Features

Embarking on a new career in physiotherapy in the UK

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/26

Thilina Walpola

Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham

by Padmani Mendis

Excerpted from Memories that linger…….My journey in the world of disability

(Continued from last week)

I was going to be a doctor. Instead, I became a physiotherapist. It has been 66 years now since that decision was made, and never a regret. Just relief together with joy that I had made the correct choice. I believe that, had I studied medicine, I may well have emigrated to settle down in some land far away from that of my birth.

My mother had always wanted a doctor in the family. She had tried with each of her children in turn until there was only one left, and she appeared to have succeeded at last. I was kind of agreeable with the thought. The first step in gaining entrance to medical college at that time was that one should obtain at least five credit passes in the Senior School Certificate or SSC Examination. Having got those, the next step for me was success in the Higher School Certificate, HSC, or University Entrance Examination.

We had just entered the Sixth Form or Year One of the HSC. One day all the sixth formers in both the science and arts streams were asked to come together. We were to be addressed by a lady who worked as a physiotherapist at the General Hospital, Colombo. She was from England and had been sent to work there by the World Health Organisation or WHO. This lady introduced herself to us as Elizabeth McDowell. She told us about the work she did at the General Hospital.

And then she showed us a short film about how she did what she did. This film showed people who could not do so after strokes being taught to walk; those who had been paralysed by polio doing exercises and making their muscles strong; they could now put these parts of their body to daily use and be independent; those who had pain in the necks and backs being relieved of it through the use of lamps and machines. Some had their necks or trunks stretched out to give “traction” which would relieve their pain. Those who had asthma and phlegm in their chests and other breathing problems were placed in various positions and tapped on their chests; with this the phlegm would be loosened, they would cough it out more easily and be able to breathe in comfort.

All this and more Elizabeth showed us. Then she invited any of us who would like to know more about her work to come to see her at the General Hospital and learn more about it. The purpose was to encourage at least some of us to see a future in this new profession and join the course of study that was to be made available at the General Hospital. This was a profession that was formally new to Ceylon. There were a few young Ceylonese who had been sent by the Government on Colombo Plan Scholarships to study and return qualified as physiotherapists. Some had been sent to England and Scotland and others to Australia and New Zealand. Although all of them had to come back when studies were over, many of them emigrated later to the UK and some to Canada. Later, even to the United States.

In these countries, the work of physiotherapists was better recognised and compensated in relation to their value, and their futures were more promising. For many decades after that, even as Sri Lanka continued to produce her own physiotherapists, this exodus continued. But patients now knew about physiotherapy and asked for it. The country was continuously in short supply until the market in those countries had been filled. The Ministry of Health was then required to increase cadres and make physiotherapy more accessible to patients who were in need of it.

Physiotherapy education was started by the Ministry of Health as a two-year course of study. It is now available as graduate courses in several universities. Masters and PhD studies are also now available.The morning that we visited Elizabeth at the General Hospital we were a group of nine, young and adventurous, and Deepthi was with us. With the smell of ammonia in the hospital she fell into a faint. Deepthi went on to Medical College and then as Dr. Attygalle, ended up as an eminent Anaesthesiologist. We still tease her about her faint on her first visit to a hospital.

Destiny

That visit with Elizabeth provided for me my first encounter with disability. Even though I had been a passive observer during the encounter, it had impacted my life forever. For that is when, in my subconscious, I had seen my future in this profession. I can still see that visit in my mind’s eye. I knew I no longer wanted to be a doctor. I would be a physiotherapist.

This decision however I kept to myself, knowing I should share it with my mother only when the right time for it came. I was not sure then that I would have the opportunity to avail myself of that course of study. So I went on to prepare for the HSC Examination that would enable my entrance to Medical College, more or less forgetting for the time being, the interest in physiotherapy that was created in me that special morning.

