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Empowering Positive
Loris - Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka
Biodiversity Action Through
Awareness
Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka Volume 29. Issue 3
This publication is presented to you with the intention of revealing greater insights to Sri Lanka’s
rich biodiversity. Our earnest wish is that you may gain an even greater appreciation of the value of
our biological resources and understand the role you could play in conserving and protecting this
rich biodiversity.
A Corporate Social Responsibility
Initiative by
Volume 29. Issue 3
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The red slender loris (Loris tardigradus) Elusive and nocturnal, the red slender loris is endemic to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. The Loris magazine is named after this goggle-eyed primate to whom our rainforests is home. (Pic by Saman Gamage) ISSN: 0024-6514 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 1
Contents
3/ Message from sponsor 38/ Seagrasses: The engineers
of underwater ecosystems
4/ Editor’s note
44/ Interview: Our response to
8/ The 12 million tree the environment has to be
more prevention focused -
Mahaweli Project Jagath Gunawardana, environment lawyer
14/ Unveiling the living 46/ IUCN conservation outlook
treasures of Sri Lanka for Sinharaja: a significant
concern
21/ The algal balls of
Palatupana 54/ Birding in Mannar
26/ Temporal and altitudinal 60/ WNPS activities for 2021
variation of avifauna in
Belihuloya
34/ Phytoplankton diversity in
the Diyawannawa wetland
Mannar, the flamingo hotspot.
2 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3
Message from
Sponsor Human history is about arguments. The state,
conservationists, scientists, and citizens must come
together to decide the conservation blueprint for Sri
Lanka and commit to a long-term strategy. The time to
act is now. It is time to bring together all stakeholders
to agree on policy and use all our energy and resources
to implement it. We have come to a point of no return,
ecological consciousness and ecological literacy is a
must in acting against the insurmountable challenges
of global warming. Global warming impacts will
have multiplier consequences than the global health
pandemic. We might not be able to reverse the impact
of past actions taken over decades and fix them in
a year or two. But a strong policy framework and a
public-private partnership with the largest stakeholder;
It’s time for action… the government, is long overdue. We must leave aside
all our differences and ensure the formulation and
As the full force of the global health pandemic continues implementation of a strategic action plan that our future
to impact us, it reminds us that we all need to do more generations can continue to implement and improve on.
to protect nature and our natural world to maintain
equilibrium. While the whole world is falling apart, the At Nations Trust Bank we are pleased to be involved
isolated jungles, rivers and diverse ecosystems are with WNPS and support the conservation efforts of the
unifying , deprived of human intervention. There is a role society over the last five years. Our stakeholders and
for all of us, while people in decision-making positions teams are privileged to continue to support the activities
have to do more. of the Society and provide a full sponsorship for the
publication of Loris, Warana and Vaaranam magazines
The choices policy makers grapple with in nature and the Nations Trust WNPS monthly lecture series.
management is the wise use and preservation of These combined activities create awareness and provide
nature. The wise use approach aims to accommodate a platform to bring likeminded people together and foster
humanity’s continued use of nature as a resource for constructive dialogue to enhance the eco consciousness
farming, food, timber, mining, and other raw materials as and ecological literacy of our citizens.
well as its use for recreation. The idea of wise use is to
utilise resources for our current best interests while also We feel now is the time for WNPS to take the next step to
considering the interests of the humans of the future. formulate a national blueprint, co-create with state policy
For the preservationist, the goal is to protect pristine makers and set in motion a strategic action plan. Let us
nature and not to use it carefully or otherwise. From the remember that when we strive to be good and effective in
preservationist perspective, wild places should be allowed our negotiations on behalf of nature, we should above all
to develop on their own with as little interference from strive to be good ancestors.
humans as possible. The naturalness of the non-human
world is what is valued. Sri Lanka must decide her “You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside
balance between these two options as a long-term policy. of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment… So
breathe in and be aware of your body. Look deep into it
All stakeholders must decide and earmark the areas we and realize you are the Earth and your consciousness is
are going to subject to the sustainable, wise use of nature also the consciousness of the Earth.” Thich Nhat Hanh.
and what areas we are going to strictly preserve. This
must be done with a clear understanding of the value of
ecological systems and the value of species. Priyantha Talwatte
Director and Chief Executive Officer
Nations Trust Bank PLC.
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 3
Editor’s
Note
Ecocide the forest reserve as well as on its
periphery and of plans to build two
dense vegetation to prevent the
Vietcong from taking cover in it and
reservoirs. the results of course are history.
Man, the most evolved of the species,
Research has proven that Agent
has been violating the rules of Meanwhile, the International Union Orange is carcinogenic and exposure
cohabitation with its other species. for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in to it results in not only cancer but
its latest world heritage conservation also birth defects, heart disease
As Barbara Wood said ‘we have
outlook released in December 2020, and a multitude of other afflictions
forgotten how to be good guests, how
gave Sinharaja an assessment of which can linger. Its impact on the
to walk lightly on the Earth as other
‘significant concern’ which means ecology is equally ruinous. Once
creatures do’.
that the site’s conservation values are it’s devastating effects were proven,
Over the past months, threatened and/or are showing signs Galston lobbied the US government to
conservationists and concerned of deterioration. stop the use of Agent Orange.
citizens in Sri Lanka have been
Most of the land and forests which These days, there are moves that
raising the red flag about the
have been cleared are home to are underway to make ecocide an
destruction of the environment which
elephants, who more often than international crime by bringing
manifested in a series of protest
not is the keystone species in that it under the jurisdiction of the
marches all over the country.
