Features

The # 1 Sri Lankan Hotel Company in 2023

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/5

CONFESSIONS OF A GLOBAL GYPSY

Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
Founder & Administrator – Global Hospitality Forum
chandij@sympatico.ca

Acknowledgement

I thank Mr. Gemunu Goonewardena, Chairman of the Tourist Hotels Classification Committee from 2018 to 2022, and Non-Executive Director of the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holding PLC, for his assistance to me in collecting current data.

Hotels Rooms in Sri Lanka in 2023

All types of accommodation are available in Sri Lanka for tourism, including hotels classified by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), unclassified accommodation, bungalows etc. The total capacity is now over 48,000 rooms in 3,657 units. This is including the upcoming 2023 opening of the largest hotel in Sri Lanka – the 800-room Cinnamon Life Colombo. With that, the total number of classified hotels (one to five star) rooms in Sri Lanka will soon reach 15,642 in 160 hotels.

In 2023, five hotel companies operated over half of the room stock in Sri Lanka, which are within their 56 (generally, larger) hotels as indicated in the table below. The other half of the rooms are within the balance 104 (generally, smaller) hotels. A small number of rooms in bungalows managed by a few of these companies were not considered for this calculation.

All three top Sri Lankan hotel companies – Cinnamon, Heritance and Jetwing entered the hotel industry around the same period, 50 years ago. With the opening of Life in 2023, in terms of total room capacity, the Cinnamon brand of John Keells Group will surpass Heritance and associated brands (including 500-room RIU partnership) of Aitken Spence Group.

With a successful operation of 10 hotels in three other countries (The Maldives, India and Oman) Aitken Spence Group will continue to compete aggressively in terms of the total number of hotels and rooms operated by a Sri Lankan company. Their main achievements include opening the first five-star resort hotel in Sri Lanka in 1982 – Triton and a decade later opening multi-award-winning, iconic hotel – Kandalama. The company with the largest number of hotels in Sri Lanka – Jetwing operates a chain of 20 hotels with different and interesting themes. The rest of this article focuses on the # 1 Sri Lankan Hotel company — Cinnamon.

Cinnamon Hotel Brand in 2023

Over the last five decades, John Keells Group operated their hotel management company under different names. In 1970s as Walkers Tours Hotels, in 1980s as Hotel Management & Marketing Services Limited, and in 1990s as John Keells Hotels. In the year 2005, they rebranded their hotel chain as Cinnamon. In 2023, Cinnamon is the largest hotel company in Sri Lanka. They also have four hotels in the Maldives.

With the opening of their 16th hotel – Cinnamon Life, the hotel company will have a room stock of 3,288 in Sri Lanka and The Maldives. Both in terms of the quality of the hotels and the quantity of the room stock, Cinnamon is arguably the greatest hotel company in Sri Lanka, today.

Cinnamon Hotel’s most ambitious project – Cinnamon Life Colombo is the first integrated resort in Sri Lanka and the largest private investment in the country. Sri Lankan-British architect, Cecil Balmond designed the resort while Hyundai Engineering & Construction is the main contractor. The construction of the resort began nine years ago. This 47-floor complex, includes 800 five-star hotel rooms, a retail and entertainment complex, large conference venues, a 30-storey office tower and two separate residential towers with 427 luxury apartments. Cinnamon Life Complex promises vibrant, innovative, futuristic and unique elements. It is expected to be an icon that will redefine Colombo’s skyline.

My Connections with Walkers Tours/John Keells from 1973 to 1993

By early 1970s, Walkers Tours & Travels Limited (later rebranded Walkers Tours) became the leading tour operator in Ceylon. It was founded in 1969. Soon, they represented two of the largest European tour operators, from West Germany and Denmark, who were actively promoting tourism in Sri Lanka.

A young lawyer, Sriyantha (Simon) Senaratne was appointed as the Managing Director of Walkers Tours in 1971. When Walkers Tours was acquired by John Keells Group of companies in 1972, he continued in that position for seven more years. As a part of the vision of the Managing Director, Walkers Tours entered the hotel industry in 1973 with a unique project in a remote area — Habarana, and soon became the leader in hotel management in Sri Lanka.