Then something strange happened to me in the second year of Form Six. I crashed in my studies. While I had gained a distinction and credits in science subjects at the SSC Examination, the marks I got not eighteen months later for term examinations were now like 10%, 18% and even below 10%. No one knew what had happened. If it happens to a young teenager now, no doubt the advice of a medical professional would be sought and a diagnosis would have been made.

At that time it seemed to have been alright, was not talked about, and somehow we coped with the situation. At home my mother did not show me that she was unduly worried. At school, it appeared that teachers had taken it as a matter of course – I had done badly in my examinations. Mrs. Amirtharanee Ratnasingham, our class teacher in Form Six Two and I had an easy relationship of mutual affection. My sister Nalini and she had been classmates and good friends. Beyond her intellect and knowledge, her personality made her an exceptional teacher. I had tremendous respect for her. I felt that she was always protective of me, always there for me.

Coming straight from the Principal’s office one morning at the end of the second-term, she called me aside. She said to me with great tact something like, “Padmini you have not done too well in your exams. Maybe you need to study a little more so you will be ready for the University Entrance next year. Why don’t you wait another year with us and do the exam next year? Would you like to do that?” That was good news to me because I too felt I did not know enough to sit that exam. It was, in fact, a relief. I replied that yes of course I would stay. But I had a sneaking feeling that I may not.

Before the end of that term, I had told my mother that I would not be continuing my studies at Ladies’. She was, of course not just sorry that she would not have a doctor in the family; more than that she worried about my future and what I would do now. But I reassured her that I would do something useful. I guess she knew her daughter and had trust in me.

When Miss Simon was told about my plans, she would have none of it. “No,” she said to me sternly in her office. “You are not going to stay at home. At the beginning of next year, you will come back and help Mrs. Ratnasingham in the Lab.”

Which I was happy to do. It gave me time to share my decision with my mother. I was called the Lab Assistant and was paid a salary, or allowance, of one hundred and thirty-five rupees. A princely sum to a young girl just out of school. When I showed surprise that I should receive such a large amount, I was told that this was my entitlement, having the qualification of SSC after my name.

My mother had by this time bought a house at Clifford Road, Kollupitiya, so that the younger of my two sisters, now 28, could have her own home and look after the three younger brothers and me. My mother continued to live at Kalubowila with Uncle Lyn. But her heart was with us and every morning she would come to Clifford Road and return to Kalubowila in the evening.

Most of my friends were all still students, waiting to start at the university or medical college. And here I was, financially independent. At the end of every month I would give fifty rupees to my sister as my share of house expenses. She would take no more. A monthly visit with my mother and sister to Ranjana Stores on Bankshall Street in Pettah was a part of the calendar. Here they would every month help me choose a saree made of exquisite “Katau” voile to add to my working wardrobe, now growing at a steady pace.

These beautiful Indian sarees at that time cost around twenty rupees each. Occasionally my mother would buy me a soft Kashmiri silk with a matching blouse piece for three times that amount. Other minor incidentals and the remainder was savings. I was given no choice but to put that into a Post Office Savings Book. There was a small post office not far from us at Kollupitiya. It is this that has grown to what it is now.

Sharing my Secret

These were happy times working with Mrs. Ratnasingham, getting both chemistry and physics labs ready for lessons and experiments and afterwards making sure that the students would leave the rooms clean and tidy. Getting the flowers and leaves and any other material Miss Lakshmi de Mel required for her botany lessons. And seeing to it that the rats, cockroaches and other odious animals and insects Mrs. Arulampalam wished to have for her Zoology classes were available on time. When alone with Mrs. R, she would often say to me, “Padminee, what are you going to do. You must do something.”

Which got me thinking that it was time I had a chat with my mother. I told her I would like to become a physiotherapist with the why and a possible how. Most of my brothers had gone abroad for various studies and so had my sister Nalini’s husband Leslie. She had of course gone with him. I felt it was a kind of family tradition that I should follow. If my mother agreed, I would find an affordable way. She agreed and I did.