ecosystem. Ousted from their habitat, International Criminal Court (ICC). If
Swathes of forest and other land elephants start entering nearby so, ecocide will become the ICC’s fifth
which are being cleared in the name villages and coming into conflict jurisdictional responsibility alongside
of development and crop cultivation with their inhabitants. Sri Lanka is genocide, crimes against humanity,
are putting ecosystems and local among the countries with the highest war crimes and crimes of aggression.
communities at peril. The list is number of elephant deaths from the Once ecocide becomes a crime in the
seemingly endless with incidents human elephant conflict. ICC, member states ratifying it will
of land clearance coming to light have to make provision for ecocide
To use a cliched phrase these are to be enacted through their domestic
regularly.
but the tip of the iceberg. The legislation. About ten countries
Farmers and villagers in Walsapugala unprecedented levels of threat to the including Vietnam already have
in the Hambantota district have environment has made ecocide, a national laws for ecocide.
been protesting for months in a bid word which was quite rare in the Sri
to gazette an elephant management Lankan lexicon, a buzzword these The group driving this move is Stop
reserve to protect themselves and days. Ecocide, an international NGO based
elephants. Acres of land on the banks in the Netherlands, whose exclusive
What is ecocide? An aggregate of objective is to make ecocide a global
of the Rambakan oya reserve in
its numerous definitions can be crime.
the Ampara district, including land
whittled down to identify ecocide
inside the forest reserve, have been
as the ‘destruction of the natural Proponents of ecocide, dubbed the
denuded. It deprived the indigenous
environment by deliberate or new super crime, don’t anticipate a
community in the area of some of
negligent human action’. cakewalk with their efforts to make it
the land they used to cultivate paddy.
The deforestation in the Dahiyagala a global crime. One hurdle they see
The American plant physiologist is getting political will because the
wildlife sanctuary in the Moneragala and bioethicist Arthur Galston is
district will have consequences for crime of ecocide will have an impact
recognized as being instrumental on a country’s economic expansion.
both elephants and the livelihoods for raising awareness about ecocide
of villagers. The Sinharaja forest Nevertheless, lobbyists are optimistic
after studying the destruction that even though it may take time,
reserve, a UNESCO world heritage wrought by Agent Orange in the
site, has its fair share of issues. There ecocide will eventually get into the
Vietnam war. The American military international and national statute
have been reports of a road being sprayed the herbicide to defoliate
built through it, deforestation inside books.
4 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3
JOURNAL OF THE WILDLIFE AND NATURE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA
OFFICE BEARERS
JUNE 2021
Executive Committee members
President Mr. Spencer Manuelpillai
Vice Presidents Ms. Tami Flamer Caldera
Mr. Graham Marshall
General Secretary Mr. Jehan CanagaRetna
Treasurer Mr. Niran Mahawatte
General Committee members
Dr. [Ms.] Nirmali De Silva Professor Lakdas D. Fernando
Ms. Caryll Tozer Miss. Harindi Palkumbura
Mr. Dilshan Hettiaratchi Miss. Zaineb Akbarally
Mr. Dev Wijewardane Dr. Hemantha Perera
Dr. Sampath Seneviratne Ms. Devika Rohana
Immediate Past President Mr. Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne
Editor - Loris Ms. Sarasi Wijeratne
Loris Editorial Committee Dr. Sampath Seneviratne
Ms. Arefa Tehsin
Mr. Rukshan Jayewardene
Editor - Warana Mr. Sanjaya Weerakkody
Warana/ Waranam Editorial Committee Dr. Sampath Seneviratne
Miss. Bhagya Nanayakkara
Auditors
M/s. Tudor V. Perera & Company,
Chartered Accountant,
296/20 Shanthi Mawatha, Kirulapona.
WILDLIFE & NATURE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA
#86, Rajamalwatte Road, Battaramulla
Tel: +94 (0) 11 288 7390 | Fax: +94 (0) 11 288 7664 | E-mail: wnps@sltnet.lk
www.wnpssl.org
https://www.facebook.com/wnpss1/ https://twitter.com/wnpssl
The Loris is the flagship journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS). It was first published in 1936 and since then, has been in print
continuously. A biannual journal, it is published in June and December.
The Editor invites members of the WNPS and the public to write articles to the Loris on matters related to biodiversity, natural history and nature
conservation. All articles will be fact- checked by the Loris editorial team. The writing style and aesthetics of the magazine will be the prerogative of the
Editor, who will make the final decision on the publication of an article.
The articles and views in the Loris are those of the authors and not of the WNPS.
The Society publishes articles in good faith, assuming they do not infringe copyright.
The Society reserves the right to re-produce any article in the Loris on other communication platforms for awareness raising and for its promotional
work.
@ 2021 Wildlife and Nature Protection Society
Front cover: A flock of gulls take flight from the shores of Pesalai. Pic by Sampath Seneviratne. Designed by Optima Designs (Pvt) Ltd.
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 5The endemic yellow-fronted barbet. (Pic by Indika Jayatissa) 6 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 7
CONSERVATION
The
12 million
tree Mahaweli
Project By Jayantha Jayewardene
W
e regularly see and hear slogans like
Make Sri Lanka Green, Conserve Our
Environment, Grow More Trees etc. All
these refer to planting trees and looking
after them until maturity. Unfortunately, these slogans
have remained slogans and have not been translated into
the development of green areas. There are many reasons
for this.
One reason is the lack of a vision of what the country
should be in terms of a good and healthy environment
for our future generations. Another is a lack of
understanding among our leaders, politicians and senior
officers in government about this important activity.
They not only do not understand but seem to not want to
understand. They think that environment protection is a
job and not a civic duty that we owe to the society we live
in.
One reason is the lack of a vision
of what the country should be
in terms of a good and healthy
environment for our future
generations.
8 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3With all the hype about going green, grow more trees etc surely one would think that some of this would have rubbed off on our leaders and policy makers. No, it has not rubbed off on them, but only left them cold to these ideas. An attempt by our current President to make Colombo a green city was successful, but nothing is happening now. If one wants to see a commitment to protect and nurture the environment one has to roll back the years to the Gamini Dissanayake era and the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Project which was implemented under his leadership in many districts in the country. A part of this project saw the planting of 12 million trees, planted mainly in the project areas and outside as well. The Mahaweli tree planting program One day in 1982 at a meeting of all the Mahaweli officials to review the progress of the Mahaweli program, Minister Dissanayake announced he wanted a program developed to systematically plant as many trees as possible in all the Mahaweli Project areas including Uda Walawe. He said he had spoken to Palitha Samarakoon, a planter, and that Palitha had agreed to help with this venture. Those present at this meeting were all in favour of this project. Gamini Dissanayake explained in detail what the proposed Project was about and how he wanted it implemented. Fortunately, the Minister had some top civil servants like Ivan Samarawickrema, Nanda Abeywickrema, D.G. Premchandra and Lalit Godamunne who set about formulating the proposed project. They were very capable men of stature who saw the big picture and were also constantly thinking out of the box. A division called the Forestry and Environment Unit was set up. Palitha Samarakoon was put in charge of this unit which was initially located in Galnewa of System H of the Mahaweli program. Each of the other project areas had sub- units located in Bakamuna (System G), Giranduukotte, (System C), Welikanda, (System B) Embilipitiya, (Uda Walawe), Tambuttegama and Nochchiyagama (both System H). A forestry officer was put in charge of each unit with a team of men to carry out the necessary labour work. The Mahaweli management system The management of each of the Mahaweli Project areas was headed by a resident project manager. He had deputy resident project managers for agriculture water management, community development and marketing. They all had the necessary support staff. LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 9
Each Project area was divided into blocks which consisted When we first went to the Project areas we found that
CONSERVATION | THE 12 MILLION TREE MAHAWELI PROJECT
of around 2,500 settler families. The block in turn was only trees indigenous to the dry zone were growing
divided into units of 250 families. A unit manager was there. There weren't many jak, breadfruit trees etc. It
in charge of each unit and he had an agriculture officer was a typical dry zone climate. However, with time the
to assist him. All these agriculture officers were closely growth of foliage, trees and plants, increased. A rising of
associated with the tree planting program. the water table in the Project areas with canals bringing
water and new reservoirs, helped to change the climate.
With this the climate in the Mahaweli areas changed to
like that of the intermediate zone. Now jak, breadfruit
etc. abound in these areas. In fact, in the Kalankuttiya
block of System H, there is an area of about 25 acres
planted with mahogany and jak. Now the settlers in that
area harvest and utilize the jak fruits. Unfortunately, the
invasive mahogany trees seem to be choking out the jak
trees.
Collecting seeds and other planting material for such
a large tree planting program was a very difficult task.
The seeds of many of the trees which grew in the jungle
had to be collected. These species produced their seeds
at different times of the year. Those living in the purana
(old) villages who have a lot of experience in the ways of
the jungle, helped us. We were led to trees which were
suitable to take seeds from. Some of these trees were
growing by themselves but in some places they were
Initial stages of the program growing in groves.
The first nursery was laid on the bund of the Kalawewa
reservoir. Later another nursery was set up on the banks The villagers told us the times of the year the seeds
of the Balaluwewa, which was the reservoir adjacent of these different species will be available. These are
to Kalawewa. As the tree planting project progressed, people who had lived in these jungles long before the
nurseries were set up in Tambuttegama, Girandurukotte Mahaweli Project started. Some of them also provided us
Dehiattakandiya, Welikanda, Aralaganwila, Bakumuna with seeds they collected. They were paid for the seeds.
and Suriyawewa. Each of the Mahaweli Project areas had All the labour employed for this tree planting program
a main nursery and smaller nurseries, as needed, in the were from the nearby villages. They automatically got a
block areas. training in nursery work and tree planting.
Initially, until the Mahaweli nurseries were functioning,
the plants were purchased from the Forest Department
nurseries. But these were limited in number. We also
engaged school children to collect seeds for us. The
children were paid for the seeds they brought. This
activity gave them a greater interest in the program.
The plants in the nurseries were looked after very
carefully to ensure only good plants were planted.
The nurseries gave only plants that had good growth
potential. The areas to be planted were prepared and good
sized holes were dug before the rains came. Sometimes
we had to water the area to be planted to soften the earth
so that the holes could be dug easily. Between 1982 to
1993 we planted over one million indigenous trees. The
plants were produced in four large nurseries.
10 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3Careful plans, including logistics, were made for planting was removed or died when the forest species grew. Ipil
as soon as the rains started. This was to enable the plant ipil also fixes nitrogen in the soil in which it grows.
to take full advantage of the rainy season.
A total of approximately 1,200 kilometers was planted.
