BIOLOGICAL AND
CULTURAL ECOLOGY OF SRI LANKA
History, Buddhism,
Culture and Archeology (10h lectures and 15h Field Classes)
Instructors: K. N. O. Dharmadasa, BA (Hons. Ceylon), M. Phil (York), Ph.D. (Monash)
Senior Professor in Sinhala, former Head of Department and former Dean,
Faculty of Arts & Humanities.
2000 2002: Visiting Professor of Sinhala, School of Oriental & African
Studies, University of London.
1987/88: Fulbright Fellow, New Jersey.
P. D. Premasiri, BA (Hons. Ceylon), M.A. (Cantab), Ph. D. (Hawaii)
Chair and Professor of Buddhist Philosophy, Head, Department of Pali
and Buddhist Civilization.
Fulbright Fellow, University of Hawaii.
Sudharshan, D. S. Seneviratne, BA (Delhi), MA (Delhi), Ph.D. (JHU,
New Delhi).
Chair and Professor of Archeology and former Head of Department.
1990/91: Visiting Professor, Cornell University, Ithaca.
1998 (6 months) Freeman Visiting Professor, Carleton College, MN.
2000 (Jan Jun) Visiting Fulbright Professor, Carleton College, MN.
2000 (Jul Dec) Tallman Distinguish Professor, Bowdoin College, Maine.
Lectures: Include the history and culture of the Sri Lankan people, the advent of Buddhism and its influence on all aspects of life among the people, the introduction of middle-Gangetic social ideologies and culture, urbanization and state formation, construction of mega stupas and large monasteries, hydraulic management and agrarian expansion, trade and exchange systems, demographic shifts and new ecological adaptations during the pre-colonial era. The philosophical aspects of Theravada Buddhism that emphasizes free and independent thoughts and actions leading to self emancipation by ones own efforts, and the profound effects on such a philosophy on Buddhist civilizations will also be covered.
Field Studies: Will be conducted at Ibbankatuwa, Kalawewa, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. Site visits are arranged in a chronological sequence from the Pre-Christian to the Christian Era. These sites will present early Iron Age Burials, early Buddhist ritual sites, large stupas including the very rare opportunity of isiting the inside of a stupa (Dagoba) under renovation. The study will also include features of ancient hydraulic management, built-in environment and garden architecture, hospital sites, pre-modern biodiversity, museum collections and sculptured art.
Prerequisites: Graduates and senior undergraduates of any discipline.
Geology and
Mineral Resources of Sri Lanka (6h lectures and 6h field classes)
Instructors: C. B. Dissanayake, B. Sc. (Hons. Ceylon), D. Phil. (Oxon), D. Sc. (Oxon)
Former Head of Department of Geology and former Director, Institute of
Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka. Humboldt Fellow, Mainze, Germany.
K. G. Dahanayake, B. Sc. (Hons. Ceylon), Pg Dip. (Nancy), Ph.D. (Nancy)
Former Head of Department of Geology, former Director, Postgraduate
Institute of Science and former Chairman, National Science Foundation of
Sri Lanka.
L. R. L. Perera B.Sc. (Hons. Perad), M.Phil (Perad)
Head of the Department of Geology and Chairman Board of Study on Earth
Sciences, PGIS.
Lectures: given by Profs. C. B. Dissanayake and K. G. Dahanayake will include General Geography and Geology of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka within the Gondwana, Mineral resources, land formations & stability and instability of land in Sri Lanka.
The field class: conducted by L. R. L. Perera will include a visit to a gem mining pit in Ratnapura (the gemming town of Sri Lanka). Observations on mining methods, detecting valuable stones, polishing and cutting will be shown.
Prerequisites: Graduates and senior undergraduates with an interest in geology and mineralogy.
Ecology and
Biodiveristy of Sri Lanka (30h lectures and 30h lab and field classes)
Instructors: I. A. U. N. Gunatilleke, B.Sc. (Hons. Ceylon), Ph. D. (Cantab)
Senior Professor of Botany and former Head of Department of Botany.
Ms. C. V. S. Gunatilleke, B.Sc (Hons. Ceylon), Ph.D. (Aberdeen)
Senior Professor of Botany.
Both these members are the principal collaborators on the projects on
Ecology and Forest dynamics at Sinharaja the Natural World Heritage Site,
in collaboration with Harvard Univerisity, Boston, Masachusettes and the
Yale Forestry School.