In Search of a Way

I first looked for scholarships that I could apply for. Off went a letter to the German Embassy telling them of my interest and asking whether they would consider giving me a scholarship to study physiotherapy in Germany. They said that they had given out all their scholarships that year in 1958. However, they advised me to learn German so that they could consider me for the next year. That was rather too long to wait, but I started German language lessons. Just in case I could not find a faster route.

We had at school a teacher of English called Erin Muller. It was obvious to us that she was related to the well-known Orthopaedic Surgeon Gerry Muller. I had heard that Mr. Muller had his own clinic where he employed a physiotherapist from England. I told Miss Muller that I would like to meet her to find out about opportunities in the UK. She gladly arranged for this. I was given the address of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or CSP, headquartered in London.

The CSP was responsible for all physiotherapy education in the UK. My next letter therefore went to the CSP taking care to inform them of our financial constraints. Back came the reply that there were three hospitals in the UK to which I could apply. Costs of study would be within my mother’s budget. So, I sent letters of application to all three. Post was then carried by ship. It turned out later that all three would offer me a place. I grabbed the offer made in the first letter that reached me. I had got a place to study physiotherapy at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital or ROH in Birmingham.

The Course of Study in Physiotherapy in the UK was in length then three years and three months. All costs had to be paid for, including the course and related fees and all costs of accommodation had to be met. This we could absolutely not afford. But the three hospitals recommended in the letter offered a way out. They were all Orthopaedic Hospitals. They offered a combined course whereby a student who first followed a two-year course in Orthopaedic Nursing with them, could then avail of free tuition in physiotherapy as well as have accommodation provided for during the period of the physiotherapy course. Here it was. My mother was hesitant, pointing out to me what I was letting myself in for. But she was no barrier, And never had been throughout my life.

My letter of acceptance had to be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from my school principal. Now how was I to get this?

Miss Simon and I had never been very close. As part of her daily routine, she would go to the hostel every day to have lunch with the boarders. I would accost her on her way there at noon-time.

And so I did, making my request. That she was at the same time shocked, amazed and happy for me is an understatement. Yet filled with pride that quiet me had gone far beyond her expectations, she admonished me for, “leaving everything until the last minute”. I went to her office that afternoon and her letter was in my hands. The next morning that letter attached to mine was on the high seas on its way to inform the ROH, Birmingham that they would soon have a student from Ceylon.

Preparation for my Mother

Meanwhile, there were lots of things to be done. Most important to my mother was to find out as much as she could about this Orthopaedic Nursing and Physiotherapy course that her daughter was determined to go to England for. She had to be sure even now that she was doing the right thing in letting me go.

When Mr. Muller had earlier heard of my interest in physiotherapy he had been delighted. He had invited me to come to his clinic and be with his physiotherapist while she worked whenever it suited me and her. I had been doing that regularly. So my mother had an opportunity to speak with her.

Then an appointment was made with no delay with the Officer-in-Charge of the British Council in Colombo. When he heard about our plans, he was angry with my mother. He used words like, “do you realise what your daughter will have to do as a nurse in England? Do you know that she will have to go down on her hands and knees and scrub the floors? Are you going to let your daughter do these things?” Which had my mother in tears. But I had read enough about nursing in England to know that this was not true. I was as determined as ever that I would go. I had to go to England to study. I tried to persuade my mother that he was misleading us. Why he did that I knew not.

But my mother would go no further without ascertaining the truth of what the British Council Officer had told her. So she next made an appointment to meet Ceylon’s other well-known Orthopaedic Surgeon at the time, Dr. Francis Silva. Dr. Silva was a relative of my father’s, but my mother made this a formal occasion, seeing him in his surgery.

When he heard of what I wished to do and what the Officer had said, he first dismissed that person’s stories out of hand. Then he filled my mother with reassurance. She was actually “Pansy Akka” to him. He told her what a useful profession this was in England. He told her Ceylon needed many more young girls like me to who were willing to do what I was planning to do. My mother was almost satisfied – maybe I would be alright.