We mobilized the assistance of school children to help in Any patches of unutilized bare land were taken over
the planting. However unlike in the other tree planting and planted with trees of the same species. However
programs, we did not have large groups of school sometimes two or three species were planted taking into
children. We had small groups of children whose planting account the size of the vacant block of land.
activity could be supervised by us effectively. Otherwise,
most plants that are put out die because the polythene When trees were planted by the roadside they were done
bag is not removed or the roots are damaged or the earth at 20 feet apart. If a second parallel row too was possible
which was in the polybag spilled outside the planting along some roads, these were also planted 20 feet from
hole. All these contributed to the failure of most large- the first row. We kept the rows parallel to each other as
scale tree planting projects. much as possible. When vacant patches of land were
planted, the planting distance was 15 feet by 15 feet. This
We also made sure that all the plants were watered after was to encourage a thick forest to grow.
the rains ceased. The watering of the plants was stopped
only when we felt that the plants could go through a dry You can never replant a forest to match the forest that
spell without water. Water bowsers were used to water was cut down. We can only do a plantation of trees.
the plants.
The World Bank gave the Sri Lankan government a loan
Initially when seeds germinate and saplings grow in the to implement the Mahaweli Project. The World Bank
jungle, they need a certain amount of shade under which Review Team, which came every six months to inspect
to grow. With the jungle species we planted, we also the progress of the project, continued to be impressed by
planted ipil ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) which was fast the steady progress made by the tree planting program
growing and offered the necessary shade at the initial in the Mahaweli areas.
stages to the forest species that we planted. The ipil ipil
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 11The following species of trees were grown in the Mahaweli avenues:
CONSERVATION | THE 12 MILLION TREE MAHAWELI PROJECT
Medicinal trees
1 Neem (Azadirachta indica). Sinhala: kohomba. Tamil: vembu.
2 Tamarind (Tamarindus indika). Sinhala: siyambala. Tamil: puli.
3 Indian beech (Pongamia pinnata). Sinhala: karanda. Tamil: punku.
4 Mee (Madhuca longifolia). Sinhala: mee. Tamil: iluppai.
5 Bulu (Terminalia bellirica). Sinhala: bulu. Tamil: thandri.
6 Aralu (Terminalia chebula). Sinhala: aralu. Tamil: kadukkai.
7 Nelli/Medicinal Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica). Sinhala: nelli.
8 Gammalu (Pterocarpus indicus). Sinhala: gammamalu. Tamil:venkai.
9 Indian privet (Vitex trifolia). Sinhala: nika. Tamil: mochhi.
Flowering trees
1 Pride of India (Lagerstromia speciose). Sinhala: murutha. Tamil:kadali.
2 Ehela (Cassia fistula). Sinhala: ehela. Tamil: kavani.
3 Flamboyant (Delonix regia). Sinhala: mal mara. Tamil: poo-vahai.
4 Tabebuia (Tabebuia rosea). Sinhala: robarosa.
5 Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia). Sinhala: jacaranda.
Trees for timber
1 Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna). Sinhala: kumbuk. Tamil: marutu.
2 Indian elm (Holopetelea integrifolia). Sinhala: goda- karalla. Tamil: velaylii.
3 Maila (Bauhinia recemosa). Sinhala: maila. Tamil: atti.
4 Hora (Dipterocarpus zeylanicus). Sinhala: hora.
5 Rain tree (Albizia saman). Sinhala: pare-mara.
6 Ebony (Diospyros ebenum). Sinhala: kaluwara.
7 Halmilla (Trichadenia zeylanica). Sinhala: halmilla.
8 Wa (Breynia retusa). Sinhala: wa.
9 Fishing rod tree (Pterospermum suberifolium). Sinhala: welan. Tamil: taddaemarum.
Fruit trees
1 Madan (Syzegiam cumini). Sinhala: madang. Tamil: naval.
2 Jak (Artocarpus heteropylles). Sinhala: kos. Tamil: pila.
3 Mango (Mangifera indica). Sinhala: amba. Tamil: manga.
4 Ceylon oak (Schleichera oleosa). Sinhala: kon. Tamil: kula.
5 Jam tree (Muntingia calabura). Sinhala: jam.
6 Fishing rod tree (Pterospermum suberifolium). Sinhala: welan. Tamil: taddaemarum.
Bio corridors
Due to many land use practices like settlement, development urbanization and agriculture, the fragmentation of
natural forests into smaller patches of habitat occurred. These forest patches become isolated fragmented ‘islands.’
This process has a detrimental effect on the overall health of the forests. Linear land use including roads, power
lines, and even hiking trails, bisect the intact habitat and can affect wildlife distribution, movement and ecosystem
functioning. This fragmentation tends to allow invasive species to invade natural forests. Such invasions can have
devastating effects on the natural forests.
12 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3An artist's impression of before and after a bio corridor is set up. However, by connecting those isolated forest patches with bio corridors using the limited reservation areas available along natural streams and roads within both urban & agriculture landscapes, including Mahaweli areas, those forest patches can be biologically strengthened to overcome at least in part, the negative effects of isolation. In Sri Lanka, the concept of a bio corridor was introduced in 1988 under the Mahaweli Project starting in System B. They are similar to highways which connect main cities. In this case bio corridors were introduced as “bio highways” connecting fragmented forest patches. At the same time those corridors were improved as cycle tracks especially for local farmers to get to their fields. This was started when initially farmers used bicycles to get to their fields. Later when the farmers prospered they started using motorcycles for their travel. Unfortunately, with the current road expansion programs, some of the trees have been removed from along the roadside. Development is essential, but if we can at least keep the trees on one side of the road and broaden the road on the other side, then we can protect some trees for a greener future. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Palitha Samarakoon, Head of the Mahaweli Forestry & Environment Unit, for his input to this paper. His tremendous effort in the Mahaweli tree planting program is reflected in the very successful tree planting program that was concluded. I do not think this could have been achieved by many others. I also would like to thank Mahinda Panapitya, former Deputy Project Manager, Mahaweli, for his input and most of the photographs that illustrate this article. My grateful thanks are also due to Sudath Abeysinghe for collecting material for this article and for reading through this manuscript many times. LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 13
RESEARCH
A CAT CHAT WORTH ATTENDING
UNVEILING THE LIVING
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
TREASURES OF
SRI LANKA
A report on the new species discoveries
during the year 2020
By Devaka K. Weerakoon1, 2 & Amila P. Sumanapala1, 3
E
ven though Sri Lanka is a small island about these new species which have been discovered
its biodiversity is significantly important by many dedicated scientists, to inspire passionate
both on a regional and global scale. Sri young scientists and to stimulate new research studies.
