want to be able to feed your family and afford simple things like buying school books for your children. A forest which is simply declared inviolate is no good. But if you can earn a good living as a wildlife tourism service provider, then you will be happy to conserve the forest. But for this to work, there has to be very good infrastructure for visitors to be able to visit it, and stay and have access to visitor amenities. It needs thinking.
But if it is too successful, does it become a victim of its own success? If it reaches that point, other visitor management measures can be applied including requiring the advance purchase of limited ticket numbers and also developing the infrastructure in a way that different visitors are kept entertained in different ways. At sites where visitors can go about by foot, many casual visitors will be very happy to stay within a radius of a kilometre from the visitor centre. If you think about it, a shopping mall with a very small footprint can still manage to handle tens of thousands of visitors in a day. Well managed nature reserves have also learnt to keep many visitors confined to a small area, leaving those who are more serious to explore further afield.
Will the Bangladesh parliamentary election bring into being a government that will ensure ethnic and religious harmony in the country? This is the poser on the lips of peace-loving sections in Bangladesh and a principal concern of those outside who mean the country well.
The apprehensions are mainly on the part of religious and ethnic minorities. The parliamentary poll of February 12th is expected to bring into existence a government headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist oriented Jamaat-e-Islami party and this is where the rub is. If these parties win, will it be a case of Bangladesh sliding in the direction of a theocracy or a state where majoritarian chauvinism thrives?
Chief of the Jamaat, Shafiqur Rahman, who was interviewed by sections of the international media recently said that there is no need for minority groups in Bangladesh to have the above fears. He assured, essentially, that the state that will come into being will be equable and inclusive. May it be so, is likely to be the wish of those who cherish a tension-free Bangladesh.
The party that could have posed a challenge to the above parties, the Awami League Party of former Prime Minister Hasina Wased, is out of the running on account of a suspension that was imposed on it by the authorities and the mentioned majoritarian-oriented parties are expected to have it easy at the polls.
A positive that has emerged against the backdrop of the poll is that most ordinary people in Bangladesh, be they Muslim or Hindu, are for communal and religious harmony and it is hoped that this sentiment will strongly prevail, going ahead. Interestingly, most of them were of the view, when interviewed, that it was the politicians who sowed the seeds of discord in the country and this viewpoint is widely shared by publics all over the region in respect of the politicians of their countries.
Some sections of the Jamaat party were of the view that matters with regard to the orientation of governance are best left to the incoming parliament to decide on but such opinions will be cold comfort for minority groups. If the parliamentary majority comes to consist of hard line Islamists, for instance, there is nothing to prevent the country from going in for theocratic governance. Consequently, minority group fears over their safety and protection cannot be prevented from spreading.
Therefore, we come back to the question of just and fair governance and whether Bangladesh’s future rulers could ensure these essential conditions of democratic rule. The latter, it is hoped, will be sufficiently perceptive to ascertain that a Bangladesh rife with religious and ethnic tensions, and therefore unstable, would not be in the interests of Bangladesh and those of the region’s countries.
Unfortunately, politicians region-wide fall for the lure of ethnic, religious and linguistic chauvinism. This happens even in the case of politicians who claim to be democratic in orientation. This fate even befell Bangladesh’s Awami League Party, which claims to be democratic and socialist in general outlook.
We have it on the authority of Taslima Nasrin in her ground-breaking novel, ‘Lajja’, that the Awami Party was not of any substantial help to Bangladesh’s Hindus, for example, when violence was unleashed on them by sections of the majority community. In fact some elements in the Awami Party were found to be siding with the Hindus’ murderous persecutors. Such are the temptations of hard line majoritarianism.
In Sri Lanka’s past numerous have been the occasions when even self-professed Leftists and their parties have conveniently fallen in line with Southern nationalist groups with self-interest in mind. The present NPP government in Sri Lanka has been waxing lyrical about fostering national reconciliation and harmony but it is yet to prove its worthiness on this score in practice. The NPP government remains untested material.