(To be continued)

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Features

Retirement age for judges: Innovation and policy

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/6

Thilina Walpola

I. The Constitutional Context

Independence of the judiciary is, without question, an essential element of a functioning democracy. In recognition of this, ample provision is made in the highest law of our country, the Constitution, to engender an environment in which the courts are able to fulfil their public responsibility with total acceptance.

As part of this protective apparatus, judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are assured of security of tenure by the provision that “they shall not be removed except by an order of the President made after an address of Parliament supported by a majority of the total number of members of Parliament, (including those not present), has been presented to the President for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity”[Article 107(2)]. Since this assurance holds good for the entirety of tenure, it follows that the age of retirement should be defined with certainty. This is done by the Constitution itself by the provision that “the age of retirement of judges of the Supreme Court shall be 65 years and of judges of the Court of Appeal shall be 63 years”[Article 107(5)].

II. A Proposal for Reform

This provision has been in force ever since the commencement of the Constitution. Significant public interest, therefore, has been aroused by the lead story in a newspaper, Anidda of 13 March, that the government is proposing to extend the term of office of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal by a period of two years.

This proposal, if indeed it reflects the thinking of the government, is deeply disturbing from the standpoint of policy, and gives rise to grave consequences. The courts operating at the apex of the judicial structure are called upon to do justice between citizens and also between the state and members of the public. It is an indispensable principle governing the administration of justice that not the slightest shadow of doubt should arise in the public mind regarding the absolute objectivity and impartiality with which the courts approach this task.

What is proposed, if the newspaper report is authentic, is to confer on judges of two particular courts, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, a substantial benefit or advantage in the form of extension of their years of service. The question is whether the implications of this initiative are healthy for the administration of justice.

III. Governing Considerations of Policy

What is at stake is a principle intuitively identified as a pillar of justice.

Reflecting firm convictions, the legal antecedents reiterate the established position with remarkable emphasis. The classical exposition of the seminal standard is, of course, the pronouncement by Lord Hewart: “It is not merely of some importance, but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done”. (Rex v. Sussex Justices, ex parte McCarthy). The underlying principle is that perception is no less important than reality. The mere appearance of partiality has been held to vitiate proceedings: Dissanayake v. Kaleel. In particular, reasonableness of apprehension in the mind of the parties to litigation is critical: Ranjit Thakur v. Union of India, a reasonable likelihood of bias being necessarily fatal (Manak Lal v. Prem Chaud Singhvi).

The overriding factor is unshaken public confidence in the judiciary: State of West Bengal v. Shivananda Pathak. The decision must be “demonstrably” (Saleem Marsoof J.) fair. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has rightly declared: “The authority of the judiciary ultimately depends on the trust reposed in it by the people, which is sustained only when justice is administered in a visibly fair manner”.

Credibility is paramount in this regard. “Justice has to be seen to be believed” (J.B. Morton). Legality of the outcome is not decisive; process is of equal consequence. Judicial decisions, then, must withstand public scrutiny, not merely legal technicality: Mark Fernando J. in the Jana Ghosha case. Conceived as continuing vitality of natural justice principles, these are integral to justice itself: Samarawickrema J. in Fernando v. Attorney General. Institutional integrity depends on eliminating even the appearance of partiality (Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. v. Girja Shankar Pant), and “open justice is the cornerstone of our judicial system”: (Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd. v. SEBI).

IV. Practical Constraints

Apart from these compelling considerations of policy, there are practical aspects which call for serious consideration. The effect of the proposal is that, among all judges operating at different levels in the judicature of Sri Lanka, judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal only, to the exclusion of all other judges, are singled out as the beneficiaries of the proposal. An inevitable result is that High Court and District Judges and Magistrates will find their avenues of promotion seriously impeded by the unexpected lengthening of the periods of service of currently serving judges in the two apex courts. Consequently, they will be required to retire at a point of time appreciably earlier than they had anticipated to relinquish judicial office because the prospect of promotion to higher courts, entailing higher age limits for retirement, is precipitately withdrawn. Some degree of demotivation, arising from denial of legitimate expectation, is therefore to be expected.

