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Islands of Hope: Geoffrey Bawa Trust and WNPS PLANT unite to restore Lanka’s vanishing ecosystems

Published

10 months ago

2025/08/10

Honduwa Island

In a landmark collaboration that blends ecological stewardship with cultural heritage, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, through its partner The Lunuganga Trust, has joined with the Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Limited (PLANT), to restore and further protect two island locations in the mangrove rich southern region of Sri Lanka. Launched with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently, this long-term initiative revolves around Honduwa and Appaladuwa, two ecologically significant but often overlooked islands nestled in the tranquil waters of the Bentota lagoon, a news release from the Wild Life and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) said.

Spanning over 24 acres of mangrove and semi-forested land, the islands are dedicated to long-term conservation and habitat restoration with specific targets outlined in the MoU. At a time when forest preservation in Sri Lanka is heavily reliant on state-managed reserves, this partnership is a further testament to a visionary model spearheaded by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) for private land conservation, where civil society and heritage stewards take the lead in protecting biodiversity.

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust: Where Architecture Meets Ecology

Founded to protect and promote the legacy of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust manages a portfolio of architectural and landscape treasures, including the iconic Lunuganga Estate. The Lunuganga Trust bears the organization’s ecological mandate, and stewards associated lands such as Honduwa and Appaladuwa, originally set aside by Geoffrey Bawa for environmental preservation. Building on Bawa’s emphasis on ecology and environmental studies as complements to art and architecture, the Trust today advances that vision through conservation projects (www.geoffreybawa.com). The presence of the Critically Endangered Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) on Honduwa island makes the conservation initiative especially significant.

As Channa Daswatte, the Chairperson of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts noted, “This is far more than a simple conservation project. It is a deliberate continuation of Bawa’s enduring legacy that invites us to see land not just as a passive backdrop for architectural design, but as a dynamic, living entity that evolves over time. It calls upon us to recognize the intrinsic value of the land itself, honoring it as something sacred and deserving of careful stewardship and protection for generations to come. In WNPS PLANT, we have a passionate partner who shares a vision for Sri Lanka in which people and species can better coexist”.

WNPS PLANT: A Conservation Vision Rooted in Connectivity

Established under the wings of the WNPS, PLANT is a visionary conservation initiative dedicated to restoring habitat connectivity through privately owned lands. Its flagship initiative, Emerald Trails, seeks to build a network of forest corridors and private conservation spaces, especially in the country’s endemic-rich southwestern quadrant, linking fragmented ecosystems and providing safe passage for wildlife. With work already underway in over 30 locations, PLANT combines science, restoration, and long-term land stewardship (www.plantsl.org).

“We are delighted and honoured to partner with the Bawa Trust and its properties,” says Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Chairman of PLANT. “This partnership is especially meaningful because it allows us to connect conservation with cultural heritage. We are creating ecosystems, and, in this case, we are not just working with land; we are working with legacy. It is a powerful reminder that stewardship can replace ownership and that conservation can be a cultural act as much as an ecological one. Many large cultural locations have the opportunity to allocate some spaces for conservation as well, which is when culture truly embraces humanity holistically. We hope this engagement will inspire other partners to follow this thought process”, he further added.

A Blueprint for Restoration

The MoU outlines a multi-faceted plan centered on habitat protection, research, education, and community engagement. At the heart of the agreement is a commitment to protect the entire island forest area from deforestation, agriculture, or major development. To establish a scientific baseline and monitor ecological progress, the partners will initiate a biodiversity survey in the project’s first year, collaborating with experts across academia and conservation practice. Restoration efforts will include the planting of a few thousand native trees and understory plants, carefully selected for ecological compatibility and planted under expert supervision. Extra focus will also go into the removal of invasive species and the strengthening of the Hog Deer population, with active work aimed at improving their habitat quality, food sources and population health.

“The project also includes a strong educational component. The islands will serve as living classrooms for researchers and conservation professionals, with opportunities for ecological studies and learning exchanges. We also hope to engage local community as conservation practitioners and ecological stewards through dialogue and collaboration. To ensure long-term sustainability of the project, the two organizations will jointly develop a fundraising strategy targeting local and international donors and funds will be used to support habitat restoration, ecosystem monitoring, education, and outreach” said Soham Kacker, Curator of Living Collections at Lunuganga.

Where Nature and Legacy Converge

Bawa’s design ethos celebrated the integration of the built form with the surrounding environment. This partnership reimagines the ecological dimensions of that philosophy through native trees, regenerating undergrowth, and the quiet return of wildlife. As Sri Lanka grapples with climate instability and increasing habitat fragmentation, the significance of this partnership extends beyond the islands themselves. The PLANT initiative serves as a compelling model for decentralized, citizen-led conservation. It demonstrates how visionary landowners, heritage organizations, and conservationists can collectively protect what is too often overlooked- small, fragmented, but ecologically vital landscapes.