Lanka and the Western Ghats of India We also hope that this information will underscore the
are listed as one of the 36 biodiversity urgent need to safeguard the ecological integrity of
hotspots of the world1. However, only ecosystems, their species, and the immeasurable value
a fraction of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is of the ecological goods and services received from
known to science today. For instance, higher plants and biodiversity. The compilers also hope that this report will
vertebrates are the only groups that have been studied help build greater appreciation among the general public,
in sufficient detail to date. Lower plants and invertebrates decision makers and conservationists in general of the
remain largely unexplored except for a few selected importance of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and the need for us
groups such as butterflies, dragonflies, land snails, and to protect and nurture it for future generations.
algae. Even the vertebrates and for that matter higher
plants are not completely listed. During the last two Methodology
decades alone a large number of new species have been This report was compiled using the information reported
described. One of the biggest drawbacks encountered in peer reviewed journals that were published in 2020
today in conserving the biodiversity of Sri Lanka is which described new species of plants and animals in
the lack of knowledge about what we actually have. Sri Lanka. This report will also provide an update on
During the last four decades an increasing number of major taxonomic revisions as well as changes in the
scientific discoveries have managed to gradually unveil distribution status of Sri Lankan species. At the end
the biodiversity in Sri Lanka. Creating awareness about of this report an updated set of statistics pertaining to
these new discoveries is key to supporting ongoing Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is presented. It was based on
conservation efforts. Therefore this report is compiled to updating data available up to December 2019 with the
create awareness among the conservation community new discoveries reported in 2020.
14 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3Species new to Sri Lanka one species of scorpion (Srilankametrus pococki
During the year 2020, 37 new species were recorded in from Ritigala15); one species of mayfly (Indoganodes
Sri Lanka including 12 species of vertebrates, 24 species tschertoprudi from Marathenna16); two species of
of invertebrates and one species of orchid. stalk-eyed flies (Teleopsis neglecta from Pundaluoya
and Teleopsis sorora from Udawattakale17); four
The vertebrates recorded include, three species of species of water mites [Piona srilankana, Neumania
fish Devario memorialis (Aranayake Devario from edytae, Krendowskia (Krendowskiella) srilankana,
Aranayake)2 (Figure 1), Laubuka hema ( from Nilgala)37 Mideopsis ewelinae18]; five species of beetles [(Clidicus
and Rasbora adisi (from Kotagama)3, four species of minilankanus from Salgala19), (Neoserica dharmapriyai
snakes [Rhinophis mendisi (Mendis’s shieldtail from from Aranayake, Selaserica athukoralai and Maladera
Balangoda)4, Rhinophis gunasekarai (Gunasekara’s galdaththana from the Knuckles Range, Maladera
shieldtail from Knuckles)5, Dryocalamus chithrasekarai cervicornis from Alic Land Estate, Kegalle20)];two
(Chithrasekara’s bridle snake from Peak Wilderness)6 and species of Pholcid spiders (Wanniyala badulla and
Dendrelaphis wickrorum (Wickramasinghe’s bronze- Wanniyala batatota21); seven new species of jumping
back from Pundalu Oya)7]; three species of skinks spiders (Habrocestum liptoni, Stenaelurillus ilesai
[Lankascincus merrill (Merrill’s Lanka-skink from and Tamigalesus fabus22), (Synagelides hortonensis,
Rakwana hills)8, Lankascincus sameerai (Sameera’s Synagelides lakmalii, Synagelides rosalindae and
Lanka-skink from Morningside)9, Eutropis resetarii Synagelides orlandoi) where the genus Synagelides was
(Resetar’s Skink from Agarapatana)10]; one species of recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka23.
lizard Ceratophora ukuwelai (Ukuwela’s rough-horn lizard
(Figure 2) from Salgala)11; one species of gecko Cnemaspis A single species of orchid, Gastrodia gunatillekeorum
manoae (Mano’s day-gecko from Pilikuttuwa)12. (Figure 4) was recorded from Sinharaja24.
The invertebrates recorded include, one species Among the new species described invertebrates
of jellyfish (Carybdea wayamba13); one species of outnumber vertebrates which is a healthy development
grasshopper (Cladonotus bhaskari from Sinharaja14); as local taxonomists place a greater emphasis on
Figure 1: Arnayake Devario (Pic by: Hiranya Sudasinghe).
Figure 2: Ukuwela’s rough-horn lizard. (Pic by: Sanjaya Figure 4: Orchid species. Gastrodia gunatillekeorum. (Pic
Bandara). by: Imaduwa Priyadarshana).