A possible response to this obvious problem is a decision to make the two-year extension applicable to all judicial officers, rather than confining it to judges of the two highest courts. This would solve the problem of disillusionment at lower levels of the judiciary, but other issues, clearly serious in their impact, will naturally arise.

Public service structures, to be equitable and effective, must be founded on principles of non-discrimination in respect of service conditions and related matters. Arbitrary or invidious treatment is destructive of this purpose. In determining the age of retirement of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, some attention has been properly paid to balance and consistency. The age of retirement of a Supreme Court judge is on par with that applicable to university professors and academic staff in the higher education system. They all retire at 65 years. Members of the public service, generally, retire at 60. Medical specialists retire at 63, with the possibility of extension in special circumstances to 65. The age of retirement for High Court Judges is 61, and for Magistrates and District Judges 60. It may be noted that the policy change in 2022 aimed at specifically addressing the issue of uniformity and compatibility.

If, then, an attempt is made to carve out an ad hoc principle strictly limited to judicial officers, not admitting of a self-evident rationale, the question would inevitably arise whether this is fair by other categories of the public service and whether the latter would not entertain a justifiable sense of grievance.

This is not merely a moral or ethical issue relating to motivation and fulfillment within the public service, but it could potentially give rise to critical legal issues. It is certainly arguable that the proposed course of action represents an infringement of the postulate of equality of treatment, and non-discrimination, enshrined in Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

There would, as well, be the awkward situation that this issue, almost certain to be raised, would then have to be adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court, itself the direct and exclusive beneficiary of the impugned measure.

V. Piecemeal Amendment or an Overall Approach?

If innovation on these lines is contemplated, would it not be desirable to take up the issue as part of the new Constitution, which the government has pledged to formulate and enact, rather than as a piecemeal amendment at this moment to the existing Constitution? After all, Chapter XV, dealing with the Judiciary, contains provisions interlinked with other salient features of the Constitution, and an integrated approach would seem preferable.

VI. Conclusion

In sum, then, it is submitted that the proposed change is injurious to the institutional integrity of the judiciary and to the prestige and stature of judges, and that it should not be implemented without full consideration of all the issues involved.

By Professor G. L. Peiris
D. Phil. (Oxford), Ph. D. (Sri Lanka);
Former Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs and National Integration;
Quondam Visiting Fellow of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London;
Former Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Law of the University of Colombo.

Features

Ranked 134th in Happiness: Rethinking Sri Lanka’s development through happiness, youth wellbeing and resilience

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/6

Thilina Walpola

In recent years, Sri Lanka has experienced a succession of overlapping challenges that have tested its resilience. Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka in November last year, significantly disrupting the normal lives of its citizens. The infrastructure damage is much more serious than the tsunami. According to World Bank reports and preliminary estimates, the losses amounted to approximately US$ 4.1 billion, nearly 4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Before taking a break from that, the emerging crisis in the Middle East has once again raised concerns about potential economic repercussions. In particular, those already affected by disasters such as Cyclone Ditwah risk falling “from the frying pan into the fire,” facing multiple hardships simultaneously. Currently, we see fuel prices rising, four-day workweeks, a higher cost of living, increased pressure on household incomes, and a reduction in the overall standard of living for ordinary citizens. It would certainly affect people’s happiness. As human beings, we naturally aspire to live happy and fulfilling lives. At a time when the world is increasingly talking about happiness and wellbeing, the World Happiness Report provides a useful way of looking at how countries are doing. The World Happiness Report discusses global well-being and offers strategies to improve it. The report is produced annually with contributions from the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and other stakeholders. There are many variables taken into consideration for the index, including the core measure (Cantril Ladder) and six explanatory variables (GDP per Capita ,Social Support,Healthy Life Expectancy,Freedom to Make Life Choices,Generosity,Perceptions of Corruption), with a final comparison.

