Newly introduced larva getting used to urban areas
A newly introduced larvae to control dengue has been released to the environment and they are getting used to the urban areas, Director of the Entomology and Parasitology Unit of the Medical Research Institute (MRI) Dr. Sagarika Samarasinghe told Daily Mirror yesterday.
She said, this larva called Toxorhynchites splendens was identified in 1911 in the world and used by different countries to control the spread of dengue with different success rates.
“The group headed by me started establishing the Toxorhynchites splendens colony in 2016. This is a tough research and therefore we can’t do it overnight. We have released these larvae to the environment several times without publicizing it, and this is the end result of the hard work and research conducted at the Medical Research Institute (MRI),” the doctor said.
Toxorhynchites splendens is about 19mm long and has a bluish-white metallic colour with a lifespan of 3 months. They mainly suck honey and plant juice. These larvae do not suck blood as their Proboscis has bent 90 degrees backwards. Therefore, no harm would be caused to humans. Their larva stage lasts for 5 weeks and this may exceed in cold climates.
These species are much bigger than the ordinary mosquitoes and are also called “elephant mosquito” or “mosquito eater”. It is crucial to mention that these larvae are not herbivorous but carnivorous. These mosquitoes lay their eggs while flying. Hence, they can lay their eggs in places where we cannot reach and can consume dengue larvae in the hidden places,” she said.
Dr. Samarasinghe categorically emphasized not to depend on this method alone as it will not be sufficient to wholly eliminate the dengue (Sheain Fernandopulle)
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Newly-introduced-larva-getting-used-to-urban-areas-132281.html
SC halts garbage dumping in Muthurajawela
The Supreme Court today issued an injunction order prohibiting the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) from disposing garbage in Muthurajawela till July 20.
A petition filed by several residents in the area seeking a court order against the disposal of garbage at the Muthurajawela site was taken up before a judge bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasad Dep and Justice Upali Abeyratne.
The petition states that waste collected from Colombo is being disposed in Muthurajawela despite the area being named an Environmental Conservation Zone and that this has resulted in several environmental and health issues surfacing.
The attorney appearing on behalf of the Municipal Commissioner of the CMC informed the court that waste disposal at the site had been halted since last evening. He also pointed out that the site in question does not belong to the Environmental Conservation Zone.
The court inquired as to why a sustainable method of waste disposal in Colombo has not been established despite it being a longstanding issue.
In response to this, the attorney stated that efforts are underway to establish suitable and scientific processes for this and that certain waste management programmes had to be scrapped due to objections from the public.
Source – 05/07/2017, Ada Derana, See more at – http://www.adaderana.lk/news/41731/sc-halts-garbage-dumping-in-muthurajawela
Two nabbed over an illegal racket of sea cucumbers and shark fins
Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command have taken into custody two suspects engaged in an illegal racket of sea cucumbers and shark fins.
The operation was launched by the Navy in collaboration with Vankalai Police. The arrest was made this morning on an intelligence tip-off to the Navy.
The racketeers were apprehended while they were attempting to smuggle these stocks concealed in 20 packages in a dinghy. Among the stocks were 553 kg of shark fins and 317 kg of sea cucumbers.
The apprehended suspects, sea cucumbers, shark fins and the dinghy were handed over to the Jaffna Customs Office for further investigations.
Source – 04/07/2017, ITN , See more at – https://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/two-nabbed-over-an-illegal-racket-of-sea-cucumbers-and-shark-fins/
Wildlife officials rescue a baby elephant
Wildlife officers rescue a baby elephant that had fallen into a hole in the forest area near the Katuwewa in Hambantota. Pix By – Rahul Samantha
Source- 05/07/2017, Times Online, SEE More at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1027095/wildlife-officials-rescue-a-baby-elephant
Timber Racket: one suspect arrested
A suspect has been taken into custody for illegally transporting a stock of Kumbuk timber. The arrest was made in the Uda Walawe area. The Police said that the timber was being transported from Wellawaya to Colombo.
The raid had been carried out a group of officers of the Uda Walawe Police who were engaged in night patrol.
Value of the stock of timber was reported to be over one million rupees.
