BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL ECOLOGY OF SRI LANKA

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Jan 04: 12.30 a.m. Arrival at Katunayake, pick up from the airport, travel to Peradeniya and rest. Lunch and dinner at the Mahakande bungalow.

Jan 05: 08.30 – 08.45: Registration

08.45 – 09.30: Inauguration: Vice Chancellor, Director PGIS, Dean/Science,

Faculty and invited guests.

09.30 – 10.00: ………….. Tea……………………………………..

10.00 – 10.30: Introduction to the program - Prof. S. A. Kulasooriya

10.30 – 12.30: Ecosystem diversity of Sri Lanka – Prof. Savithri Gunatilleke

12.30 – 14.00: ………………Lunch…………………………………

14.00 – 16.00: Vertebrate diversity – Prof. Mangala de Silva

Jan 06: 09.00 –11.00: Lecture by Mr. Anslem de Silva – An introduction to the

Herpetofauna of Sri Lanka.

11.30 – 13.00 ……………………Lunch…………………

13.00 – 15.00 Laboratory demonstration of Reptiles and amphibians.

15.00 – 15.30 ……………………Tea Break…………………

15.30 – 17.30 Field observations on Herpetofauna in the campus grounds.

Jan 07: 08.30 – 10.00: Theravada Buddhist Philosophy & Practice. Prof. P. D. Premasiri.

10.00 – 10.30: …………….Tea…………………….

10.30 – 12.30: Ex-situ and In-situ conservation of plants- Dr. Siril Wijesundera,

Director, National Botanic Gardens.

12.30: …………..Lunch………………….

12.30 – 18.30: Visit the National Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya.

Jan 08 (Sunday): 0600: Leave for Horton Plains. Overnight at the Circuit Bungalow,

Hakgala Gardens.

Jan 09: 08.30: Nuwara Eliya, visit a Tea Factory on the way and return to Peradeniya.

Jan 10: 08.30 –10.30: History & Culture. Prof. K. N. O. Dharmadasa

10.30 – 11.00 ………………Tea…………………………

11.00 – 12.00: Myths & Rituals. Prof. Udaya Meddegama .

12.30 – 14.00: ……….Lunch at Mahakande Bungalow…….

14.30 – 16.30: Healing Ritual Dance Performance at the Mahakande

Bungalow

1830 – 20.00: Visit to the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy.

Dinner in Kandy.

Jan 11: 0600: Leave for the Wildlife Training Center at Giritale.

Visit the Minneriya National Park. Overnight at Giritale.

Jan 12: 08.00: Visit the Kawdulla National Park and return to Peradeniya.

Jan 13: 08.30 – 10.30: Geography & Geology of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka

within the Gondwanaland. Prof. C. B. Dissanayake.

10.30 – 12.30: Mineral resources, land formation and land stability.

Prof. K. Dahanayake

12.30 – 14.00: ……………Lunch……………………………….

14.00 – 16.00: Gems of Sri Lanka. Mr. S. Basnayake

Jan 14: 08.30 – 10.00: Cultural ecology of Sri Lanka. Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne.

10.00 – 10.30: …………….Tea…………………………….

10.30: Leave for Anuradhapura, Lunch at Dambulla Rest House. Field studies and

overnight stay at Anuradhapura.

Jan 15: 08.30: Field studies continued at Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and return to

Peradeniya.

Jan 16: Free day. Could arrange a feed back session on the program.

Jan 17: 0600: Leave for Ratnapura, observe gem mining and processing and reach

Sinharajah Nature Reserve before 19.30. Overnight at Sinharaja.

Jan 18: 0600: Field studies at Sinharaja and overnight at Sinharajah.

Jan 19: 08.30: Leave for Colombo and spend the evening there. Overnight in Colombo.

Jan 20: 08.30 – 10.30: Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka. Prof. Sarath Kotagama.

10.30 – 12.30: Elephant conservation. Dr. Devaka Weerakoon.

12.30 Afternoon free in Colombo and overnight stay in Colombo.

Jan 21: Visit Anawilundawa Sanctuary with Prof. Kotagama and Dr. Weerakoon and

return to CRI. Overnight at CRI circuit bungalow.

Jan 22: 08.30 Spend the day at Ranweli. Lectures by Mr. Chandra de Silva on Eco-

tourism and by Prof. Sarath Kotagama and boat ride to witness Varanus

and birds.

22.30 Leave to the airport from the circuit bungalow at CRI

Jan 23: 01.45 Leave Sri Lanka from Katunayake.