As a first step towards national reconciliation it is hoped that Sri Lanka’s present rulers would learn the Tamil language and address the people of the North and East of the country in Tamil and not Sinhala, which most Tamil-speaking people do not understand. We earnestly await official language reforms which afford to Tamil the dignity it deserves.
An acid test awaits Bangladesh as well on the nation-building front. Not only must all forms of chauvinism be shunned by the incoming rulers but a secular, truly democratic Bangladesh awaits being licked into shape. All identity barriers among people need to be abolished and it is this process that is referred to as nation-building.
On the foreign policy frontier, a task of foremost importance for Bangladesh is the need to build bridges of amity with India. If pragmatism is to rule the roost in foreign policy formulation, Bangladesh would place priority to the overcoming of this challenge. The repatriation to Bangladesh of ex-Prime Minister Hasina could emerge as a steep hurdle to bilateral accord but sagacious diplomacy must be used by Bangladesh to get over the problem.
A reply to N.A. de S. Amaratunga
A response has been penned by N.A. de S. Amaratunga (please see p5 of ‘The Island’ of February 6th) to a previous column by me on ‘ India shaping-up as a Swing State’, published in this newspaper on January 29th , but I remain firmly convinced that India remains a foremost democracy and a Swing State in the making.
If the countries of South Asia are to effectively manage ‘murderous terrorism’, particularly of the separatist kind, then they would do well to adopt to the best of their ability a system of government that provides for power decentralization from the centre to the provinces or periphery, as the case may be. This system has stood India in good stead and ought to prove effective in all other states that have fears of disintegration.
Moreover, power decentralization ensures that all communities within a country enjoy some self-governing rights within an overall unitary governance framework. Such power-sharing is a hallmark of democratic governance.
Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, romance, and affection, and this is how some of our well-known personalities plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day – 14th February:
Merlina Fernando (Singer)
Yes, it’s a special day for lovers all over the world and it’s even more special to me because 14th February is the birthday of my husband Suresh, who’s the lead guitarist of my band Mission.
We have planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his Birthday together and it will be a wonderful night as always.
We will be having our fans and close friends, on that night, with their loved ones at Highso – City Max hotel Dubai, from 9.00 pm onwards.
Lorensz Francke (Elvis Tribute Artiste)
On Valentine’s Day I will be performing a live concert at a Wealthy Senior Home for Men and Women, and their families will be attending, as well.
I will be performing live with romantic, iconic love songs and my song list would include ‘Can’t Help falling in Love’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Burning Love’, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, ‘The Wonder of You’ and ‘’It’s Now or Never’ to name a few.
To make Valentine’s Day extra special I will give the Home folks red satin scarfs.
Emma Shanaya (Singer)
I plan on spending the day of love with my girls, especially my best friend. I don’t have a romantic Valentine this year but I am thrilled to spend it with the girl that loves me through and through. I’ll be in Colombo and look forward to go to a cute cafe and spend some quality time with my childhood best friend Zulha.
JAYASRI
Emma-and-Maneeka
This Valentine’s Day the band JAYASRI we will be really busy; in the morning we will be landing in Sri Lanka, after our Oman Tour; then in the afternoon we are invited as Chief Guests at our Maris Stella College Sports Meet, Negombo, and late night we will be with LineOne band live in Karandeniya Open Air Down South. Everywhere we will be sharing LOVE with the mass crowds.
Kay Jay (Singer)
I will stay at home and cook a lovely meal for lunch, watch some movies, together with Sanjaya, and, maybe we go out for dinner and have a lovely time. Come to think of it, every day is Valentine’s Day for me with Sanjaya Alles.
Maneka Liyanage (Beauty Tips)
On this special day, I celebrate love by spending meaningful time with the people I cherish. I prepare food with love and share meals together, because food made with love brings hearts closer. I enjoy my leisure time with them — talking, laughing, sharing stories, understanding each other, and creating beautiful memories. My wish for this Valentine’s Day is a world without fighting — a world where we love one another like our own beloved, where we do not hurt others, even through a single word or action. Let us choose kindness, patience, and understanding in everything we do.
