Archive
Episode 34 – Anawilundawa Sanctuary
How Anavilundawa became a Ramsar Wetland In the year 2001, we proposed to make the Anawilundawa Sanctuary, a Ramsa Wetland. The RAMSA declaration aims to safeguard wetland ecosystems in a variety of ways. The only Ramsar wetland in Sri Lanka was Bundala Wetland till 1991. Other than that, no other wetland was included on the […]
Ishara
Episode 33 – Senanayake Samudraya Sanctuary
Starting of the Sri Lanka’s first wildlife boat service I joined the Wildlife Department on June 3, 1996, as a Class 3 Wildlife Ranger. At first, I was in charge of the Kataragama site for about 6 months, and then in January 1997, I was appointed as the in charge of the Meegala site on […]
Ishara
Episode 32 – Horowpothana National Park
The first elephant census in Sri Lanka While there have been several regional studies about the number of wild elephants residing in Sri Lanka, there has never been an island-wide elephant census covering the whole island. Thus, it was decided to carry out such a census in August 2011. I began this survey shortly as […]
Ishara
Episode 31 – Hikkaduwa Marine National Park
How Hikkaduwa Sanctuary became a National Park Hikkaduwa area is declared originally as a sanctuary. Then it was declared as a nature reserve and followed as a National Park. Hikkaduwa National Park was established as a full Marine National Park in 2002. Before 1998, Hikkaduwa had more than 180 coral species belonging to 60 Genus. […]
Ishara
Episode 30 – Ussangoda National Park
Ussangoda forest to become a National Park In 2006, I was transferred to the Kalamatiya Beat Office. The Ussangoda area was close to the Kalamatia Beat Office. The Ussangoda area was conserved by the Department of Archaeology. The Department Forest Conservation has conserved around the reserve as a buffer zone. Ussangoda is located on the...
Ishara
Episode 29 – Adam’s Bridge Marine National Park
Seeing the destruction of rare animals cannot be forgotten In January 2020, I started working at Adam’s Bridge National Marine Park. It was my first assignment as a wildlife Ranger. Thalaimannar was the island’s southernmost point, and there are roughly 17 islands between there and Rameswaran in India. The eight islands that are...
Ishara
Episode 28 – Sigiriya Sanctuary
Sigiriya provides a model of reconciliation I assumed duties in Sigiriya Sanctuary as a Beat Officer in 2016. As a tourism area tourist are abundant in Sigiriya. There were officials in charge of various tasks in this area, but there was no connection between them. There was no relationship between the officers of our Department and […]
Ishara
Episode 27 – Lahugala Kitulana National Park
A new beginning In the year 2002, I worked in Kitulana National Park in Lahugala. I served as a Park Warden in charge of this park, the Kumana and Panama parks. All these parks were closer to each other in the Eastern Province. At the end of 2002, the then government signed a peace accord […]
Ishara
Episode 26 – Horagolla National Park
The crocodile encounter I served as the Park Warden at Horagolla National Park from 2017 to 2021. Our main duties there included providing amenities for visitors, bringing and caring for orphaned cubs and adults, sending the animals to the Atthidia treatment center if they needed to be kept longer, or releasing them back into the […]
Ishara
Episode 25 – Galvezland National Park
A National Park for the Visitors to Small England In the year 2007, it was decided to open the ‘Galves Land National Park’ for the public. At that time, ‘Galves Land’ was a Reserve under the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Although smaller in extent, this area is rich in animals and plants the department as […]
Ishara