The stock of timber was covered with jak fruits. The arrested suspect is a resident of Wellawaya.
Source – 03/07/2017, ITN News, See more at – https://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/timber-racket-one-suspect-arrested/
SLN produces ultra-purified water for dialysis
The UPW plant
An Ultra-Purified Water (UPW) plant produced by the Sri Lanka Navy’s (SLN) Research and Development (R&D) Unit was installed at the Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Unit of the Kandy Teaching Hospital on Friday, the SLN said. The facility can produce 10 tons of UPW per day, required for the dialysis process.
The SLN’s R&D Unit has produced this system utilizing their technological innovations and expertise. The market price of this UPW plant is estimated at Rs 13 million, while SLN’s R&D Unit had produced this unit at relatively low cost of only Rs 1.7 million. The purified water processed through this unit has been awarded the Association of Advanced Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) certification, and has received higher recognition from the Kidney specialists of the Kandy Teaching Hospital .
Empowering the national programme of Kidney Disease Prevention, the SLN is determined to install similar facilities at every hospital that possesses dialysis units. Up to now, the SLN has installed a total of 223 Reverse Osmosis plants throughout the country, and facilitates the civilian population with safe drinking water.
Source – 02/07/2017, Sunday Times, SEE more at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170702/news/sln-produces-ultra-purified-water-for-dialysis-248431.html
Wildlife officers to be deployed at Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium to keep elephants away
The Wildlife Department will deploy teams of officers to prevent wild elephants from invading the Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium when Sri Lanka hosts Zimbabwe for a series of one-day internationals at the Hambantota stadium.
Experts will be on hand for all three ODI games at the 35,000-capacity stadium, which is next to an elephant sanctuary, a wildlife official told AFP on Monday.
“There had been a few instances when elephants broke through the fence and invaded the pitch at night,” said the official, who asked not to be named.
“A jungle patch starts about 100 metres from the stadium and we are deploying 10 wardens to make sure that fans don’t stray into that area and provoke the elephants,” he told AFP by telephone from Hambantota.
He said there was a herd of about 25 elephants roaming the area, 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Colombo, posing a potential threat to fans.
Source – 03/07/2017, see more at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1026970/wildlife-officers-to-be-deployed-at-sooriyawewa-cricket-stadium-to-keep-elephants-from-invading-stadium
Enhancing environment of Knuckles Conservation Forest
Biodiversity Sri Lanka together with HSBC and IUCN Sri Lanka have been working together on measures to conserve and improve the mini watershed area of the Puwakpitiya Oya in the Knuckles Conservation Forest and Environmental Protection Area.
This engagement has been ongoing since August 2015 and is a three- year intervention. As a responsible corporate entity and a patron member of Biodiversity Sri Lanka, HSBC’s sustainability drives underpin identifying and addressing environmental, social and ethical developments which present risks or opportunities for environment and business. Technical assistance to the project is provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sri Lanka (IUCN).
The Knuckles Conservation Forest along with the Peak Wilderness Protected Area and the Horton Plains National Park have been declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.
Prior to this, it was declared as a conservation forest by the Forest Department in 2000 and an Environmental Protection Area under the National Environmental Act in 2007. The Knuckles area constitutes 30 percent of the watershed forest of the Mahaweli catchment – a major source of water for the agricultural sector of the country.
Although the forest landscapes in the Knuckles region are managed by the Forest Department and are legally protected, some landscapes are heavily degraded due to anthropogenic activities. Unsustainable land use practices and deterioration of watersheds severely threaten biodiversity and associated ecosystems. The main aim of the project is to restore the ecological value of the Puwakpitiya Oya sub-catchment area in order to enhance watershed functions and biodiversity in order to develop a replicable model to expand the programme to other sub-catchments of this vital forest range.
Puwakpitiya is a highly visited location by local tourists. Hence improving the visitor facilities of the Puwakpitiya (Illukumbura) office of the Forest Department is a part of this project. The HSBC funds have helped the construction of an information centre alongside the development of necessary knowledge products, which will benefit both the Forest Department and the visitors. This centre is expected to be declared open in August 2017.