Prior to my departure from Sri Lanka to pursue my global career in early 1994, for the first two decades of this iconic hotel company, I was connected with them in various capacities. My direct and indirect roles with them included serving tourist groups and representatives of Walkers Tours as a waiter, barman, cook, trainee chef, executive chef, food & beverage manager, hotel manager, operations manager of the corporate office of the hotel company, and finally as the general manager of their two largest hotels in the 1980s. In later years, while working for other companies in Sri Lanka such as Le Galadari Meridien and Mount Lavinia Hotel, my teams depended largely on tourist traffic from Walkers Tours.

I am most thankful to Walkers Tours/John Keells Group for giving me valuable opportunities. They allowed me to experience at a young age, various senior operational positions and leadership tasks during the early years of my career in the hotel industry. My direct and indirect connections with this largest group of companies in Sri Lanka over a period of 20 years, can be summarized as:

1973 – Bentota Beach Hotel

First, I was associated with operational people and tour guides attached to Walkers Tours in 1973 while working as a trainee waiter, barman and cook on one of my Ceylon Hotel School (CHS) internships. It was at what was then the best resort hotel in Sri Lanka – Bentota Beach Hotel. Soon after my graduation from CHS in 1974 I was recruited by Bentota Beach as the Trainee Executive Chef. In that role for a year, I associated with more Walkers Tours groups and Resident Managers and Tour Managers.

Bentota Beach was a popular meeting place for many young hoteliers from over a dozen of new hotels in Bentota and Beruwala. In 1975 at a hotelier’s party, I met Jayantha Silva who had been recruited to manage the first hotel to be operated by Walkers Tours – Hotel Swanee.

1975 – Coral Gardens Hotel

After a year, I was transferred with the promotion of Executive Chef (and Assistant Manager) of the sister hotel of Bentota Beach Hotel – Coral Gardens. There, I took my relationships with Walkers tour leaders to a new level. On most days, we catered for an additional 150 to 200 tourists who visited Coral Gardens Hotel only for lunch during their island-wide round trip with Walkers Tours. In consultation with the tour leaders, I planned standard, three-course lunch menus that could be prepared and served quickly, after their glass-bottom boat excursions to see beautiful coral gardens, Hikkaduwa was famous for.

I met an innovative and ambitious, young hotelier — Bobby Adams for the first time in 1975, two weeks prior to his departure from Coral Gardens, when I succeeded him. Bobby who was the Assistant Manager of Coral Gardens Hotel was joining Walkers Tours to open The Village, Habarana – the first hotel to be built by Walkers Tours. Just before Bobby opened The Village in 1976 as its Manager, Bobby called me from Habarana, “Chandi, why don’t you join me as the Executive Chef at The Village?” he asked. However, at that point, I did not accept his offer. A few years later, I worked for Bobby twice. When I married in 1980, he was my best-man. When I was 27, I became his deputy at John Keells. Bobby was the first Director – Operations for hotels at their corporate office.

1977 – One Week Tour with Walkers Tours

In the summer of 1977, Walkers Tours decided to organize a one-week-long coach tour around Sri Lanka for representatives from all hotels in Sri Lanka providing rooms to their clients. As the Assistant Manager and Executive Chef, I represented Coral Gardens Hotel in this tour. It turned out to be a fun-filled, thank you tour. It was a great, public relations initiative by Walkers Tours with their hotel industry partners.

Most members of the top team of Walkers Tours joined this trip. They included Sri Lankan travel trade legends such as Norman Impett and Nevil Arnolda. They were both Directors of Walkers Tours. I also got to be better acquainted with prominent, younger members of Walkers Tours family, such as Bobby Jordan and Jansi Ponniah, who joined the trip. They both were very friendly, efficient, dynamic and well-connected with the hotel industry.

