Published on SundayTimes on 25.08.2024 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/240825/news/the-worlds-fastest-bird-that-rules-the-skies-of-colombo-568588.html Ardent birdwatcher Priyanath Kotalawela often visits his favourite birding spot along the walking path of Kimbulawela in Thalawathugoda whenever he has some time. On August 17 he was on one such stroll when he spotted a falcon. Upon closer inspection, Mr. Kotalawela realized it was a Shaheen falcon—a subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon, known ...

Published on SundayTimes on 18.08.2024 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/240818/news/owl-saved-from-drowning-flies-away-after-tlc-567938.html While staying at a tourist bungalow near Wasgamuwa recently, IT professional Niroshan Jayasuriya stepped out of his room one morning around 7 a.m. when he noticed the caretaker trying to console something. On closer inspection, Mr. Jayasuriya saw that it was a little owl struggling in a pool of water trapped in a cement ...

Published in the Sunday Times on July 28, 2024: Sri Lanka’s First Albatross Sighting Thrills Birdwatchers. Lahiru: Daily observes seabirds in Mannar By Malaka Rodrigo Lahiru Walpita, an avid birdwatcher based in Mannar, spends his days combing the beaches in search of seabirds. On the morning of July 22, at around 5.45 a.m., something caught his attention; a large seabird ...

In the past, clouds of butterflies flying in one direction were a sight to behold. According to folklore, these butterflies were flying towards the holy mountain, Adam’s Peak (Sripada), to pay obeisance to Lord Buddha’s sacred footprint. This phenomenon gave rise to the commonly used name ‘Samanala Kanda’. Whether these butterflies were actually flying towards Adam’s Peak or simply performing ...

Published on Sunday Times on 14.07.2024: Fisherman Dies of Extensive Bleeding After Moralla Pierces His Neck in Freak Accident In a tragic incident earlier this month, a fisherman from Jaffna died when a fish pierced his neck. This incident occurred while two fishermen were out at sea in a small motorboat at night, according to J. Sudagaran, Assistant Director at ...

Published on Sunday Times on 05.05.2024: Birds That Find Foster Parents to Raise Their Kids During an early April visit to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, Dr. Ruwan Perera, a bird enthusiast, spotted a young Common Hawk Cuckoo perched on a branch. Capturing several photographs, he was surprised to see a Yellow-billed Babbler approach the young Hawk Cuckoo and feed ...

Published on Sunday Times on 07.04.2024: Newly Discovered Fireflies Stir Hopes of Other Species Fireflies are interesting insects as they produce a greenish light. While continuing their ongoing research on fireflies in Rammale Forest, a team of researchers from the University of Ruhuna noticed a few flying firefly species that looked different. In addition to fireflies, there were wingless alien-looking ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/231112/news/do-not-panic-but-be-aware-of-stonefish-when-walking-in-shallow-sea-538179.html Recent reports of unsuspecting swimmers being stung by Stonefish in Galle, have raised concerns. Stonefish are considered one of the most venomous fish in the sea. Senior lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Dr. Janaka Ruben, said the venom is not only painful, but more dangerously, a big dose could be fatal to humans. He said it was ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/231105/news/watch-out-for-exhausted-feathered-migrants-in-your-home-gardens-537692.html published on SundayTimes on 05.11.2023 This the season when our feathered winter visitors arrive in Sri Lanka, and ornithologists have urged the public to keep a lookout for them. October is usually the month when the majority of migratory birds arrive. However, some of them are exhausted after their long flight. The Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura), known as Avichchiyain ...

Published on SundayTimes on 29.10.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/231029/news/new-mushroom-species-found-in-home-gardens-and-university-537041.html The rain has become a hassle for most Sri Lankans these days, but keep an eye on your garden as these damp conditions could wake up sleeping mushroom beauties. “Sri Lanka has very good mushroom diversity, but as these are largely understudied, perhaps the mushroom in your garden too can be a species new ...

Published on SundayTimes on 04.06.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230604/news/step-in-to-your-home-garden-and-observe-the-birds-521712.html Connect with nature by stepping into one’s own home gardens, is the message from the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), as tomorrow (June 5) marks World Environment Day. “Most home gardens in Sri Lanka still harbour a lot of biodiversity, but we do not pay enough attention,” says FOGSL president Prof Nihal ...

Among the many dansal that were organised across the country to mark Vesakwas a special dansala held in Weheragampita, Matara, offering fresh kirala juice mostly unique to the southern part of the country. The Kirala fruit grows in the marshes and the drink made from it is known to be very refreshing. Though older generations are familiar with the taste, the present ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230402/news/if-you-see-a-fluffy-ball-of-feathers-fallen-somewhere-give-it-some-tlc-516056.html published on the SundayTimes on 02.04.2023 Monday, March 27, was the first day of a brand new school term for 5-A students of Sujatha Vidyalaya, in Matara and students rushed early to school But they were not the first to step into the freshly painted classroom. A pair of fluffy baby birds who were in a nest on a ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230326/news/sinharaja-jumbo-emerges-wildlife-officers-manage-to-avert-incidents-with-villagers-515451.html published on SundayTimes on 26.03.2023 ‘Panu kota’, an elephant in Sinharaja forest made an appearance last week close to villages in Neluwa. The elephant was first spotted on March 13 in Kosmulla before it started making its way through the villages in an attempt to make an annual migratory route. The appearance of the elephant saw wildlife officers of ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230319/news/turtle-boom-on-the-southern-coasts-514998.html Published on SundayTimes on 19.03.2023 This year, the southern coasts of Sri Lanka saw a resurgence of turtles coming to nest. The birth of rare leatherback turtles in a protected area of the Matara beach this week was the high point of this phenomenon. From a clutch of about 80 eggs, 45 baby leatherback hatchlings emerged and were released ...

Published on SundayTimes on 19.03.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230319/news/risks-from-crocs-higher-during-mating-season-514965.html Piladuwa is a hamlet in Matara close to where the famous poet ‘Gajaman Nona’ lived. Piladuwa ela flows through the village and crocodiles inhabit this stream. This stream links with the Nilwala River, so occasionally, oversized crocs have been observed. One such giant croc had been seen for several days and the villagers trapped ...

Benefits to be shared in a free and equitable manner Published on SundayTimes on 12.03.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230312/news/lanka-hails-historic-un-deal-to-protect-high-seas-resources-514390.html The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and each country is given the right to manage an area of oceans extending 200 nautical miles (about 370km) from the shore which is known as the ‘Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’. The ...

Published on SundayTimes on 05.03.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230305/news/after-three-days-lost-leopard-cub-reunites-with-mother-513527.html February 26 was just another  day in Yullifield Estate in Hatton, when a worker in the Erroll division stepped into the toilet in his small backyard. He got the shock of his life on seeing a leopard cub inside. The estate management informed the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWC) regional office of the find. ...

Published on SundayTimes on 05.02.2023 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230205/news/net-entangled-whale-shark-rescued-and-released-into-ocean-510430.html With the hope of getting a good catch, a group of fisherfolk gathered at Nawakkadu beach in Puttalam on Monday. They laid a large ma dela (seine fishing net) in the morning and began pulling on the ropes after some time. The ma dela felt heavier than the other days, and this brought smiles to their ...

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/221113/news/president-launches-climate-prosperity-plan-aiming-26-53-billion-usd-501661.html published on SundayTimes on 13.11.2022 Sri Lanka has reiterated its call for climate compensation pointing out that his country is one of the worst affected by rising emissions from the industrialised world. The call was made when President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ..