Specialist Dr. Nihal Weerasooriya officially assumed duties as the new Deputy Director General of the Kandy National Hospital on Friday morning.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Weerasooriya held several senior administrative positions within the health sector. He previously served as Director of the Hatton-Dickoya Base Hospital and the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital. He also has extensive experience in regional health administration, having served for several years as Director of Health Services for the Central Province.

A highly respected figure in the medical field, Dr. Weerasooriya is an alumnus of Dharmaraja College, Kandy.

His extensive experience is expected to contribute significantly to the administrative and clinical operations of the Kandy National Hospital.

Text and Pic By S.K. Samaranayake

Strengthening survival of orphaned baby elephants

In a significant conservation collaboration, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS), in partnership with the China Merchants Foundation (CMF) the philanthropic arm of the China Merchants Group, Hambantota International Port Group Private Limited (HIPG), and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), has successfully imported and delivered a specialised elephant milk formula to support orphaned elephant calves undergoing rehabilitation at the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) in Udawalawe, WNPS announced.

“The arrival of the milk formula marks the fulfilment of a commitment announced under the second phase of the partnership between HIPG, WNPS and the DWC, aimed at strengthening care for orphaned elephants while advancing broader efforts to mitigate Human–Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka,” a news release said.

It explained that for over two decades, the Elephant Transit Home has stood as one of the world’s most successful elephant rewilding programmes, having rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 190 orphaned elephants back into the wild. Yet one of the greatest challenges faced by veterinarians has been the care of very young calves, particularly those under eight to ten weeks of age, whose nutritional needs differ significantly from those of older elephants.

Until now, orphaned calves have largely depended on modified human milk formulas. However, young elephants often struggle to digest these substitutes, leading to nutritional complications during the most vulnerable period of their lives.

The newly imported formula, produced by renowned Australian wildlife nutrition specialist Wombaroo, has been specifically developed to more closely replicate the nutritional profile of elephant mother’s milk. Rich in fatty acids, proteins and carbohydrates, while excluding certain micro-elements that can be difficult for young calves to process, the formula is expected to provide a more suitable nutritional foundation during the critical early stages of growth and development.

The introduction of the formula follows extensive consultation, research and testing by veterinarians attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Elephant Transit Home, who explored global best practices before selecting the product.

Conservationists and wildlife veterinarians hope that the enhanced nutrition will significantly improve survival rates among the youngest orphaned calves while supporting healthier growth, stronger immune systems and improved long-term prospects for successful rewilding.

The initiative reflects a science-led approach to wildlife conservation, bringing together government expertise, conservation leadership and private-sector support to address a long-standing gap in orphaned elephant care.

Beyond supporting the Elephant Transit Home, the broader partnership between HIPG, WNPS and the DWC continues to invest in community education, farmer awareness programmes and practical interventions aimed at reducing Human–Elephant Conflict and fostering coexistence between people and wildlife.

Past President and Chair of WNPS Numan Elephant coexistence subcommittee handing over the consignment of special milk to Dr Malaka Abeyawardana Head Veterinarian of ETH

The introduction of specialised elephant milk formula represents another important step forward in ensuring that Sri Lanka’s orphaned elephants receive the best possible start in life—strengthening not only their chances of survival, but also the future of one of the nation’s most iconic wildlife species.

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will begin its second official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow (15), with the delegation scheduled to remain in the country until June 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism announced.

In a statement, the Ministry said the visit forms part of Sri Lanka’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), which the country acceded to in December 2017.

The SPT last visited Sri Lanka in April 2019 following the country’s accession to the protocol.

Following accession to OPCAT, the Government designated the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), responsible for carrying out independent monitoring aimed at preventing torture and ill-treatment.

During the visit, the four-member delegation is expected to hold discussions at ministerial level and engage with senior officials of relevant government ministries, departments and institutions.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and members of civil society.

According to the Ministry, the Government will engage with the visiting delegation in an open, constructive and transparent manner, in line with its policy of continued engagement with the United Nations and in fulfilment of treaty obligations voluntarily undertaken under relevant international instruments and in accordance with the Constitution.

The delegation will be headed by Aisha Shujune Muhammad of the Maldives and comprise Jakub Julian Czepek of Poland, Anica Tomsic of Croatia and Nika Kvaratskhelia of Georgia.

Officials attached to the SPT Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, will accompany the delegation.

The Ministry said the visit would be conducted in accordance with the mandate of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.