The highlight of the tour was spending a couple of days at their then flagship hotel – The Village, Habarana. By then, Walkers Tours had a number of hotel management agreements, was managing Hotel Swanee, and was taking over the management of Hotel Ceysands. They were in the early stages of planning a hotel in Kandy which was called Kandy Walkinn (which years later opened as Hotel Citadel). My friend Bobby Adams was very happy to see me again. Both of us sat at the ‘Don Martin’s bar at The Village and had a long chat over a couple of drinks. Bobby was very convincing. “Chandi, you must join Walkers Tours, now!” he insisted.

1977 – Hotel Ceysands

The day after the one-week coach tour with Walkers Tours, Captain D. A Wickramasinghe (Captain Wicks, who later became my father-in-law), the new General Manager of Hotel Ceysands called and met with me. He explained that Walkers Tours had taken over the Hotel Ceysands management from the owners — Ceylinco Group. After a pause, Captain Wicks said, “Chandana, we are expecting 100% occupancy from the first of November, 1977 for six months. We need a good professional like you to join us at least by the first of October, to organize the kitchen, restaurant and bars within a month.”

Soon after that, I joined Walkers Tours as the Food & Beverage Manager and Executive Chef of Hotel Ceysands. At that time, I met Walkers Tours Managing Director – Sriyantha (Simon) Senaratna, and the Finance Director – Priya Edirisinghe, who handled the hotel expansion projects.

1979 – Swanee

Hotel Swanee wasn’t a well-planned, developed hotel. However, when Walkers Tours took over the hotel in 1975, they wisely invested in major upgrades for the hotel. They hired respected professionals such as Bevis Bawa, to upgrade and maintain the landscaping.

As the first hotel to be managed by Walkers Tours/John Keells, it was also an important learning journey for the group. In 1979 at the age of 25, I was proud to be promoted to be the Manager of Hotel Swanee. John Keells Group Chairman, Mark Bostock was very fond of me and arranged my first overseas training in his country (England) with Trust House Forte.

1980 – An Offer from a new Rival Company

I was surprised when Somaratne Silva invited me to his house in Colombo to discuss the Manger job offer for me to open Sigiriya Village, which was expected to be the main competitor for The Village Habarana. He was such an interesting man.

He talked about his training in the Netherlands, his work experience in hotels there, his recommending Bobby Adams for The Village and his positive observations about my work at Hotel Ceysands and Hotel Swanee. I nearly accepted that job, but eventually decided to continue with John Keells.

1980 – Ambalangoda Rest House

By 1980, Walkers Tours/John Keells was expanding its hospitality business by acquiring some smaller properties with management contracts. The group opened their second hotel in Beruwala — Hotel Bayroo, on a management contract, in the midst of various obstacles created by the village thugs. In addition to managing Hotel Swanee, I was asked to take over the Ambalangoda Rest House, to reorganize and improve its standards and to manage it.

1981 – Hotel Management & Marketing Services Limited

At the beginning of 1981, I was promoted again and was transferred to the John Keells corporate office in Colombo. I was the second in command of Walkers Tours/John Keells’ hotel company — Hotel Management & Marketing Services Limited (HMMS), as the deputy to Bobby Adams.

1981 – Temple Trees

Mainly owing to a personal relationship Bobby Adams had with then Prime Minister, R. Premadasa, the group commenced managing the Prime Minister’s official residence — Temple Trees. I released one of the departmental managers from Hotel Swanee — Fazal Izzadeen to become the Manager of Temple Trees.

1981 – Ceylinco Hotel

In Colombo, we had negotiated to take over the management of Ceylinco Hotel. “Chandi, I would like you to take over the management of Ceylinco Hotel and re-organize it”, Bobby informed me. He knew that I had a personal friendship with the Ceylinco Group Chairman, Lalith Kotalawala, which was useful in taking over Ceylinco Hotel.