According to the recently published World Happiness Report 2026, Sri Lanka ranks 134th out of 147 nations. As per the report, this is the first time that Sri Lanka has suffered such a decline. Sri Lanka currently trails behind most of its South Asian neighbours in the happiness index. The World Happiness Report 2026 attributes Sri Lanka’s low ranking (134th) to a combination of persistent economic struggles, social challenges, and modern pressures on younger generations. The 2026 report specifically noted that excessive social media use is a growing factor contributing to declining life satisfaction among young people globally, including in Sri Lanka. This calls for greater vigilance and careful reflection. These concerns should be examined alongside key observations, particularly in the context of education reforms in Sri Lanka, which must look beyond their immediate scope and engage more meaningfully with the country’s future.

In recent years, a series of events has triggered political upheaval in countries such as Nepal, characterised by widespread protests, government collapse, and the emergence of interim administration. Most reports and news outlets described this as “Gen Z protests.” First, we need to understand what Generation Z is and its key attributes. Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z represents the first truly “digital native” generation—raised not just with the internet, but immersed in it. Their lives revolve around digital ecosystems: TikTok sets cultural trends, Instagram fuels discovery, YouTube delivers learning, and WhatsApp sustains peer communities. This constant, feed-driven engagement shapes not only how they consume content but how they think, act, and spend. Tech-savvy and socially aware, Gen Z holds brands to a higher standard. For them, authenticity, transparency, and accountability—especially on environmental and ethical issues—aren’t marketing tools; they’re baseline expectations. We can also observe instances of them becoming unnecessarily arrogant in making quick decisions and becoming tools of some harmful anti-social ideological groups. However, we must understand that any generation should have proper education about certain aspects of the normal world, such as respecting others, listening to others, and living well. More interestingly, a global survey by the McKinsey Health Institute, covering 42,083 people across 26 countries, finds that Gen Z reports poorer mental health than older cohorts and is more likely to perceive social media as harmful.

Youth health behaviour in Sri Lanka reveals growing concerns in mental health and wellbeing. Around 18% of youth (here, school-going adolescents aged 13-17) experience depression, 22.4% feel lonely, and 11.9% struggle with sleep due to worry, with issues rising alongside digital exposure. Suicide-related risks are significant, with notable proportions reporting thoughts, plans, and attempts, particularly among females. Bullying remains a significant concern, particularly among males, with cyberbullying emerging as a notable issue. At the same time, substance use is increasing, including tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes. These trends highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to support youth mental health, resilience, and healthier behavioural outcomes in Sri Lanka. We need to create a forum in Sri Lanka to keep young people informed about this. Sri Lanka can designate a date (like April 25th) as a National Youth Empowerment Day to strengthen youth mental health and suicide prevention efforts. This should be supported by a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy aligned with basic global guidelines. Key priorities include school-based emotional learning, counselling services, and mental health training for teachers and parents. Strengthening data systems, reducing access to harmful means, and promoting responsible media reporting are essential. Empowering families and communities through awareness and digital tools will ensure this day becomes a meaningful national call to action.

As discussed earlier, Sri Lanka must carefully understand and respond to the challenges arising from its ongoing changes. Sri Lanka should establish an immediate task force comprising responsible stakeholders to engage in discussions on ongoing concerns. Recognising that it is not a comprehensive solution, the World Happiness Index can nevertheless act as an important indicator in guiding a paradigm shift in how we approach education and economic development. For a country seeking to reposition itself globally, Sri Lanka must adopt stronger, more effective strategies across multiple sectors. Building a resilient and prosperous future requires sound policymaking and clear strategic direction.

(The writer is a Professor in Management Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka. You can reach Professor Abeysekera via nabey@ou.ac.lk)

by Prof. Nalin Abeysekera

Features

Hidden diversity in Sri Lanka’s killifish revealed: New study reshapes understanding of island’s freshwater biodiversity

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/6

Thilina Walpola

Aplocheilus parvus

A groundbreaking new study led by an international team of scientists, including Sri Lankan researcher Tharindu Ranasinghe, has uncovered striking genetic distinctions in two closely related killifish species—reshaping long-standing assumptions about freshwater biodiversity shared between Sri Lanka and India.