Janaka Palapathwala (Singer)
Janaka
Valentine’s Day should not be the only day we speak about love.
From the moment we are born into this world, we seek love, first through the very drop of our mother’s milk, then through the boundless care of our Mother and Father, and the embrace of family.
Love is everywhere. All living beings, even plants, respond in affection when they are loved.
As we grow, we learn to love, and to be loved. One day, that love inspires us to build a new family of our own.
Love has no beginning and no end. It flows through every stage of life, timeless, endless, and eternal.
Natasha Rathnayake (Singer)
We don’t have any special plans for Valentine’s Day. When you’ve been in love with the same person for over 25 years, you realise that love isn’t a performance reserved for one calendar date. My husband and I have never been big on public displays, or grand gestures, on 14th February. Our love is expressed quietly and consistently, in ordinary, uncelebrated moments.
With time, you learn that love isn’t about proving anything to the world or buying into a commercialised idea of romance—flowers that wilt, sweets that spike blood sugar, and gifts that impress briefly but add little real value. In today’s society, marketing often pushes the idea that love is proven by how much money you spend, and that buying things is treated as a sign of commitment.
Real love doesn’t need reminders or price tags. It lives in showing up every day, choosing each other on unromantic days, and nurturing the relationship intentionally and without an audience.
This isn’t a judgment on those who enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s simply a personal choice.
Melloney Dassanayake (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024)
I truly believe it’s beautiful to have a day specially dedicated to love. But, for me, Valentine’s Day goes far beyond romantic love alone. It celebrates every form of love we hold close to our hearts: the love for family, friends, and that one special person who makes life brighter. While 14th February gives us a moment to pause and celebrate, I always remind myself that love should never be limited to just one day. Every single day should feel like Valentine’s Day – constant reminder to the people we love that they are never alone, that they are valued, and that they matter.
I’m incredibly blessed because, for me, every day feels like Valentine’s Day. My special person makes sure of that through the smallest gestures, the quiet moments, and the simple reminders that love lives in the details. He shows me that it’s the little things that count, and that love doesn’t need grand stages to feel extraordinary. This Valentine’s Day, perfection would be something intimate and meaningful: a cozy picnic in our home garden, surrounded by nature, laughter, and warmth, followed by an abstract drawing session where we let our creativity flow freely. To me, that’s what love is – simple, soulful, expressive, and deeply personal. When love is real, every ordinary moment becomes magical.
Noshin De Silva (Actress)
Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite holidays! I love the décor, the hearts everywhere, the pinks and reds, heart-shaped chocolates, and roses all around. But honestly, I believe every day can be Valentine’s Day.
It doesn’t have to be just about romantic love. It’s a chance to celebrate love in all its forms with friends, family, or even by taking a little time for yourself.
Whether you’re spending the day with someone special or enjoying your own company, it’s a reminder to appreciate meaningful connections, show kindness, and lead with love every day.
And yes, I’m fully on theme this year with heart nail art and heart mehendi design!
Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day, but, remember, love yourself first, and don’t forget to treat yourself.
Sending my love to all of you.
To create a powerful, natural, and hydrating beauty mask that soothes inflammation, fights acne, and boosts skin radiance, mix a mashed banana with fresh aloe vera gel.
This nutrient-rich blend acts as an antioxidant-packed anti-ageing treatment that also doubles as a nourishing, shiny hair mask.
* Face Masks for Glowing Skin:
Mix 01 ripe banana with 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel and apply this mixture to the face. Massage for a few minutes, leave for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off for a glowing complexion.
* Acne and Soothing Mask:
Mix 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel with 1/2 a mashed banana and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture to clean skin to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. Leave for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water.
* Hair Treatment for Shine:
Mix 01 fresh ripe banana with 03 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply from scalp to ends, massage for 10-15 minutes and then let it dry for maximum absorption. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for soft, shiny, and frizz-free hair.
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