‘Colombo wetlands under threat’ WNPS Monthly Lecture today

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society Monthly Lecture – November 2015 will be delivered by Professor Devaka K. Weerakoon, titled ‘Colombo wetlands under threat: What can be done to improve the present status?’ today (19 November) at 6.00 p.m. at the Met Department Auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The wetlands of Colombo are extremely important for the flood management of the commercial capital. They also support a rich variety of species, including many endemic and threatened species, despite it being a highly urbanised area. For this reason, several wetlands have been designated as protected areas.

The Colombo wetlands also provide a suite of other ecosystem services such as recreation, provision of food, microclimate regulation, and educational opportunities, among others. They, however, are perhaps the most threatened wetlands in the country! This is mainly due to the city’s burgeoning human population and include encroachment, conversion, release of solid, sanitary and industrial waste, all of which contribute to the reduction in quantity and quality of the wetlands. 

The Beddagana Biodiversity Park and the Thalawathugoda Wetland Park were established with the aim of promoting awareness and recreational opportunities for both local and foreigners alike. Many of the users of these recreational facilities, however, are oblivious of the rich biodiversity that exist in the Colombo wetlands. The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by Colombo wetlands, the major threats to these wetlands and what can be done to improve the present status of them. 

Professor Devaka Weerakoon graduated from University of Colombo in 1985 with a major in Zoology. He joined the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo as a probationary lecturer in 1986. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1988 to study in USA where he has completed his MSc. and PhD. at Illinois State University. In 1995 he returned to University of Colombo and worked as a conservation biologist. 

His main research interest has been conservation of threatened species in Sri Lanka. He serves as the technical advisor on fauna for the Red Listing program of Sri Lanka from 1996 to date. He is also a technical advisor to the Ministry of Environment on conservation of threatened species in Sri Lanka. He has worked as an environmental consultant to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and several other government departments of Sri Lanka. 

He also serves on many national committees to evaluate and monitor research projects funded by National Grants and advice the national government on strategies for biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka. Currently, Prof. Weerakoon is attached to IUCN Sri Lanka.