Business

Conservation now a business imperative, WNPS tells corporate sector

Published

5 months ago

2026/05/26

The felicitation of speakers at the end of the WNPS event

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

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Business

USD 57.4m power investment opens new route for SME energy savings

Published

20 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

A rooftop solar panel in Sri Lanka

By Ifham Nizam

A USD 57.4 million investment package is set to reshape the economics of electricity for small and medium-sized businesses, while creating a stronger platform for private investment in rooftop solar and other distributed renewable-energy projects.

The financing package—comprising a USD 35 million concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a EUR 15.4 million grant from the European Union (EU), equivalent to USD 16.94 million, and a USD 5.5 million grant from the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM)—will finance a five-year programme to modernise the electricity distribution system from 2026 to 2030.

For the business community, one of the most significant elements is the planned introduction of Virtual Net Metering (VNM), which will be implemented in the country for the first time.

The EU-funded component will support 25 MW of aggregated rooftop solar PV capacity, specifically aimed at helping reduce the electricity-bill burden of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.

The move could open a new investment channel for SMEs that have traditionally faced difficulties in absorbing high energy costs and making the upfront investment required for renewable-energy systems.

Rather than viewing rooftop solar simply as a household energy solution, the programme positions distributed solar as an important business-cost management tool.

For SMEs, which operate with considerably tighter margins than many large corporates, electricity expenditure can have a direct impact on competitiveness, cash flow and the ability to expand operations.

By allowing electricity generated from qualifying rooftop solar installations to be applied through a virtual net-metering arrangement, the programme is expected to broaden the economic benefits of solar power beyond individual premises.

The financial significance of the scheme extends beyond the initial 25 MW.

By establishing the infrastructure and regulatory framework required to manage aggregated distributed generation, the project could help create greater investor confidence in the development of decentralised renewable-energy assets.

The investment therefore has the potential to leverage additional private capital into the renewable-energy sector rather than functioning solely as a government-funded infrastructure programme.

The financing package is particularly notable because a substantial portion comes in the form of grants and concessional funding, reducing the cost of financing technologies that would otherwise require significant upfront capital.

The ADB loan will support the wider modernisation programme, while the EU and Japanese grant components will help finance renewable-energy integration and technologies designed to strengthen the grid.

At EDL, the investment will upgrade the existing CEBAssist platform with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERM) system and distribution control centres supported by an Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS).

These systems will give the utility real-time visibility of electricity consumption and distributed generation, allowing it to manage an increasingly decentralised power system more efficiently.

That digital infrastructure is critical to the business case for expanding rooftop solar.

As more SMEs and other consumers generate their own electricity, the distribution network needs to know where generation is taking place, how much electricity is entering the grid and how those flows are affecting local network conditions.

Business

Renault Experience Centre opens at Majestic City

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

Renault has taken another significant step in its return to the Sri Lankan market with the opening of the Renault Experience Centre at Majestic City, Colombo, offering customers an opportunity to discover the brand and experience its latest models.

The Centre was officially declared open by Jawahar Ganesh, Group Managing Director of Associated Motorways (Private) Limited, accompanied by Prasanna de Silva, Director – Sales, AMW. The occasion was attended by AMW management and staff, members of the media, customers, well-wishers and other invited guests.

Located at the lobby of Majestic City, the Centre features three Renault models being introduced to the Sri Lankan market – the Renault Kwid, Renault Kiger and Renault Triber. Visitors can explore the vehicles, learn about their features and specifications, and take advantage of test drives available at the location.

Adding to the convenience for customers, AMW has ample stocks of Renault vehicles available in Sri Lanka, allowing customers to take delivery of their chosen vehicle without having to wait for months for it to arrive. Subject to completion of the necessary documentation and registration, customers can look forward to driving away in their new Renault within as little as one day, making the purchase experience faster and more convenient.

Customers can also enjoy greater peace of mind with a three-year manufacturer warranty, supported by dedicated Renault aftersales facilities to provide professional service and support throughout their ownership journey.

Commenting on the opening, Jawahar Ganesh, Group Managing Director of AMW, said, “We are delighted to welcome Renault back to Sri Lanka and to open the Renault Experience Centre at Majestic City. Renault is a brand with an exceptional heritage, a strong global presence and a reputation for innovation and distinctive automotive design. Through AMW, we are bringing that heritage and experience closer to Sri Lankan customers”.

Business

Dialog and Indira Cancer Trust continue breast cancer awareness initiative through Yeheli.lk

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

From left to right: Dr. Sanjeeva Gunasekera, President of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists (SLCO), and Supun Weerasinghe, Director / Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, illuminate the Dialog Corporate Head Office in pink, joined by Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake, Chairperson of the Indira Cancer Trust, alongside representatives of the Indira Cancer Trust and the leadership of Dialog Axiata PLC, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, marked the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by illuminating its Corporate Head Office in pink, in partnership with the Indira Cancer Trust, to stand in solidarity with individuals and families affected by breast cancer and encourage greater awareness, regular screening and early detection.

Building on previous breast cancer awareness campaigns conducted through Dialog’s Yeheli.lk platform in collaboration with the Indira Cancer Trust, this year’s initiative will continue throughout October under the theme, ‘A Pledge from the Heart’. As part of the campaign, members of the public can visit yeheli.lk to register for a free monthly SMS reminder and take their pledge for early detection throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month.