Biodiversity Sri Lanka

17/09/2026

Breakout Session 2 Recap: Safeguarding the Central Highlands - Sri Lanka's Natural Lifeline

At the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026, this session made the case for why Sri Lanka's central highlands are non-negotiable for our ecology, our economy, and everyone downstream.

🎤 Keynote by Mr. Rohan Pethiyagoda - unpacked the highlands' outsized role in water storage and soil stability, the mounting threats (deforestation, invasives, climate change), and pointed to Payment for Ecosystem Services (Costa Rica's model) as a way forward, alongside Sri Lanka's new Upper Watershed Management Authority and CANOPI Fund.

🔥 Fireside Chat with Mr. Sumit Pokhrel (ADB) and Prof. Buddhi Marambe (University of Peradeniya) on why public-sector frameworks and growing private-sector interest need real mechanisms and incentives to meet in the middle.

🗣️ Panel Discussion: Financing Nature, moderated by Prof. Buddhi Marambe

Dr. Roshan Rajadurai (Hayleys Plantations): ecosystem degradation is a direct business risk; soil conservation and law enforcement matter to the bottom line.
Mr. Sumit Pokhrel (Asian Development Bank) proposed regenerative agriculture as a testable model for Sri Lanka.
Prof. Nirmalie Pallewatta (University of Colombo) flagged a key gap: no agreed definition or dataset for what counts as the "Central Highlands."
Dr. Shamen Vidanage (IUCN Sri Lanka) - natural capital accounting should guide investment decisions, backed by strong social safeguards (FPIC).
Mr. Ramitha Wijethunga (UNDP Sri Lanka) - blended and biodiversity financing, paired with real incentives, can help close the funding gap.

📊 In closing Plenary, Chamindri Liyanage (Verité Research) synthesised the day into a roadmap: shared KPIs, stronger cross-sector partnerships, and a full picture of ongoing restoration work ahead of Biodiversity Action Forum 2027.

We would like to proudly recognize the Presenting partner, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC for making this session a huge success.

📍 Shangri-La Colombo, 11th Annual Technical Sessions

14/09/2026

A new generation of ocean guardians takes shape in Kayankerni!

Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL), together with Blue Resources Trust (BRT) and IUCN Sri Lanka, officially launched the Naturalist Training Programme under the Life to Our Coral Reefs (LOCR) Project, bringing together 40+ participants from the Kayankerni seascape for a day of learning, dialogue and shared purpose.

The programme will equip local youth with the skills to become naturalists, guides who connect visitors to the wonders of the Kayankerni seascape while opening doors to sustainable livelihoods in eco-tourism, snorkelling tours, boat services and community-led hospitality.

A heartfelt thank you to our partners and stakeholders driving this vision forward: Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Dr Sandun Perera IUCN Sri Lanka, Eastern University, Sarvodaya Development Education Centre, Hoteliers Association Pasikudah, the Divisional Secretariat and MEPA alongside LOCR project partners Citizens Development Business Finance PLC NDB Bank Dilmah Conservation Dilmah Tea, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and Spa Ceylon

Kayankerni's next generation of ocean champions starts here. 🐠

📍 MJF Centre for Sustainable Development & Dignified Empowerment - East



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14/09/2026

"We are more ocean than island"- Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara (Economist, UNDP Sri Lanka) opened Breakout I with a challenge to Sri Lanka's private sector: stop treating the ocean as scenery, and start treating it as economic infrastructure. Her keynote mapped four entry points for business into the blue economy: investment, CSR/ESG, conservation partnerships, and blue finance.

The panel took it further, unpacking how conservation, business, and finance can turn Sri Lanka's 517,000 km² ocean into real, investable opportunity:

🔹 Prof. Terney Pradeep Kumara, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management
🔹 Mr. Shan Meemanage - Tropical Shellfish / Divron Bioventures
🔹 Ms. Harshini de Silva Pandithasekera – Aitken Spence Hotel Managements
🔹 Mr. Sivalingam Sivakanthan - DFCC Bank
Moderated by Dr. Sandun Perera, IUCN Sri Lanka & Director, BSL

Bottom line: a degraded ocean isn't an environmental cost. It's a business one. Time to invest accordingly. 🐋

We would like to proudly recognize the Presenting Partner, DIMO Lanka, for making this session a huge success.

📍 Shangri-La Colombo | 11th Annual Technical Sessions

08/09/2026

The Biodiversity Action Forum 2026, "Biodiversity Means Business: Pathways to a Nature Positive Economy", opened at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, with a keynote by Dr. Saurabh Kumar (Counsellor, CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, New Delhi) on "Beyond Borders: Partnering for Business to Prosper with Nature," setting the stage for the opening panel discussion.

