News
Young lensman champions the beauty of Sinharaja
There is a popular saying that every individual in the world is gifted in one special way. For 22-year-old Sansuka Gamage of Koswatta, Kalawana, that gift has found expression through the lens of a camera — and a deep, abiding love for the rainforest that borders his hometown.
Born and raised in Kalawana in the Ratnapura District, Sansuka is a past pupil of Kalawana Gamini Central College. While many youths his age pursue conventional career paths, Sansuka has chosen a different route: dedicating his time, energy and personal resources to showcasing the splendour of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve to the nation and the world.
Armed with a camera and laptop purchased with the support of his father, who is employed overseas, the young photographer ventures deep into the rainforest, often from dawn to dusk. His subjects range from rare birds and owls to reptiles, cascading waterfalls, towering trees and intricate vines that form the lush ecosystem of Sri Lanka’s last viable stretch of primary tropical rainforest
What he captures, he shares freely.
Through social media posts and videos, Sansuka presents vivid visual evidence of Sinharaja’s biodiversity, countering the common misconception that the forest is merely a leech-infested jungle with little to offer visitors. His photographs tell a different story — one of colour, life and extraordinary natural heritage.
Sansuka Gamage and some of his photogprhas left)
“I turned to wildlife photography shortly after finishing school,” Sansuka said in an interview. “I have loved nature since childhood. Living so close to Sinharaja, I always wanted to tell the country and the world about its beauty. Many think it is just a forest full of leeches, but it is far more than that. It is a complex, beautiful ecosystem.”
He explains that the true richness of a rainforest cannot be grasped in a hurried visit. “You cannot see everything in a few hours. You need at least a day or two to really experience it,” he noted, adding that his aim is to encourage both local and foreign tourists to appreciate the site’s ecological and aesthetic value.
Remarkably, Sansuka undertakes this mission without earning a single rupee. All expenses — transport, meals and the fees of local guides — are borne personally. What he receives in return, he says, is “the happiness in my heart.”
Wildlife photography, he points out, is far from easy. It demands patience, physical endurance and long hours in unpredictable weather. Undeterred by rain, heat or fatigue, Sansuka spends his youth immersed in the wilderness, waiting quietly for the perfect shot.
In many ways, the work he carries out mirrors the promotional role expected of tourism authorities — yet he does so independently and at his own cost. His efforts have drawn a growing online audience through his Facebook page, where followers regularly engage with his images and videos of Sinharaja’s hidden wonders.
Sansuka credits his parents — his mother, Anushika Menu Kumari, and his father, Shyamaka Gamage — for their unwavering encouragement. He also acknowledges the support of local tour guide Gayaan and a network of friends who assist him in his fieldwork.
Looking ahead, the young photographer hopes to organise a wildlife photography exhibition dedicated to visitors to Sinharaja, further amplifying awareness of the forest’s global significance.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sinharaja remains one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured ecological assets. Through the quiet determination of youths like Sansuka Gamage, its story continues to reach beyond the forest canopy — to the wider world.
As he continues his solitary journeys into the green depths, one thing is clear: in the heart of Kalawana, a young man’s passion is helping a rainforest find its voice.
Text and Pix by Upendra Priyankara Jathungama
COPF final report on USD 2.5 mn cyber fraud recommends action against all responsible
The US$2.5 million loss incurred during Sri Lanka’s foreign debt repayment to Australia was a clear case of a cybercrime and theft, Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday.
Presenting the COPF final report on the cyber fraud, Dr. de Silva said the incident amounted to a serious financial crime and called for a comprehensive investigation, by law enforcement authorities, to identify and prosecute all those responsible.
The report revealed serious governance, procedural and operational failures that enabled the fraudulent transfer of public funds, while recommending sweeping reforms to strengthen cybersecurity, financial controls and public debt management systems.
According to the report, officials of the Treasury and the Central Bank bore responsibility for governance lapses that contributed to the failures. It also highlighted the fact that the Ministry of Finance was operating an outdated Microsoft Exchange Server after security support had ended, while basic safeguards, such as multi-factor authentication, had not been implemented.
The COPF said suspicious payment instructions linked to debt repayments involving India, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium had also been detected, preventing further losses. However, the US$ 2.5 million fraud materialised only in the repayment transaction involving Australia.
The report has noted that officials had failed to verify lender email domains, relied on unverified email communications and lacked adequate internal controls, allowing the fraud to continue for months.
Although the investigation uncovered system-wide weaknesses across several institutions, only four mid-level Finance Ministry officials had been suspended so far, the report said.
The COPF has recommended a special audit of the foreign debt repayment process, strengthened cybersecurity measures across state institutions, updated financial regulations and improvements to public debt management systems.
by Saman Indrajith
News
Opposition signs no-confidence motion against Justice Minister for dereliction of duty over Negombo Prison deaths
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, together with Opposition MPs, yesterday signed a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) in Parliament against Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.The move comes in response to the unrest at the Negombo Prison, where both prison officers and inmates were killed.
Opposition members said the Minister had failed to fulfill his responsibility and accountability regarding their safety.According to the Opposition group, the NCM seeks to hold the Minister directly accountable for lapses in ensuring protection within the prison system.
The Attorney General yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the government has decided to review the legality of agreements entered into by the previous administration to hand over the country’s electronic visa issuance operations to private companies.
Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, made the submission when the Supreme Court took up the fundamental rights petitions filed by former MPs President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, Patali Champika Ranawaka, and Rauff Hakeem, challenging the previous Cabinet’s decision to outsource the e-visa system.
The petitions were heard before a three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere.
The Additional Solicitor General informed court that the current Cabinet had appointed a subcommittee to examine the legality of the agreements with the private companies and requested time to report on its findings, stating that the review was still underway.
President’s Counsel Sumanthiran, appearing as one of the petitioners, told the court that although the present government had indicated its intention to cancel the transaction, the petitioners wished to proceed with the case.
He noted that members of the current Cabinet had been named as respondents in the petitions.The Supreme Court directed the petitioners to issue notice on the members of the current Cabinet, named as respondents, and fixed September 29 for further proceedings.
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Spain leave it late to book semifinal date with France
Showers will occur in the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
US$ 2.5 mn cyber heist exposes system failures
Opposition signs no-confidence motion against Justice Minister for dereliction of duty over Negombo Prison deaths
AG informs SC of e-visa agreement review
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