Life style

River of Life in Peril: Shantha Jayaweera’s Four-Decade Vigil in Boralugoda

Published

1 week ago

2026/03/22

Shantha Jayaweera

In the quiet, rain-washed village of Boralugoda, where narrow streams slip silently through thick green undergrowth and the air carries the scent of wet earth, a remarkable story of science, persistence, and quiet resistance has been unfolding for decades.

At its centre is Research Scientist and artist Shantha Jayaweera—a man who has spent nearly 40 years studying, documenting, and defending one of the richest freshwater ecosystems in the island. His life’s work is not just about fish, but about a fragile world that exists beneath the surface of flowing water—often unseen, frequently misunderstood, and increasingly under threat.

“Sri Lanka holds a very special place in global freshwater biodiversity,” Jayaweera says, reflecting on decades of fieldwork. “But even within the island, there are pockets that are extraordinarily rich. Boralugoda is one of them.”

A Global Context, A Local Wonder

Sri Lanka is part of the Oriental region—one of the most biologically diverse freshwater zones in the world. Within the island, the lowland wet zone stands out as the most species-rich area, nurtured by year-round rainfall and dense vegetation.

But Boralugoda, located within this wet zone, is exceptional even by those standards.

“Out of about 94 true freshwater fish species recorded in the country, around 84 are found in the lowland wet zone,” Jayaweera explains. “What is remarkable is that Boralugoda alone supports 53 species. That is the highest number recorded in any inland location.”

He pauses before adding a sobering detail.

“Of those 53 species, 26 are endemic. And 23 are threatened—ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. That’s a very serious signal.”

: Boralugoda Ella

The Secret of the Maguru

Flowing through this biodiversity hotspot is the Maguru River—a relatively small river with an outsized ecological role. Originating in the rainforest-covered Morapitiya area, it carries with it the ecological signature of its pristine beginnings.

“What makes the Maguru unique is its clarity,” Jayaweera says. “Most rivers turn brown as they carry sediment downstream. But this river remains clear, which allows sunlight to penetrate and sustain aquatic life.”

The river’s structure adds another layer of ecological complexity.

“It starts with fast-flowing, rocky sections and then gradually shifts to sandy, slow-moving areas,” he explains. “Different species are adapted to each of these habitats. Some are highly specialised and cannot survive outside the rocky zones.”

This diversity of microhabitats is one of the key reasons for the area’s richness.

Banded mountain loach

Red neck goby – endangerd now extinct from the area due to sand mining

“Fish like certain gobies and barbs are restricted to fast-flowing rocky areas,” he notes. “If those habitats are disturbed, the species simply disappear.”

Streams That Sustain Life

Beyond the main river, Boralugoda is crisscrossed by an intricate network of streams—fed by rainfall, forest cover, and underground springs.

“This area has one of the highest stream densities in the Western Province,” Jayaweera says. “These streams act as nurseries, refuges, and migration pathways for many species.”

The surrounding landscape further enhances this ecological mosaic.

“You have a mix of rainforest patches, home gardens, tea estates, and cultivated lands,” he explains. “Each of these contributes in some way to the overall habitat diversity.”

However, this delicate balance is increasingly being pushed to its limits.

Sand Mining: A River Reshaped

One of the most destructive forces to hit the Maguru River has been large-scale sand mining, particularly since the early 2000s.

“The riverbed has been completely altered,” Jayaweera says, his tone turning grave. “We’ve lost aquatic plants, native riverbank trees, and entire habitats.”

The ecological consequences have been severe.

“The endangered Red Neck Goby has become locally extinct,” he reveals. “And the Ocellated Pipefish has not been recorded for years, largely due to the loss of specific aquatic plants it depends on.”

The physical damage to the river is equally alarming.

“Sand mining has deepened the river unnaturally,” he explains. “This leads to bank erosion, collapse, and long-term instability. It changes the entire character of the river.”

Although recent policy changes have halted new permits, the damage done over decades cannot be easily reversed.

: Marbled spiny eel

: Red tailed goby – endangered

Tea Expansion and Vanishing Buffers

Another major pressure comes from agricultural expansion—particularly the spread of lowland tea cultivation.

