Prof. Mayuri Wijesinghe and Dr. Saminda Fernando together with Ms. Narmadha Dangampola (UDA) will embark on an Otter Conservation Project. Dr. Vindhya Fernando is also collaborating with this project.
Otter Conservation Project (June 2022)
Sign boards were set up to create awareness among the visitors on the existence on the Otter in the Beddagana Wetlalnd Park. Otter footprints were also recorded.
Dr. Saminda Fernando is carrying out a study on Roosting ecology, morphometric and genetic affinities of Indian flying fox in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Prof. Wipula Yapa.
Dr. Saminda Fernando studies the aspects of behavioural response of Red-wattled Lapwing in different environmental conditions: urban, semi-urban and natural environments.
Dr. Saminda Fernando is collaborating a study on Ecology and Conservation of Green-billed Coucal, an Endemic Species of Sri Lanka with Mr. Dulan Vidanapathirana
Prof. Mayuri Wijesinghe is co-supervising a project related to the crop raiding behaviour of elephants in Sri Lanka with other collaborators Snr Prof. Devaka Weerakoon (Principle Investigator), Dr. Pruthuviraj Fernando & Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya (Chandima Fernando, PhD candidate: Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences, University of Colombo).
Dr. Saminda Fernando is co supervising a project on developing a sensor for detecting elephant intrusions at boundary villages with Dr. Nuwan Balasuriya.
Dr. H. S. Kathriarachchi is involved in a collaborative research project on establishing species circumscription for Sri Lankan Aporosa insight for conservation with Ms. Jayani Nimanthika and Prof. Sisira Ediriweera from Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka.
Dr. H. S. Kathriarachchi is involved in assessment and developing species distribution models for potentially valuable native tree species and endemic plant species providing insights for their conservation and utilization.
Dr. Saminda Fernando is conducting several projects on mobbing behaviour, heavy metal contamination, parasite prevalence and evolutionary aspects of Yellow billed babbler (Turdoides affinis taprobanus) in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Dr. Vindhya Fernando.
Dr. H. S. Kathriarachchi involved in investigating the floristic diversity of ‘Hilltop flora in Sri Lanka’ together with Department of National Botanic Gardens and several graduate students from University of Colombo.