1981 – Representing Walkers Tours as the Group Executive Chef in Hong Kong

In the midst of my busy schedule with HMMS, Bobby Adams entrusted me, on short notice, with a special assignment in Hong Kong. He wanted me to quickly plan and organize a large Sri Lankan and Maldivian food festival at the Hotel Furama InterContinental, Hong Kong. It was an important, two-week tourism promotional festival, in partnership with a number of organizations. They were represented by well-known leaders of the tourist industry, such as M. Y. M. Thahir of Walkers Tours, Pani Seneviratne of Ceylon Tourist Board, and Ahamed Didi of Universal Resorts, The Maldives.

1985 – The Village & The Lodge

Soon after my return from England in 1985, upon completing my graduate studies in International Hotel Management, I re-joined John Keells Group. I was appointed as the General Manager of their largest two hotels – The Village and The Lodge. I reported to Bobby Adams, and also worked closely on rates and financial aspects with Vivendra Lintotawela, who later became the Chairman of John Keells Holdings. On a day when all 260 rooms in both hotels were occupied, my management team in Habarana led providing hospitality and meals to 1,000 people — 520 guests, 120 tourist drivers and 360 employees.

In The Village, Somaratna Silva had cleverly created a rustic resort with an open concept with individual rooms appearing like small houses in a remote village. In The Lodge, two young Architects — Pheroze Choksy and Ismeth Rahim — continued the open concept, but with more sophistication. The end result was simply a masterpiece of architecture in two sister hotels, blending beautifully with nature, and the seamless delivery of world class hospitality.

John Keells/Walkers Tours, had created two iconic resorts, which were simply a delight for any hotelier to operate. I was fortunate to get that opportunity.

1985 – Habarana Farm

In addition to managing the two resorts in Habarana, I managed a large farm with the assistance of a qualified farm manager who reported to me. The farm cultivated vegetables and fruits to supply both resorts and used kitchen food waste to feed around 35 pigs raised on the farm.

1986 – Keels Food Product Distribution Operation

One day the Managing Director of Walkers Tours, Ken Balendra (later, the first Sri Lankan to be appointed as the Chairman of John Keells Holdings) called me and asked, “Chandana, don’t you have unused cold room facilities at The Lodge?” When I confirmed that we did, he assigned me some additional duties. “Look Chandana, we are commencing a new company – Keells Food Products, initially with mainly meat products. Our vision is to eventually make it the largest such company in Sri Lanka. We would like you to set up the food distribution network for Keells Food Products in the North Central Province.” I immediately hired a Food Distribution Coordinator, bought a large refrigerated van and commenced food distribution.

1986-1989 and 1990-1993

During my three years as the Director of Food & Beverage of the 500-room five-star Le Galadari Meridien Hotel in Colombo from 1986 to 1989, I realized the influence Walkers Tours had with most of the hotels in Sri Lanka. My colleague, Chandra Mohotti, the Director of Room Division of the hotel treated anyone from Walkers Tours as royalty, as their group business was valuable.

During my three years as the General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel from 1990 to 1993 we depended heavily on group bookings from Walkers Tours. I enjoyed working with them very closely, especially during the tour group contract negotiations held in Berlin, Milan and London during major travel trade events (ITB, BIT and WTM). After work we all socialized until the early hours in the morning. Those were memorable days.

I left Sri Lanka permanently in early 1994 to focus on my global career. Therefore, I had no direct connections with Walkers Tours/John Keells for nearly 30 years. However, during those three decades, when I visited Sri Lanka over 35 times as a tourist, as a guest of a few of their hotels, I continued to be impressed with the visionary developments, ambitious takeovers, innovative expansions and creative re-branding of the hotel business of Walkers Tours/John Keells.

Many board members and professional hoteliers have contributed to this remarkable journey, having many unprecedented successes. In spite of various macro level challenges such as the 26-year civil war from 1983 to 2009, Walkers Tours/John Keells hotels managed to survive and progress.

How Did Everything Start in 1973?

At the end of the day, it is still important to understand the humble beginnings of this hotel company and appreciate the pioneers who commenced that amazing journey… Continuing next week, with a question-and-answer format with the visionary leader who steered Walkers Tours to enter the hotel industry 50 years ago.