“Since the 1990s, we’ve seen a steady conversion of home gardens and even forest patches into tea plantations,” Jayaweera says. “In some cases, even rubber lands have been cleared.”

This transformation has not only reduced biodiversity on land but has also affected water systems.

“Riverbank vegetation is often cleared to make way for cultivation,” he explains. “But these trees are critical—they stabilise banks, filter runoff, and provide shade.”

What is particularly troubling is the disregard for existing environmental regulations.

“There are clear laws requiring buffer zones along rivers and streams,” he says. “But many local authorities are either unaware or do not enforce them. As a result, these protective areas are disappearing.”

A Life Dedicated to Observation and Action

For Jayaweera, these changes are not abstract trends—they are deeply personal.

“I’ve been observing this ecosystem for nearly four decades,” he says. “I’ve seen species decline, habitats shrink, and patterns change.”

But his work has never been limited to observation alone.

Through the Organisation for Aquatic Resources Management (OARM), he has led numerous conservation and restoration efforts.

“We’ve worked on replanting rainforest species in degraded areas, restoring stream banks, and raising awareness among local communities,” he explains. “In some places, we’ve seen encouraging signs of recovery.”

His approach combines science with grassroots engagement.

“Conservation cannot happen in isolation,” he says. “You need the community to be involved.”

Where Science Meets Art

What sets Jayaweera apart is his ability to translate science into art.

As an accomplished artist, he uses illustrations and visual storytelling to bring freshwater ecosystems to life.

“Art can reach people in ways that science sometimes cannot,” he says. “It creates an emotional connection.”

His paintings often depict the intricate beauty of fish species, aquatic plants, and flowing streams—capturing not just their form, but their essence.

“When people see what is at stake, they are more likely to care,” he adds.

A Community at a Crossroads

Despite decades of work, challenges remain at the community level.

“Some people still treat rivers as dumping grounds,” Jayaweera says with frustration. “Plastic and waste continue to find their way into these waters.”

Yet, there are also signs of hope.

“A group of committed individuals regularly organise clean-up campaigns,” he notes. “They collect waste and display it publicly to raise awareness. It’s a simple but powerful act.”

These grassroots efforts, he believes, are crucial.

“Real change begins at the local level,” he says.

A Fragile Future

For Jayaweera, Boralugoda is more than just a field site—it is a symbol of what is at stake.

“If we lose ecosystems like this, we lose something irreplaceable,” he warns. “These species are found nowhere else in the world.”

His message is both urgent and measured.

“We need stronger enforcement of environmental laws, better awareness, and a genuine commitment to conservation,” he says.

“Otherwise, the damage will become irreversible.”

As the clear waters of the Maguru River continue to flow through Boralugoda—past rocks, roots, and remnants of a once-pristine landscape—they carry with them a quiet story of resilience.

And alongside that flow stands Shantha Jayaweera—scientist, artist, and guardian of a hidden world—still watching, still working, and still hoping that it is not too late.

By Ifham Nizam

Pictures by Shantha Jayaweera

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Life style

Grace, grooming and confidence

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The leadership team behind the academy at the head table

Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

Life style

From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

Life style

Pakistan’s 86th National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan with traditional flavour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive democratic welfare state.

The day commemorates a defining moment that led the foundation for the creation of Pakistan.

The ceremony commenced with the raising of their national flag, fluttering proudly against the morning sky, symbolising faith, unity and discipline, the ideals upon which the nation was built. Dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and guests gathered in silence as the national anthem resonated creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and national pride .

Cultural elegance added a distinctive charm to the occasion, with traditional attire and warm exchanges reflecting the rich heritage of Pakistan. Guests were later invited to partake in light refreshments, providing an opportunity for cordial interacton and celebration.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tune of Pakistan’s national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan High Commission

The National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23rd March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Special messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were readout, in which both the leaders highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in her message on the occasion said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka continue to maintain their traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations, based on mutual respect and trust. She said that the strength of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka relationship lies in diversified engagement in many fields such as trade, defence, science, culture, and education. She also extended sincere greetings and best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Sri Lanka.