K. H. G. M. de Silva, B. Sc. (Hons. Ceylon), Ph.D. (Edinburgh)
Senior Professor of Zoology and Head of Department of Zoology.
Leading researcher on large mammals of Sri Lanka.
Sarath Kotagama, B. Sc. (Hons Ceylon), Ph.D. (Aberdeen)
Senior Professor of Zoology, University of Colombo. President of the
Institute of Biology and Ornithologist of International repute.
Devaka Weerakoon, B.Sc. (Hons. Colombo), Ph.D. (Illinois)
Senior Lecturer in Zoology, University of Colombo. IUCN Consultant
for the preparation of the Redlist Databook on the fauna of Sri Lanka.
Siril Wijesundera, B.Sc. (Hons. Perad), Ph. D. (CUNY)
Director, National Botanic Gardens, Sri Lanka. Chairman, National Species
Conservation Advisory Group, Ministry of Environment.
Anslem de Silva, Dip.Medical Museums, M.Sc. (Perad).
Herpatologist of International repute.
Lectures: Lectures will cover the Ecosystem Diversity of Sri Lanka, Vertebrate Diversity of Sri Lanka, Introduction to the Herpatofauna of Sri Lanka, Biodiversity Conservation, Ex-situ conservation of plants in Sri Lanka, Elephants and Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka.
Lab Classes: Will be on the identification of reptiles and amphibians of Sri Lanka including demonstrations with live specimens of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes.
Field studies: Include visits to National Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya (one of the best in Asia), Montane Gardens at Hakgala (above 6000 ft. elevation), Montane Cloud Forests at Horton Plains, Wildlife Training Center at Giritale and the National Parks in Minneriya to see wild elephants, birds, monkeys, sloth bears, Loris and possibly leopards, Sinharaja Rainforest (the Natural World Heritage Site) with a very high species richness and endemicity of both flora and fauna, Mangroves and Wetlands of Ranweli Holiday Village to watch wetland birds and huge monitor lizards (Varanus sp.) and National Sanctuary at Anawilundawa for bird watching and possibly to see some rare species of small mammals.
SINHARAJA
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Sinharaja mukalana (high forest or undisturbed forest)
literally is the Forest of the Lion King. Over the last three decades, it has
been recognized as one of the precious jewels in Sri Lankas crown of
Biodiversity. It is the largest extent
of relatively undisturbed, primeval, lowland rain forest still left in the
country. Once spanning over 100,000 ha, today it has dwindled to mere 11,000
ha. Sinharaja was declared an International Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO
in 1978, a National Wilderness Area in 1988 and a World Heritage Site in 1989.
The wet zone forests of Sri Lanka as a whole with the Western Ghats of
Peninsular India, is identified as one of the 25 Biodiversity Hotspots in the
world.
Why are rain forests in Sri Lanka biologically interesting?
Among others, there are three reasons that account for this recognition. (i) The ancestry of the Sinharaja biota,
including that in the southwestern lowlands, dates back to millions of years
and to the Deccan Plate. (ii) Today, in the whole of South Asia, southwest Sri
Lanka alone has an ever-wet climate, essential to support the maintenance of
rain forests.
The wet lowlands of Sri Lanka receive an
average of over 100 mm rain per month. Notice the black areas above 100 mm (its
annual rainfall varies between 4000 6000 mm rain). It has a minimum
temperature that does not go below 18 degrees centigrade. The only lowland forests
in South Asia that meet these criteria are those in southwest Sri Lanka, and
best represented by Sinharaja. (iii) Sinharaja has a very high proportion of
endemic (confined to Sri Lanka and found nowhere else in the world) plant and
animal species. Among the woody plant species, in Sinharaja over 60% are
endemic to the island. Among the animal species endemic to Sri Lanka, 50 % of
the butterflies, 40 % of the fishes, 36 % of the snakes, 95 % of the birds and
58 % of the mammals are recorded at Sinharaja.
Prerequisites: Graduates and senior
undergraduates who have an interest in tropical ecology and/or biodiversity.
Utilization of
Biodiversity (6h lectures and 12h field classes)
Instructor: Mohamed Ziad, B. Sc. (Hons. Jaffna), Ph.D.(York)
Director, Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka.