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 15describing vertebrates. This could be ascribed to lack and five species of aquatic mites18. The records of the
RESEARCH | UNVEILING THE LIVING TREASURES OF SRI LANKA
of expertise and lack of access to museums that play sleeper shark Centroscymnus owstonii, also represents
an important role in taxonomic work as evidenced by the first record of the family Somniosidae in Sri Lanka25.
the description of the stalk-eyed fly Teleopsis neglecta
(Figure 3) based on a specimen that was presumably The new species records of flora reported in 2020 include
collected over a century ago in 1890 and is housed in one species of seagrass (Halophila major)31 and six
the Natural History Museum in London. It highlights the species of liverworts [Lejeunea sordida, Leptolejeunea
importance of properly curated collections for taxonomic subdentata, Spruceanthus polymorphus, Frullania
work. This species however, is commonly found in the udarii, Heteroscyphus turgidus and Fuscocephaloziopsis
Sinharaja World Heritage Forest Reserve. lunulifolia32]. Further, the genus Fuscocephaloziopsis
is recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka. The addition
The distribution of the type localities of the newly of these six new records increases the total number of
described species indicate that a majority of the leafy liverwort species in Sri Lanka from 290 to 296 and
discoveries have been made from the wet zone, the number of genera from 62 to 63. A species of fungus
especially from the montane zone of the country. Only a named Helvella crispa, was also reported from the
couple of invertebrate discoveries have been made from country for the first time in the year 202033.
material collected from the dry zone and only one new
species has been described from the marine ecosystems Changes in distribution status
of the country (Figure 5) which once a gain shows lack Several taxonomic studies conducted locally and
of attention to marine species compared to terrestrial regionally have led to changes in the distribution status
species. of several species of Sri Lankan taxa. The work on vine
snakes of the genus Ahaetulla in India has indicated
In addition to these, several species assumed to be new that the two Sri Lankan representatives of the genus
to science were also reported in 2020 including several
elasmobranch species25 and a Plover. Further taxonomic
work and upcoming publications will establish their
taxonomic position in the future.
Species recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka
During the year 2020, many new records for Sri Lanka
have been documented including five species of birds
[European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus26, red-backed
shrike Lanius collurio, black-browed reed-warbler
Acrocephalus bistrigiceps, red-naped ibis Pseudibis
papillosa, northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (Figure
6)27, 28], two species of ants (Liponera longitarsus29 and
Tetraponera modesta30), three species of elasmobranch
fish (Maculabatis arabica, Acroteriobatus variegatus, and
Centroscymnus owstonii25), three species of jellyfish13
Figure 3: Stalk-eyed fly. (Pic by: Amila Sumanapala). Figure 5: Distribution of type localities of new species
discoveries made in 2020 from Sri Lanka. (Red:
vertebrates, yellow: invertebrates, blue: plants).
16 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3(green vine snake A. nasuta and brown vine snake aquarium hybrid between P. pardalis and P. disjunctivus39.
A. pulverulenta) are endemic species to Sri Lanka34. The recent taxonomic work on genus Dendrelaphis
Further, Channa gachua (brown snakehead) which was established that the recently described species Sinharaja
previously considered a native species to Sri Lanka, has bronzeback (Dendrelaphis sinharajensis) is a synonym of
been declared an endemic species35. Also, Systomus Dendrelaphis effrenis7.
sarana is no longer considered an endemic species as it
is present in both Sri Lanka and India36. The Boulenger’s Invasive alien species recorded for the first time in Sri
bronzeback (Dendrelaphis bifrenalis), previously Lanka
considered to have been distributed in all climatic The list of ants in Sri Lanka was updated in 2020 during
zones of Sri Lanka, is now considered a species which is which 18 non-native species of ants were identified even
restricted to the dry and intermediate zones7. though it has not been clearly established whether these
species are invasive in Sri Lanka. However, the authors
Major changes in nomenclature have stressed the need for close monitoring of these
The taxonomic work published in the year 2020 resolved species to establish whether they display invasiveness as
several long-standing taxonomic discrepancies in Sri some of these species have been considered invasive in
Lankan biodiversity. Several major taxonomic revisions other regions of the world29.
were reported for the ichthyofauna. Sudasinghe et al.
(2020) revised the taxonomy of Sri Lanka’s giant danios Updated biodiversity inventory for Sri Lanka
(Devario) and concluded that D. annnatalie and D. udeni The most recent update on the biodiversity of Sri Lanka
are synonyms of D. micronema2. It was also established was carried out during the preparation of the 6th National
that Systomus spilurus and S. timbiri, once considered Report of the Convention on Biological Diversity which
distinct endemic species, are synonyms of S. sarana and resulted in the compilation of the biodiversity profile40 of
only represent two clades of the latter36. The revision Sri Lanka. This report provided an updated list of species
of Sri Lankan Laubuka showed that L. ruhuna and L. up to the end of December 2018. However, updating the
insularis previously considered distinct species, to be biodiversity inventory should be a continuous process
synonyms of L. varuna and L. lankensis37. The Sri Lankan as evidenced by the discovery of 54 new species from
snakehead previously identified as Channa gachua was Sri Lanka in 201941, 42. This included 26 spiders, (14 cellar
recognized as an endemic species, Channa kelaartii35. spiders, seven jumping spiders, four crab spiders and a
Dawkinsia singhala, previously considered an endemic tarantula), one scorpion species, five mites and ticks, 14
species, has been declared a synonym of Dawkinsia reptiles (13 day geckos belonging to genus Cnemaspis
filementosa, which is also present in India38. The exotic and one species of snake), one species of shrub frog, one
sailfin catfishes in the genus Pterygoplichthys, earlier species of orchid and six species of lichens. The table
thought to represent two different species (P. pardalis and below (Table 1) provides the updated statistics on selected
P. disjunctus), have been declared a single reproducing taxa of biodiversity of Sri Lanka up to December 2020
entity which can be recognized either as P. pardalis or an including the new discoveries that were reported in 2020.