Although adequate sanitary facilities are a basic need of any household, most of the toilets in the Puwakpitiya area are below standard hygienic levels. Regrettably, a majority of the people within the community do not recognize safe toilet facilities as a basic human need.
The project has improved and promoted the construction of adequate toilet facilities and raised awareness on the importance of sanitation.This is considered to be an eye opener to the villagers and it has been catalytic in getting the villagers to realize associated values. The project is expected to bring about a change at local level, which will have a lasting impact beyond the lifetime of the project.
Since the project area is located within the immediate catchment of the Moragahakanda reservoir, community members are being made aware of crucial conservation aspects through community discussions and meetings. Raising awareness among the community members could finally contribute positively to the conservation of the forest and its buffer zone together with the upper catchment of the Moragahakanda reservoir.
Recently a group of volunteers from HSBC made a field visit to observe and take part in work on ground. This volunteer programme included a visit to the Illukkubura Visitor Centre from June 16-18 where staff actively participated in landscaping and cleaning the centre. They also conducted a visitor awareness programme at Sera Ella.The team actively took part in field interventions and constructed contour barriers on the hilly edges to prevent soil erosion.
Upon completion, the project will have multiple environmental benefits. Firstly, the Knuckles region is well-known for its natural and aesthetic beauty centered on its breathtaking landscapes and associated fauna and flora.
Sustainable utilization of this valuable asset can be achieved through proper conservation and management practices.
Secondly, this region has been declared as one of Sri Lanka’s Natural World Heritage sites namely the Central Highland World Heritage Site because of its unique biodiversity, aesthetic value and ecosystem services. Hence, conservation and management practices will eventually lead to conserving this pristine and valuable ecosystem.
Enhancing watershed services, micro-climate regulation and carbon sequestration would provide both socioeconomic and environmental benefits. A monitoring system will be developed to ensure the sustainability and continuation of the positive outcomes of this project.
Source – – 03/07/2017, Daily News, see more at – http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/07/03/business/120676/enhancing-environment-knuckles-conservation-forest
Gem mine collapses in Niwithigala; kills one injures two
A miner had been killed and another two injured when a gem-mine collapsed at Madara in Niwithigala this morning, the Police said. They said an earth embankment of the mine collapsed on the workers, while they were mining. The injured were admitted to the Wathupitiwala Hospital and 34-year-old resident of Madara succumbed to his injuries.
Source – 02.07/2017, Dailymirror, see more at – http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Gem-mine-collapses-in-Niwithigala-kills-one-injures-two-132017.html
Ritigala: Nature Lost Between History And Mystery
Sri Lanka’s ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy form what most tourism brochures refer to as the Cultural Triangle. And rightfully so—five out of Sri Lanka’s six CulturalUNESCO World Heritage Sites (and one of two Natural sites) are found within these three corners.
Most visitors are drawn to these sites for the prospect of travelling back in time. Attractions such as Sigiriya also showcase how Sri Lanka was once ahead of the curve in terms of architecture and construction. But there is also a third factor that draws tourists: the spirit of adventure and the thrill of discovery. And that’s where an archaeological biosphere like Ritigala comes in.
A Strict Natural Reserve
Often overlooked by tourists, Ritigala is one of only three Strict Natural Reserves (SNR) found in Sri Lanka, making it a protected area dedicated to the survival of threatened species. In SNRs such as Ritigala, there is minimal human disturbance. Access to higher altitudes is reserved for scientific purposes and requires special permission from the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Special permission is required to access higher elevations of Ritigala. Image courtesy Harrogate Medical Wine Society
The fascinating ecosystem of Ritigala features mixed forests upon the slopes of a mountain range, which include an eponymous peak standing 766 metres high—the tallest mountain in Northern Sri Lanka. Its defining features include the microclimates that enable the growth of a diverse vegetation. This occurs because the foot of the Ritigala range shares a similar climate to that of the surrounding region: hot and dry, while its summit is the opposite: cold and wet.
In a study on lichens at Ritigala, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura identified microclimates by the change in light and moisture at different elevations. As a result, the study showed a variation of lichen species on the mountain, whose distribution and diversity were determined by the microclimate that they grew in.