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Features

US’ anti-migrant stance set to intensify tensions in Western camp

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Migrant boats land on Western beaches. Credit: PA

The announcement by the US authorities of an anti-migrant stance during a recent commemoration in France of the epochal D-Day Landings of June 6, 1944, ought to strike impartial observers as a supreme irony. Whereas what should have been expected was a vibrant celebration of the beginning of the process of Western Europe freeing itself decisively from Nazi or fascist control during the crucial stages of World War Two, this was not to be.

What the world heard instead was a call to contemporary Western Europe to arm itself against a seemingly rising and threatening migrant presence in the region. In other words, the migrant must be despised and ‘shown the door’.

Instead of a commemoration that rejoiced in the flourishing of liberal democracy and its values what one got was a strong affirmation of fascism and racial chauvinism. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vented his spleen against the migrant or foreigner presence in Europe reportedly thus: ‘Sadly today different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies.’ To ‘beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?’

While at the outbreak of World War Two it was Nazi Germany that was doing the invading and bringing some principal European countries under its suzerainty, this time around we are being given to understand that it’s migrants to the West who are seeking to colonize the latter. It goes without saying that such inflammatory rhetoric would have the deleterious effect of keeping racial tensions alive in the West and jeopardize all possibilities of the countries concerned cementing and maintaining social stability.

The Trump administration gives the impression of taking a leaf from the politically underdeveloped regions of the South to keep the US polity stable and united. In South Asia, for instance, we are not short of ambitious demagogues who use what is referred to as the ‘race card’ to gather unto themselves a following and thereby further their political fortunes. By seeking to stir and sustain anti-migrant hysteria, the Trump administration is also essentially replicating Nazi Germany’s policy of anti-Semitism. That is, fascism is very much alive in the US under President Trump.

Such efforts at churning racial hysteria at this juncture in the US should not come as a surprise. For all intents and purposes, the Trump administration is nowhere near achieving its aims in West Asia, for instance, in the short term. It has failed to bring Iran down to its knees, as it hoped to do, but is adopting the expedient of keeping the world guessing and confused on what it is doing in the region, since it cannot withdraw from the theatre in a hurry without losing face.

While perhaps working out an escape strategy the Trump administration it seems, is hoping to maintain its following at home intact and silent by playing on their racial biases and insecurities. Hence, the anti-foreigner campaign.

Simultaneously, the Trump administration will need to keep a close eye on how economic pressures on the domestic front are panning out. Anti-administration sentiments first break to the surface at meal tables. On this score, the news cannot be good because the average US family’s spending power ought to be shrinking on account of rising energy and oil prices. Consequently, it would not be a bad idea to keep the attention of the US consumer diverted by adeptly playing ‘the race card’; once again, lessons from intellectually bankrupt Southern politicians are coming in handy.

To be sure such comparisons many politicians in vibrantly democratic countries would find quite unflattering. But the stark truth is that racism cannot be tolerated in civilized societies and those politicians who resort to it risk being branded as racists of the first degree. In fact they could be seen as being on par with the likes of German dictator Adolph Hitler and his close collaborators.

However, on the question of migrant policy the Trump administration would likely be at polar opposites with the most vibrant of liberal democracies of the West. This will be the case with the UK, France and Italy for instance. The latter continue to keep their doors open to legal migrants and they are likely to view a virtual blanket ban on migrants as reprehensible.

Moreover, in the foremost democracies of the West debates are vibrantly ongoing on the need to keep racism or any hint of it completely outlawed in the public plane. There is the case of the UK, for instance, where the authorities continue to emphatically pinpoint their adherence to the principle of anti-racism in the conduct of public affairs.

One proof of the above was the parliamentary debate relating to the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton. Police handling of the victim came in for sharp scrutiny by particularly the opposition in the House of Commons but there seemed to be a consensus over the main political divide that the matter should not be politicized.

