- Urges Sri Lankans who ventured after greener pastures to come back and help in post-war nation’s transformation
- Says Govt. on its part creating a conducive environment for those best of brains returning to live and work in Sri Lanka
Volume 5 Issue 2 -Seasons Digital e- magazine 2014
Work in Sri Lanka Conference
What is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?
Chronic fatigue syndrome, sometimes called CFS, is a condition that makes you feel so tired that you can't do all of your normal, daily activities. There are other symptoms too, but being very tired for at least 6 months is the main one.
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is a relatively unknown forest reserve sitting on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. There are a number of secluded walking paths and many trekking routes worth exploring inside.
Taking Ceylon Cinnamon to the world
NDB pioneered national initiative to spice up local industry and achieve international brand recognition synonymous with ‘Ceylon’ identity
Ceylon Cinnamon, also known as ‘True Cinnamon,’ may be the finest in the world, but despite its excellence, long history and the extensive list of benefits, it has failed to reach its deserved top spot on the international scale.
The Bank of Ceylon rewards BOC Senior Citizens Account holders
In tribute to the senior Citizens of our country for their contribution to the nation, the Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lankas No.1 Bbank, selected 100 Senior Citizens account holders at a ceremony held at the Banks auditorium on 11th February 2014 to award health care gift packs based on the criteria set for the promotion in October 2013. This draw was held in the presence of the Bank of Ceylon General Manager Mr.D.M Gunasekara, Senior DGM (Sales and Channel management) Mr.H.M. Mudiyanse, corporate and executive management. This valuable gift pack consists of a digital gluco-meter and a blood pressure meter to check their health regularly with ease. The draw was conducted province-wise and the gift packs will be delivered to their doorsteps by the respective branch staff.
Sea Dream II in Colombo
Much-awaited by travel enthusiasts in the region looking for a unique yachting experience but not cruising, unlike other, an enchanting journey layered with exotic comfort, the luxury yacht ‘Sea Dream II’ arrived in Colombo last morning as part of her Asian voyage ‘Passage to the Far East’.
Record number of aircraft movements in Sri Lanka
The year 2013 recorded a total of 52,194 aircraft movements in and out of Sri Lanka, showing a 7.1% increase compared to the previous year (48,734), according to Civil Aviation Authority.
Largest day gecko the first on 2014 endemic new species list
A gecko has become the first creature in 2014 to join the impressive list of endemic species of Sri Lanka. The new species, discovered in Rammalakanda forest, has been named Rammale day gecko (Rammale diva huna), classified scientifically as Cnemaspis rammalensis.
New species: Active during the day
Unlike the common house gecko that is found hunting insects near lamps in most households at night, the new species is mostly active during the day.
Sri Lanka is home to at least 44 species of geckos including the new fellow, and most of them are active in the daytime, according to the well-known herpetologist Mendis Wickremasinghe, who led the research team that discovered the new species. The Rammale day gecko is the largest among the “daytimers” with a snout-to-vent length of 52–54mm.
The new species is a rock-dweller found only in few caves and well-shaded boulders in the Rammalkanda Forest. They were found only on rocks and not on adjacent trees. The pattern on the gecko’s body gives it camouflage in rocky habitats during the day, and the rock cavities give it protection at night.
The researchers combed similar habitats in adjacent secondary forest and well-wooded home gardens nearby, but the gecko is restricted to the Rammalkanda forest, a special Wet Zone lowland rainforest patch located in between Matara and Hambantota. Rammalakanda is the southern-most major mountain ridge in the island. It may be considered an outpost of the Rakwana massif which is well separated from other ridges of similar elevation in the area.
Researchers say the occurrence of such a large species in a small forest patch at the edge of the wet zone is unexpected.
The find highlights the importance of Rammalkanda forest which is already declared a National Man and Biosphere reserve although illegal tree-felling to cultivate tea is a major threat in the area. Tea plantations and human settlements in the surrounding areas are slowly expanding and encroaching into the forest, gradually destroying species’ habitat.The gecko find was reported in the reputed scientific journal ZooTaxa by Dulan Ranga Widanapathiarana, Gehan Rajeev, Nethu Wickremasinghe, Samantha Suranjan and Mendis Wickremasinghe. The discovery comes from the Biodiversity Gap Analysis project conducted in collaboration with the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, funded by Nagao Natural Environment Foundation and Dilmah Conservation.
Lanka advantaged in biodiversity year The year 2014 has been declared International Year of Small Island Developing States by the United Nations. Along with this, the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) has dedicated this year to the value of “Island Biodiversity”. Sri Lanka is already recognised as one of the biodiversity hotspot of the world. Being an island has helped as islands harbour higher concentrations of endemic species than do continents. When animals become isolated and links with rest of the world are limited. They often evolve separately than in other areas. Scientists have found that the number and proportion of endemic species rises with increasing isolation, island size and topographic variety. Island species are also unique in their vulnerability: of the 724 recorded animal extinctions in the last 400 years, about half were island species. Over the past century, island biodiversity has been subject to intense pressure from invasive alien species, habitat change and over-exploitation, and, increasingly, from climate change and pollution according to Convention of Biological Diversity. Unique species in Sri Lanka too increasingly face a similar threat. |
Kandy gets US$ 45M mixed development project
Funds sailing out from the United States will strengthen Kandy's first mixed development real estate project which will cost US$ 45 million to complete.
GVR Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., a BOI-approved real estate development company, was founded by two Sri Lankan-born, US-based entrepreneurs, Mohan Chandramohan and Mahasen Samaravijaya. GVR Lanka said the two-phased project is estimated to cost over US$ 45 million and it is being funded by Serendip Investment Group LLC, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Havelock City Chairman S.P. Tao donates new Sama Vihara
The reconstructed Sama Vihara complex fronting the Havelock City Project was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa amidst a distinguished gathering at a grand opening ceremony held recently. The temple was a gift from Havelock City’s Chairman, the visionary entrepreneur and leader S.P. Tao.
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