Moderated by Dr. Nishan de Mel (Verité Research), the panel brought together voices from economics, industry, science, and coalition-building:
🔹 Dr. Nishan de Mel at Verité Research framed biodiversity as a competitiveness issue, and how nature-related risk touches trade, investment, and supply chains
🔹 Mr. Siddarth Hirdaramani (Hirdaramani Group)) spoke to purpose-led business and the long-term value of investing in nature
🔹 Dr. Ruchira Somaweera made the science case for interconnection, shifting from extracting from nature to regenerating with it, at scale
🔹 Ms. Shiranee Yasaratne (Biodiversity Sri Lanka) shared BSL's role as a private-sector-driven national coalition, translating global frameworks into practical action for local businesses and SMEs

Together, the panel bridged the keynote's regional perspective with the day's breakout sessions, asking what Sri Lankan businesses can do now, which partnerships are needed, and how biodiversity moves from CSR to core business strategy.

Collaborate. Strategize. Regenerate.

03/09/2026

Biodiversity Sri Lanka was honoured to welcome Dr. Ruchira Somaweera, Ecologist and National Geographic Explorer, to the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026.

Here, Dr. Somaweera reflects on his experience at the Forum, as an ecologist and environmental scientist, he shares the value of bringing that lens into conversations on how the private sector can meaningfully contribute to biodiversity conservation, and how business and science can work together toward the best possible environmental outcomes.
He speaks of reconnecting with familiar faces, building new networks, and contributing his own expertise to strengthen the growing partnership between the private sector and wildlife conservation.

Conversations like these are what move the needle, from dialogue to genuine, science-informed action on the ground. 🌿

02/09/2026

11 Years. One Mission. A Growing Movement for Nature-Positive Business.

Biodiversity Sri Lanka's 11th Annual General Meeting looked back on a year of real, measurable impact and the numbers tell the story:

-We relocated to a new home at Park Road, Colombo built for a growing team and a growing mission
- Our Life Series restoration projects expanded across the island - from Kanneliya's forests to Anavilundawa's mangroves (now reaching the Eastern Province), Lunugamwehera's national parks, Kayankerni's coral reefs, and 22,000+ kg of coastal waste cleared under Life to Our Beaches
- We're going beneath the waves next - Life to Our Blue Forests, Sri Lanka's first science-based seagrass restoration project, launched right here at our Celebratory Session
- Sri Lanka's first PET Consortium was established, 150 recycling SMEs supported, and an EPR Digital Reporting Portal handed over to the Central Environmental Authority under our EU SWITCH-Asia Plastics project
- A new UNDP-BIOFIN assessment found 71% of surveyed companies are already feeling the impact of biodiversity loss on their business - the case for action has never been clearer
- We achieved TNFD Trainer status, launched the "It's Now for Nature" accelerator with UN Global Compact & KPMG, and contributed to Sri Lanka's 7th National Report to the CBD
- Our digital community grew fast in all the platforms across, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and our brand-new website went live on 25th Aug
- And we crossed 80+ members strong, welcoming Divron Bioventures pvt Ltd as our landmark 100th entry

This is what happens when business and biodiversity work together 👏🏼

Thank you to our outgoing Board of Directors, Dr. Lalith Weragoda, Mr. Dmitri Cooray, Ms. Anosha Koralage and Mr. Siddarth Hirdaramani for your dedication and the foundation you've built.

Welcome to our incoming Board of Directors for 2026/27: Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando (Chairman), Mr. Ranjith Pandithage (CEO), Ms. Manori Dissanayake, Dr. Sandun Perera, Mr. Damith Pallewatte Hatton National Bank PLC Mr. Romani de Silva Alliance Finance Company PLC Mr. Senaka Allawattegama, Mr. Delosh Saures , and Mr. Rohan Pethiyagoda. We look forward to another year of bold action under your leadership.

If your business isn't part of this movement yet, now's the time. Please contact via,

📩 [email protected]

01/09/2026

Biodiversity Means Business: Pathways to a Nature-Positive Economy

The 11th Annual Technical Sessions of the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026 brought together business leaders, policymakers, academic experts and conservation champions for a day of bold conversations on pathways to a nature-positive economy, from Blue Growth and the Central Highlands, to biodiversity finance and disclosure.

The day carried into our Celebratory Session, marking key milestones in BSL's journey and featuring some of the country's most renowned voices in sustainability and conservation. The CEO Forum brought together Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, Ms. Shea Wickramasingha and Mr. Damith Pallewatte for a candid conversation on redefining global business and pioneering sustainability for a greener tomorrow, followed by networking at "The Pulse of Life" by Midori Masa, a sustainability-centered art exhibition using discarded, upcycled materials like waste paper and e-waste to create striking 3D mixed-media pieces on climate change and ocean pollution.

One Forum. Shared Priorities. Collective Action. Lasting Impact.

With heartfelt thanks to our partners, Platinum Sponsors Dilmah Tea, Dilmah Conservation & Hatton National Bank PLC, Gold Sponsor Cleantech Pvt Ltd , Technical Partner Verité Research, Presenting Partners Citizens Development Business Finance PLC, DIMO Lanka & Hayleys Plantations, Media Partner ජාතික රූපවාහිනිය - Sri Lanka Rupavahini (TV) Corporation, Official Gift Partners Lion Nation Foundation, Link Natural Products & Spa Ceylon, and Event Partners Jetwing Hotels Jetwing Sustainability & SriLankan Airlines, and all the participants including valued BSL members and good friends, thank you for powering the day with your presence!

📍 Shangri-La, Colombo | 25th August 2026

26/08/2026