Once known primarily for their proximity to cultural heritage sites, Honduwa and Appaladuwa are now being shaped into thriving habitats through ecological restoration. Camera traps will monitor returning wildlife; native species will be reintroduced and nurtured. Slowly, the rhythms of natural forest life will return. In a time when environmental headlines are dominated by loss, this project offers a quiet but powerful counter-narrative: that restoration is possible, that heritage can drive conservation, and that even forgotten forests can be islands of hope.

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President Commissions Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Samudra Vijaya’ into Sri Lanka Navy

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/5

Priyan

The commissioning ceremony of the deep-sea patrol vessel as Samudravijaya, gifted to the Sri Lanka Navy by the United States Coast Guard to enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities, was held under the patronage of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Thursday afternoon (04) at the Eastern Terminal premises of the Port of Colombo.

The vessel was officially handed over to Sri Lanka by the United States Coast Guard on 2 December 2025. Following modifications to meet the operational requirements of the Sri Lanka Navy, the vessel commenced its voyage to Colombo on 20 February 2026 from the United States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland.

The induction of the vessel marks a significant step towards further strengthening the operational capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy and enhancing the country’s maritime and national security. The vessel is expected to make an important contribution to maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, protection of fisheries resources, environmental monitoring and the enforcement of international maritime laws and conventions. In particular, it will serve as a vital asset in combating narcotics trafficking and other transnational maritime crimes, which remain major challenges for both Sri Lanka and the wider region.

During the ceremony, President Dissanayake presented the official commissioning warrant to the vessel’s Commanding Officer, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya. The President subsequently unveiled the vessel’s name board and official insignia before undertaking an inspection tour of the ship. The Commander of the Navy briefed those present on the vessel’s operational readiness, systems and capabilities.

President Dissanayake also signed the vessel’s Distinguished Visitors’ Book and was presented with a commemorative plaque featuring a replica of the vessel.

Among those present were Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunatilaka. Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya, Charge d’affaires to the U.S. Embassy Ms. Jayne Howell, Senior Defence Official and Defence Attache with Spouse Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, representatives of the Embassy and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Navy.

(PMD)

News

Elders’ home devastated by fire was a ‘house of horror’: Witnesses

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Death toll rises to 12: Director remanded

Some residents were allegedly chained

Police have come under public pressure to investigate allegations of inhumane treatmenf the residents at an elders’ home in Batagoda, which was also reportedly used as a care centre for persons with special needs, following a devastating fire that has so far claimed 12 lives.

Eyewitnesses who were among the first responders told the media that several residents had been chained inside rooms at the Senehase Kedella Elders’ Home when the fire broke out on Wednesday. They claimed that rescue efforts were hindered as iron chains could not be removed, and that some residents died while being restrained.

Authorities have not yet verified these claims, and Police said investigations are continuing.

Police spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, contacted for comment, said there were rumours to that effect, but the Police were not in a position to verify the claims until a report from the Government Analyst was received. He said eight survivors with burn injuries were being treated in hospital.

Meanwhile, the Director of the facility had been arrested and was due to be produced before the Horana Magistrate’s Court, Police said adding that he was remanded till June 11.

The death toll from the fire has risen to 12 as of Thursday morning following the recovery of additional charred remains during ongoing forensic examinations at the site. Six others sustained serious injuries and are being treated at the Horana Base Hospital.

Police said 72 residents were inside the facility at the time of the blaze. Of them, 10 died inside the building, seven were injured and hospitalised, while 51 were rescued and relocated.

Survivors were initially housed at Batagoda Junior School before being transferred with Army assistance to another branch of the same care network in Galpatha.

A magisterial inquiry was conducted on Thursday morning. Horana Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage visited the scene. The burnt remains were examined and removed under judicial supervision.

Separately, allegations have emerged that residents were required to pay an admission fee of Rs. 75,000, along with a monthly charge of Rs. 35,000 to the centre. Police have not commented on these claims.

The director was taken to the scene as part of ongoing investigations, while forensic experts continue examinations to determine the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined.Anguruwatota Police are conducting investigations.

By Norman Palihawadane and Nishan S Priyantha

News

CERT : AI-generated videos depicting Prez, PM lure public into financial scams

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka CERT has issued a public warning over the circulation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos falsely depicting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and several other prominent personalities to promote fraudulent investment schemes online.

According to complaints received by the national cyber security agency, the videos have been created using deepfake technology and are being used as part of attempts to defraud members of the public through financial scams.

The images of famous sports personalities and other public figures have also been misused in the deceptive content.

The agency has warned that similar AI-generated material has been used to spread false information relating to investment opportunities, employment offers, as well as matters concerning the country’s economy and tax policies.

According to Sri Lanka CERT, the videos are being widely shared across online platforms and frequently contain links urging viewers to make investments in return for purported profits.The agency has cautioned that these links may redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information, financial data and money from unsuspecting victims.

Sri Lanka CERT has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering such content online and advised against clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information through unverified websites.

“The public should remain vigilant and avoid becoming victims of false information and online fraud schemes,” the agency said.

Sri Lanka CERT has also encouraged internet users to verify information through official sources before acting on any investment, employment or financial offers circulated via social media or other online platforms.