Monastic Ruins
Ritigala is also known for its preservation of an ancient monastery similar to Arankale. Built by King Sena I in the 9th century AD, the monastic ruins came to light in 1893, when Ceylon’s first Archaeological Commissioner, H.C.P. Bell, made an extensive account of the area. Prior to Bell’s expedition, Ritigala remained untouched since the 11th century, when the monastery was abandoned due to invasions from the Chola Kingdom.
It was also during this time that Sri Lanka’s capital shifted from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, thus causing its many resident monks, known as the Pansukulikas, to leave Ritigala. Meaning ‘rag robes’, Pansukulikas were ascetic priests who detached themselves from monks in Anuradhapura, and practised extreme austerity by taking a vow to wear robes made of abandoned rags gathered mostly from cemeteries.
The Banda Pokuna is said to have once held 2 million gallons of water. Image courtesy writer
Entering the ruins, the Archaeological Department Office sits close to the bund of the Banda Pokuna— a man-made reservoir that measures a circumference of 1,200 feet and was likely used as a bathing pond for visitors entering the monastery. Greenery fills the reservoir today, which is lined with large stone steps and once held an estimated 2 million gallons of water. A path on the southern bank of the Banda Pokuna crosses a stream and leads to the monastery’s entrance along a stone walkway.
The stone walkway is one of Ritigala’s defining features and a testament to the craftsmanship of ancient times. Image courtesy writer
Roughly halfway along the walkway is one of three ‘roundabouts’. It is around here that a path leads to sunken courtyards, which once housed buildings belonging to the monastery. The nearest structure is referred to as Padhanaghara Pirivenas or ‘double-platforms’. These structures consist of two raised platforms formed by retaining stone walls that are oriented east-west. The eastern platform is rectangular, open, and without column bases, while the western platform is square, smaller, and features column bases that suggest a roof housing several rooms. The double platforms are linked by a stone bridge and surrounded by a small moat, which is believed to have provided natural air-conditioning when filled with water. Furthermore, the open platform suggests the practice of communal meditation while the other suggests meditation in private.
Padhanaghara Pirivenas or ‘double platforms’ are characteristic of Pansukulika monasteries. Image courtesy writer
To the right of the first pair of double platforms is the site of the monastery’s ayurvedic hospital. Remnants of tools still remain, along with large stone-cut baths where individuals would be immersed in ayurvedic oils. One of the most striking features of the ancient hospital, however, is the urinal stone, which seems to be the only decorated ruin found in forest monasteries. In the Handbook For The Ceylon Traveller, W. R. McAlpine and David Robson say:
The most plausible hypothesis suggests that they represent the architectural and ritualistic excesses of the orthodox monastic chapters to which the Pansukulikas were opposed, and the act of urination was for them a symbolic act of dissociation.
The urinal stone is the only decorated ruin found in forest monasteries. Image courtesy tripinshorts.files.wordpress.com
Mountains Of History
The Riti trees (Antiaris toxicaria) found on the middle slopes of the forest are commonly believed to have lent Ritigala its name. However, when Bell surveyed the area on his 19th-century expedition, he discovered two boulders that included an inscription of ‘arittha’—a reference to ‘Aritthapabbata’, the name given to Ritigala in Sri Lanka’s ancient chronicle of the Mahavamsa.
While ‘pabbata’ means ‘mountain’, ‘arittha’ is a Pali word with two meanings. The first— ‘dreaded’—refers to the indigenous Yakka tribes that once resided at Ritigala. Clouds and mist shroud the peak for most of the year, giving its microclimate more rainfall than the surrounding dry zone at the foot of the mountain. As an SNR, this vegetation is now protected by law. But McAlpine and Robson note that similar rules may have applied when the mountain served as a historical abode of the Yakkas. They mention a legend which went that “whoever violates their ancient injunction of removing no part of the vegetation from the mountain will be punished by the guardian-spirits”.