Moreover, the UK authorities stressed in the House the government’s strict adherence to the policy of non-racism. It was also pointed out that British institutions set up to manage racism at the national, county and neighbourhood levels, for example, were very much intact. In fact, Sri Lanka could gain considerably by studying and implementing locally, legislation modeled on the relevant UK laws if it is in earnest when it speaks of ‘reconciliation’.

Accordingly, it is highly unlikely that Western Europe would ‘cave in’, so to speak, to US pressure on issues related to migration. The liberal democracies of Western Europe in particular would remain for the foreseeable future migrant-welcoming, multi-ethnic and plural democracies.

Nor is it likely that Western Europe would be passively receptive to US demands that it drastically increases its defense spending to meet the latter’s demands. Within the Western fold the EU is remaining committed to backing Ukraine, for instance, in its ongoing armed resistance to the Russian invasion and it is not giving any indication of being deferent to US pressure.

However, although tensions would continue to bristle within US-Western Europe relations on the above and numerous other matters of contention it would be far too premature to announce a parting of company between the two sections of the West. In that sense, the post-World War Two order remains essentially intact. There are still many things in common between the two, particular on the economic plane, that will ensure the continuance of the partnership.

Features

A decade among Yala’s ghosts of gold

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

YM75 "James" surveys his territory from a tree-top vantage point, demonstrating the leopard's commanding presence in the landscape.

The first rays of dawn creep over the ancient rocks of Yala. The Indian Ocean glimmers in the distance, and the wilderness slowly awakens. Somewhere amid the scrub jungle, a pair of amber eyes scans the landscape.

For wildlife conservationist and leopard researcher Milinda Wattegedara, moments such as these have defined more than a decade of dedication to one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic creatures—the Sri Lankan leopard.

What began as fascination evolved into a remarkable conservation journey that has transformed the understanding of Yala’s leopard population and placed Sri Lanka firmly on the global wildlife research map.

“Long before I ever lifted a camera, leopards had already captured my imagination,” says Wattegedara. “What fascinated me was not merely their beauty but the complexity of their lives—their hunting strategies, movements, reproductive behaviour and their remarkable ability to adapt to changing environments.”

That fascination led to the birth of the Yala Leopard Diary in 2013, an ambitious long-term project dedicated to documenting individual leopards and unraveling the mysteries surrounding their lives.

For many visitors, a leopard sighting is a fleeting thrill. For Wattegedara and his team, every encounter is a chapter in an ongoing scientific story.

“Each photograph was never the end of an encounter,” he explains. “It was the beginning of deeper questions. How did a particular leopard use the landscape? How did its behaviour change with the seasons? What environmental pressures shaped its decisions?”

These questions drove years of meticulous fieldwork. Every sighting was carefully recorded with details including location, habitat, behaviour, date and time. Photographs were analysed to identify individual animals through unique spot patterns, allowing researchers to distinguish one leopard from another with remarkable accuracy.

What followed was groundbreaking.

YF77 “Shelly” pauses in quiet observation, embodying the alertness
and grace that define Yala’s leopard population.

From 2013 to 2026, the Yala Leopard Diary identified an astonishing 189 individual leopards within the Yala Block 1. The research revealed a leopard density of approximately 0.524 leopards per square kilometre, making Yala one of the highest leopard-density landscapes ever recorded anywhere in the world.

Such findings have elevated Yala’s status among global wildlife researchers.

Nestled between the Indian Ocean and a mosaic of habitats, ranging from rocky outcrops to dense scrub forests, Yala offers an ecological stage unlike any other.

Here, leopards are photographed silhouetted against ocean horizons, perched atop ancient granite formations, resting on tree branches and stalking prey across sunlit grasslands.

The images tell stories of extraordinary lives.

There is Haminee, a devoted mother navigating the challenges of raising cubs in a competitive landscape. There is Lucas, one of Yala’s most frequently documented males, striding confidently across the Gonalabba Plains with the vast ocean forming an unforgettable backdrop.

There is Ruki demonstrating the species’ incredible strength by hoisting prey onto branches, and Shelly, quietly surveying her surroundings in a moment of feline vigilance.