Published recently in Zootaxa, the research brings together leading ichthyologists such as Hiranya Sudasinghe, Madhava Meegaskumbura, Neelesh Dahanukar and Rajeev Raghavan, alongside other regional experts, highlighting a growing South Asian collaboration in biodiversity science.

For decades, scientists debated whether Aplocheilus blockii and Aplocheilus parvus were in fact the same species. But the new genetic analysis confirms they are “distinct, reciprocally monophyletic sister species,” providing long-awaited clarity to their taxonomic identity.

Speaking to The Island, Ranasinghe said the findings underscore the hidden complexity of Sri Lanka’s freshwater ecosystems.

“What appears superficially similar can be genetically very different,” he noted. “Our study shows that even widespread, common-looking species can hold deep evolutionary histories that we are only now beginning to understand.”

A tale of two fishes

The study reveals that Aplocheilus blockii is restricted to peninsular India, while Aplocheilus parvus occurs both in southern India and across Sri Lanka’s lowland wetlands.

Despite their close relationship, the two species show clear genetic separation, with a measurable “genetic gap” distinguishing them. Subtle physical differences—such as the pattern of iridescent scales—also help scientists tell them apart.

Co-author Sudasinghe, who has led several landmark studies on Sri Lankan freshwater fishes, noted that such integrative approaches combining genetics and morphology are redefining taxonomy in the region.

Echoes of ancient land bridges

The findings also shed light on the ancient biogeographic links between Sri Lanka and India.

Scientists believe that during periods of low sea levels in the past, the two landmasses were connected by the now-submerged Palk Isthmus, allowing freshwater species to move between them.

Later, rising seas severed this connection, isolating populations and driving genetic divergence.

“These fishes likely dispersed between India and Sri Lanka when the land bridge existed,” Ranasinghe said. “Subsequent isolation has resulted in the patterns of genetic structure we see today.”

Meegaskumbura emphasised that such patterns are increasingly being observed across multiple freshwater fish groups in Sri Lanka, pointing to a shared evolutionary history shaped by geography and climate.

A deeper genetic divide

One of the study’s most striking findings is that Sri Lankan populations of A. parvus are genetically distinct from those in India, with no shared haplotypes between the two regions.

Dahanukar explained that this level of differentiation, despite relatively recent geological separation, highlights how quickly freshwater species can diverge when isolated.

Meanwhile, Raghavan pointed out that these findings reinforce the importance of conserving habitats across both countries, as each region harbours unique genetic diversity.

Implications for conservation

The study carries important implications for conservation, particularly in a country like Sri Lanka where freshwater ecosystems are under increasing pressure from development, pollution, and climate change.

Ranasinghe stressed that understanding genetic diversity is key to protecting species effectively.

“If we treat all populations as identical, we risk losing unique genetic lineages,” he warned. “Conservation planning must recognise these hidden differences.”

Sri Lanka is already recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot, but studies like this suggest that its biological richness may be even greater than previously thought.

A broader scientific shift

The research also contributes to a growing body of work by scientists such as Sudasinghe and Meegaskumbura, challenging traditional assumptions about species distributions in the region.

Earlier studies often assumed that many freshwater fish species were shared uniformly between India and Sri Lanka. However, modern genetic tools are revealing a far more complex picture—one shaped by ancient geography, climatic shifts, and evolutionary processes.

“We are moving from a simplistic view of biodiversity to a much more nuanced understanding,” Ranasinghe said. “And Sri Lanka is proving to be a fascinating natural laboratory for this kind of research.”

Looking ahead

The researchers emphasise that much remains to be explored, with several freshwater fish groups in Sri Lanka still poorly understood at the genetic level.

For Sri Lanka, the message is clear: beneath its rivers, tanks, and wetlands lies a largely untapped reservoir of evolutionary history.

As Ranasinghe puts it:

“Every stream could hold a story of millions of years in the making. We are only just beginning to read them.”

By Ifham Nizam