Figure 6: Northern wheatear. (Pic by: Ruvinda de Mel).
LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 17Table 1: Updated statistics on biodiversity of Sri Lanka up to December 2020
RESEARCH | UNVEILING THE LIVING TREASURES OF SRI LANKA
Taxa 6th NR 2019 2020
Species Endemics Species Endemics Species Endemics
Terrestrial mammals* 106 19 106 19 106 19
Marine mammals 29 0 29 0 29 0
Birds 510 33 515 34
Reptiles* 220 135 234 149 243 158
Amphibians 119 106 120 107 120 107
Freshwater fish* 128 61 126 61 124 58
Brackishwater and marine 1384 0 1387 0 1387 0
fish
Butterflies* 248 31 248 31 248 31
Odonata 130 58 130 58 130 58
Land snails* 253 205 253 205 253 205
Spiders 563 275 589 301 599 311
Scorpions* 19 14 20 15 21 16
Millipedes 103 82 103 82 103 82
Freshwater crabs 51 50 51 50 51 50
Marine crabs 369 0 369 0 369 0
Termites* 72 18 72 18 72 18
Ants* 229 33 229 33 301** 68**
Bees 159 22 159 22 159 22
Thrips 103 0 103 0 103 0
Mayflies 51 41 52 42
Echinoids 76 1 76 1 76 1
Flowering plants 3116 901 3118 903 3120 904
Mosses 575 575
Pteridophytes and lycophytes 390+ 47 390+ 47 390+ 47
Leafy liverworts 290 296
* Includes exotic species as well
** Dias et al. 2020 reports 341 species and 82 endemics taking both species and subspecies into account. Current
table has only considered the number of species.
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4: 5–19
23. Kanesharatnam, N and Benjamin, SP (2021). First record of Synagelides Strand, 1906 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Sri Lanka:
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24. Bandara, C, Priyankara, T, Atthanagoda, AG, Lakkana, T, Ediriweera, S and Kuma P (2020). Gastrodia gunatillekeorum
(Gastrodieae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from a lowland rainforest of Sri Lanka. Phytotaxa, 436(1): 55-62.
25. Fernando, D, Bown, RMK, Tanna, A, Gobiraj, R, Ralicki, H, Jockusch, EL, Ebert, DA, Jensen, K and Caira, JN (2020). New insights
into the identities of the elasmobranch fauna of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa 4585 (2): 201–238
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Formicidae) of Sri Lanka: a taxonomic research summary and updated checklist. ZooKeys 967: 1–142.
30. Dias, RKS, Udayakantha, WS, Thotagamuwa, A and Akbar, SA (2020). Tetraponera modesta, a new pseudomyrmecine ant
record (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for Sri Lanka. Українська ентомофауністика 11(2): 23–26
31. Liu, SYV, Kumara TP and Hsu, C-H (2020). Genetic identification and hybridization in the seagrass genus Halophila
(Hydrocharitaceae) in Sri Lankan waters. PeerJ 8: e10027. 16pp.
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36. Sudasinghe, H, Pethiyagoda, R, Raghavan, R, Dahanukar, N, Rüber, L and Meegaskumbura, M (2020). Diversity, phylogeny and
biogeography of Systomus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) in Sri Lanka. Zoologica Scripta 49(6): 710-731.
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39. Abesinghe, A, Sudasinghe, H Amarasinghe, A, Fareed, F, Senavirathna, T and Meegaskumbura, M (2020). The identity of the
exotic Pterygoplichthys sailfin catfishes in Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Loricariidae). Zootaxa 4852(1): 145–150.
40. MoMD&E (2019). Biodiversity Profile - Sri Lanka, Sixth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Biodiversity
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41. Sumanapala, AP (2019). 2019: The year Sri Lanka’s stunning new species came to light (commentary). Mongabay. https://
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42. Priyadharshana, TS, Atthanagoda, AG, Wijewardhane, IH, Siriweera, KS, Aberathna, N and Kumar, P (2019). Pteroceras
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1
Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo, Colombo 3
2
devakaw@gmail.com, 3 apsumanapala@gmail.com
20 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3RESEARCH The algal balls of Palatupana Text and pics by Malik Fernando In the other parts of the lewaya which are exposed to stronger onshore wind, the balls form rafts along the shore. LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 21
RESEARCH | THE ALGAL BALLS OF PALATUPANA
The term ‘algal ball’ refers to and from North America. Historical
spherical aggregations of algae records show that natural occurrence
(seaweeds). They usually lie on the of this alga in ball form is declining
bottom of a water body but may worldwide (Boedeker et al, 2010). The
come up to the surface when made alga that forms lake balls in these
buoyant with gases trapped within freshwater lakes is Aegagropila
the ball—the result of photosynthesis. linnaei Kützing (= Cladophora
aegagropila (L.)Trevisan)—the same
During a walk while staying in the species described from the sea
WNPS bungalow in Palatupana I in Mandaitivu in 1962 under the
found algal balls in the brackish synonymised name and which
water of the Palatupana lewaya also occurs in the salty water of the
(lagoon) at Kotuwemodera near Palatupana lewaya (Fig. 2). Bryant
Kirinda in October of 2001. & Irvine, writing in the newsletter
Examination of a collected specimen of the Linnean Society of London in
suggested that the algal species 2016 point out that other plants, like
belonged to the genus Cladophora, the seagrass Posidonia (not present
probably C. aegagropila from in Sri Lanka) can also form plant
Mandaitivu in Jaffna which had balls, as well as certain calcified red
been described by Durairatnam algae that form spherical rhodoliths
& Ragunathamuthaliar in 1962 The lewaya view from the western
on the ocean floor. These unattached,
(drawing Fig. 1). The genus bank where the algal balls were
free-living forms are found in both
Cladophora occurs in both fresh located.
shallow and deep water in Sri Lanka.
and salt water. They attach on hard
(Left) Looking north. (Right) Looking
substrates or are free-living with The seaweed A. linnaei is reported to
south to the sand dune across the
many species present in Sri Lanka. occur in many forms (Guiry & Guiry,
outlet.