Together, these individuals have become familiar characters in a living wilderness drama.

YM31 “Ruki” secures prey on a branch, illustrating the remarkable strength and coordination of the Sri Lankan leopard.

Recognising the immense value of long-term documentation, Wattegedara joined forces with fellow researchers Dushyantha Silva, Raveendra Siriwardana and Mevan Piyasena to establish the Yala Leopard Centre in 2020.

Located at the Palatupana entrance to the Yala National Park, the centre is believed to be the world’s first information facility dedicated exclusively to leopards.

“The centre serves as a repository of knowledge, accumulated through years of observation and research,” Wattegedara says. “Our goal is to connect visitors with the science behind conservation and foster a deeper appreciation of these magnificent animals.”

The project’s impact extends far beyond Sri Lanka’s borders.

Research arising from the Yala Leopard Diary has been published in internationally recognised scientific journals. One study introduced an innovative framework for identifying individual leopards, while another documented an extraordinary and previously unrecorded case of a leopard cub being consecutively adopted by two different adult females—first a relative and later an unrelated leopardess.

The discovery attracted international scientific attention and highlighted the complexity of leopard social behaviour.

Yet for Wattegedara, the most important lesson remains one of humility.

“One conclusion has become increasingly clear,” he reflects. “Our understanding of these leopards remains far from complete. We are only beginning to understand how they live, adapt and persist in one of Sri Lanka’s most dynamic protected landscapes.”

YF15 “Hope” descends Rukvila Rock at dawn, showcasing the agility and adaptability of Yala’s leopards.

His words underscore an essential conservation truth: the more we learn about nature, the more mysteries emerge.

As Sri Lanka navigates growing environmental challenges, the Yala Leopard Diary stands as a shining example of what sustained observation, scientific curiosity and public engagement can achieve.

Beyond the stunning photographs and remarkable sightings lies something even more valuable—a growing body of knowledge capable of informing future conservation decisions and ensuring that future generations inherit a wilderness where leopards continue to roam free.

For more than a decade, Wattegedara and his colleagues have followed the tracks of Yala’s elusive predators through dust, rain and scorching heat.

Their work has revealed that every leopard has a story, every sighting has significance and every photograph can contribute to conservation.

And perhaps, most importantly, it has reminded us that the golden ghosts of Yala still have many secrets left to share.

By Ifham Nizam

Features

Glamour, music and community spirit …

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lankans are quite active, all around the globe.

News has just come my way, from Glasgow, in Scotland, where the glamour of masks, music, dancing, and community spirit, came together, in spectacular fashion, at Masquerade Night, bringing together members of the Sri Lankan community for an evening filled with music, fashion, food and entertainment.

Organised by Mahesh Balaaratchi (DJ Mowgli) together with Sulochana Asmone, Hiroshini, Prasad, Ashi, and Shawn, the evening provided guests with an opportunity to socialise, enjoy live entertainment, and celebrate in a unique and elegant setting.

Guests arrived from 6:00 pm, dressed in formal attire and decorative masks, creating a colourful and vibrant atmosphere throughout the venue.

DJ Mowgli: The main
organiser of
Masquerade Night

There was a delicious selection of Sri Lankan cuisine and street food, which proved popular throughout the evening.

The buffet offered a variety of traditional favourites, giving attendees a taste of home while adding to the festive atmosphere.

Entertainment was provided by DJ Mowgli, whose performance kept the audience engaged throughout the night. His playlist featured a mixture of popular favourites, dance classics, and cultural music, remixed for a younger generation.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Baila session, which brought a distinctly Sri Lankan flavour to the event.

The Baila segment highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural traditions, while bringing people together through music and dance.

As familiar rhythms filled the room, guests enthusiastically took to the dance floor, creating one of the most memorable moments of the night.

The crowd was described as lively, energetic, and welcoming, with attendees embracing the spirit of the masquerade theme while enjoying the opportunity to reconnect with friends and meet new people. The family-friendly atmosphere ensured that guests of all ages could take part in the celebrations.