Clouds and mist shroud the peak for most of the year. Image courtesy amazinglanka.com
The alternative and perhaps more historically relevant meaning of ‘arittha’ is ‘safety’. The Mahavamsarecounts the fact that Prince Pandukabhaya took refuge at Ritigala, where he hid from his eight uncles for seven years in the 4th century BC. Pandukabhaya then amassed an army with the help of the resident Yakkas, slew his uncles, and marched on to establish the royal city of Anuradhapura. In the 1st century BC, King Dutugemunu camped at Ritigala before defeating the Chola king, Elara. Later in the 7th century AD, King Jetthatissa sought refuge in a similar manner to Pandukabhaya, before ascending the throne in Anuradhapura. Ritigala’s reputation as a safe haven continued into modern history when insurgents made it a stronghold in 1971. However, their battle was not as victorious, and they were eventually flushed out by the army.
Shrouded In Mist And Myth
Stories of battles fought at Ritigala have also found their way to folklore. One story recounts a duel between two giants—a warrior called Jayasena from Ritigala, and another giant named Gotaimbara, who is likely to have been one of King Dutugemunu’s giant warriors. Jayasena was decapitated during the battle, at which point the deity Senasura placed the head of a bear upon his torso, thus giving life to the local demon Maha Sona.
Over the course of history, Ritigala and its beautiful surrounding areas have seen plenty of conflict. Image courtesy wikimedia.org
Ritigala is also mentioned twice in the ancient Hindu epic of the Ramayana. First, when the monkey-god Hanuman used the mountain as a launch pad to leap back to South India after discovering where Ravana was holding Sita captive. Second, when Hanuman was sent to the Himalayas for the medicinal herb Sansevi to heal Lakshman (Rama’s brother) at war in Sri Lanka. Having forgotten which herb was required, Hanuman returned with an entire chunk of the mountain instead. On his way back, three pieces of this chunk are believed to have fallen around Sri Lanka. One of these spots is believed to be the summit of Ritigala, complete with contrasting microclimates and species of flora found nowhere else in the world.
Legend has it that the monkey-god warrior Hanuman dropped five pieces of the Himalayas in Sri Lanka – one of which is the summit of Ritigala. Image courtesy amoghayan.files.wordpress.com
Rare Species Of Flora
Beyond its mythical connections, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has described Ritigala as ‘a refugium for many rare and threatened species of plants’. As the world’s largest environmental network, the IUCN serves as the global authority on the natural world and is dedicated to its conservation through reputed expertise.
According to a case study published by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the ecosphere of the SNR hosts 417 plants. Of these, 337 are flowering plants (of which 57 are endemic to Sri Lanka), and three are endemic to Ritigala’s distinctive biome.
Conservation For The Future
In addition to the rare species of flora, the Ritigala SNR also boasts high biodiversity, which requires stronger conservation efforts.
A 2008 Biodiversity Baseline Survey notes a proposal to establish the Yan Oya National Park on the eastern boundaries of Ritigala. The park would serve as one of two corridors for elephants migrating between Kaudulla National Park and the Kahalle-Pallekelle Sanctuary—an area near the Hurulu Forest Reserve, where a suggested corridor linking Ritigala was also cited by the IUCN in 1990.
Ritigala could be Sri Lanka’s ninth UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image credit: Flickr/VSL Travels
Proper conservation efforts focused on its cultural and natural heritage could make Ritigala a potential contender for a ninth UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. The UNESCO website states that “To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.” Ritigala seems to satisfy most of these at first glance.
An article last month quoted Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (under whom the Department of Archaeology falls) as saying that UNESCO has warned the Sri Lankan Government that several World Heritage Sites may be de-listed due to poor maintenance, citing unlawful settlements as the primary shortcoming. While this is cause for alarm, Ritigala still holds an advantage as an SNR, since human settlements are prohibited. Although the area has a significant amount of cultural importance, Ritigala has the potential to become popular as a Natural World Heritage Site.
Visiting Ritigala
Ritigala is located in the North Central Province, less than 200 km away from Colombo, and can be easily accessed from the main hotspots within the Cultural Triangle such as Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya. The best time to visit is early morning, not only to escape any crowds but also to enjoy the serenity of the monastic ruins that make Ritigala a must-visit destination for any traveller.
https://roar.media/english/life/travel/ritigala-nature-lost-between-history-and-mystery/