The Jaffna collections were possibly 2021) and it is very likely that the
attached, and not free-living balls. Palatupana algal balls are indeed
this species. But even otherwise,
Many years later I found references the occurrence of algal balls in Sri
to Marimo – the algal balls of Japan, Lanka is noteworthy, and would be
also termed ‘moss balls’ and ‘lake a rare sight for visitors to the WNPS
balls’ that are now commercially bungalow.
available as pets, for home aquaria
(see Marimo moss ball care). A large extent of the Palatupana
maha lewaya has been converted
Lake balls are so-called because they into salterns. The Society bungalow
are known to occur in freshwater is situated to the east of a part of the Galaxaura sp. forming free-living
lakes in many countries. The best remaining lewaya—coloured sky blue balls on the sea floor in Kattankudy.
known are those from Lake Akan, in the map. Years ago, the lewaya
in Japan, where they are considered opened to the sea, but now the
a national treasure. They are also outlet is closed by a sand dune and
known to come from lakes in a the water for the salterns is being
few northern European countries, pumped in.
22 LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3Algal balls form a single layer on the sandy bottom of the lewaya. They are dark green in colour. Trapped gases make the balls bob to the surface and drift to the bank under the influence of wind and surface ripples, where they take on a yellowish colour (bottom left). This water body is now much less in extent than it was in 2001 due to an increase in the number of salterns. Nevertheless, in early April 2021 I was able to find algal balls on the western shore of this water body which is approachable by car. The map shows a much larger water body to the west of the salterns which I have not explored. We have something unique in the country that deserves further study. This find needs further research to confirm the identity of the species. Aegagropila linnaei is considered an endangered species in many countries ranging from Iceland and the United Kingdom to Russia and Japan where a population decline has been recorded, and extinctions have been seen in others (Tsutsui et al, 2015). The Sri Lanka plant described here may even be another species of Cladophora, a large genus with 197 taxonomically accepted species listed in AlgaeBase (Guiry & Guiry, 2021). Tsutsui LORIS VOL - 29 ISSUE 3 23
RESEARCH | THE ALGAL BALLS OF PALATUPANA
et al, 2015 report the first occurrence of Cladophora
socialis Kützing forming floating balls in a “salt field References
reservoir in Central Thailand.” This species was reported
Boedeker, C., Eggert, A., Immers, A., Smets, E., 2010.
from Sri Lanka for the first time in 2009 by Coppejans
Global Decline of and Threats to Aegagropila
et al, 2009 growing epiphytically on a red alga in an
linnaei, with Special Reference to the Lake Ball
intertidal rock pool. They point to its similarity with C.
Habit, BioScience, Volume 60, Issue 3, March 2010,
coelothrix Kützing which “is more frequent along the Sri
Pages 187–198. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1525/
Lanka shores”. The identification of Cladophora species
bio.2010.60.3.5
by morphological characters alone is difficult.
Bryant, J. & Irvine, L., 2016. Marimo, Cladophora,
What other ball forming algae do we have in Sri Lanka?
Posidonia and Other Plant Balls, The Linnean, 32(2):
Reports suggest that at least 18 green, 11 brown and
11-14.
25 red algae form similar aggregations. Besides the
rhodoliths formed by calcified red algae, another red Coppejans, E., Leliaert, F., Dargent, O., Gunasekara,
algal species forming balls has been encountered in Sri R. and De Clerck, O. 2009. Sri Lankan Seaweeds,
Lanka by the author. Methodologies and field guide to the dominant
species, ABC Taxa, Vol. 9, Belgian Development
Acknowledgements: Mahina Bongso and Mahesh
Corporation.
Wanigasooriya are thanked for helping in the search for
the Palatupana algal balls. Durairatnam, M. & Ragunathamuthaliar, V. 1976.
Ecological study of marine algae on the littoral and
sublittoral zone of Mandativu, Journal of the Marine
Biological Association of India 15: 652-657, 3 tables.
Guiry, G.M. in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2021.
AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication,
National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.
algaebase.org; searched on 01 May 2021.
Kurogi, M., 1980. Lake Ball “Marimo” in Lake Akan.
Japanese Journal of Phycology 28: 168–169
Marimo Moss Ball Care: How To Grow And Care For
Marimo Moss available at: https://pistilsnursery.
com/blogs/journal/marimo-moss-ball-care
Silva, P.C., Basson, P.W. and Moe, R.L., 1996. Catalogue
of the Benthic Marine Algae of the Indian Ocean.
University of California Publications in Botany, Vol.
79. University of California Press.
Togashi, T., Sasaki, H. & Yoshimura, J., 2014. A
Two rhodoliths from Sri Lanka: (left) Clappenburg Bay, geometrical approach explains Lake Ball (Marimo)
Trincomalee, 1 m deep amongst rocks. (right) Negombo, formations in the green alga, Aegagropila linnaei,
sand bottom, 20 m. (Pic by Saman Liyanage) Scientific Reports 4, 03761: 1-5, 4 figs. Available at:
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep03761
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