Students will visit the Tea Research Institute at Talawakele where they will be given a 2h lecture on management of a tea estate and the steps in the processing of tea. This will be followed by a field class during which all the stages of processing will be demonstrated inside a tea factory.
Instructor: L.M.K.Thilekeratne B.Sc. (Hons. Colombo), Ph.D. (Ashton), FBRI (London)
Director, Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka.
Students will visit the Rubber Research Institute at Agalawatte where they will be given a lecture on rubber plantations and processing followed by a visit to the factory where the stages of processing will be demonstrated.
Instructor: Ms. Chitragani Jayesekera B.Sc. (Hons. Perad), Ph.D.(Queensland).
Director, Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka.
Students will visit the Coconut Research Institute at Lunuwila, where they will be given a lecture on coconut plantations followed by a field class where preparation of several coconut products will be demonstrated.
Prerequisites: Graduates and senior undergraduates who are interested in world agriculture and plantation crops.
Arrangements for
Housing and Meals
Three houses (5 bed roomed, 3 bed roomed and a 2 bed roomed) within 10 to 20 feet from one another have been located in a neighborhood 2 miles from the PGIS. The large house also has a very large sitting area where all the students can gather for discussions and relaxation in the evenings. Meals (breakfast and dinner) can be arranged from a Guest House adjoining the main 5-bed roomed house. Lunch during working days could be had from the cafeteria in the university or the Rest House at the entrance to the University. During non-working days students will be free to order lunch from the Guest House (next door) or go to Kandy and have a meal of their choice. The main bus stop is about 100 feet from student housing.
Transportation
A 25-seater minibus with air conditioning will be hired for all the field trips. This bus will collect the students on arrival at the Colombo international airport at Katunayake and bring them to Peradeniya. If necessary this bus could be reserved to transport the students regularly to and from the PGIS, but this may incur additional costs. Students can walk to the PGIS particularly in the mornings. About 20 American students who have come for the ISLE program are regularly walking from this neighborhood to the campus these days. Bus services are available from the campus, bus these will bring the students only half way to their residence area from where theyll have to take another bus.
Emergencies
Tourism is a major industry in Sri Lanka and Kandy and Peradeniya are prime tourist spots in the country. People are quite used to foreigners and readily accept them. A large majority of students in the campus speak English and are very helpful to foreign students. Even most people in the streets understand English and can communicate their ideas. Nevertheless, it may be prudent to be careful with your valuables and money and not to go about all alone in the city. In case of emergencies there are phone booths and tourist police to cater specially to foreigners.
Public Health Services are free, but generally these are quite crowded. In case of emergencies, the Teaching Hospital at the University and the General Hospital, Kandy are within close proximity. There are a number of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes in Kandy. However, it is advised that all students obtain health insurance from USA valid and having representatives in Sri Lanka. It is also necessary to obtain anti-malaria vaccinations or medication as we intend to visit several wildlife parks in the Dry Zones where malaria is prevalent.
Supervision during field trips
A senior staff member from the teaching panel will accompany students during all the study visits organized under this program. If the students themselves want to take some visits on their own, these will have to be arranged in consultation with their coordinator and they will not come within our responsibilities.
Prepared by the Coordinator: S.A.Kulasooriya, B.Sc.(Hons.Ceylon), Ph.D. (London)
Senior Professor of Botany, former Head of Department of Botany and former Dean, Faculty of Science.
1983/84: Visiting Consultant, FAO/IAEA Division of Soil Fertility, Vienna, 1988 : Visiting Scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, 1996: Resident Senior Scholar, Rockefeller Study Center, Bellagio, Italy, 1999: Visiting Professor, Washington State, University, Pullman and 2003/04: Senior Fellow, Global Studies Institute, San Jose State University.
CULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF SRI LANKA
Schedule of activites
Dec 31: Arrival in Sri Lanka, pick up from the airport at Katunayake and travel to Peradeniya. Settling in, at the residences and rest.
Jan 01: 08.30 09.30 Welcome at the PGIS and meeting the teaching faculty.
09.30 10.00 ..Tea ..
10.00 13.00 Lecture by Prof. KNO Dharmadasa History & culture of Sri
Lanka.
13.00 14.00 Lunch ..
14.00 15.00 Lecture by Prof. P. D. Premasiri Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
15.30 16.00 ..Tea ..