Features
For the Leopard
The leopard is the most widespread of all the big cats. The typical form came from Egypt. Its present range extends from sub-Saharan Africa across the Arabian Peninsula into the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka and further eastwards to China, Korea, Peninsular Malaysia and Java. It was the Swedish Botanist, Carl Linnaeus who first gave the leopard its scientific name, Panthers pardus in 1758. Given the leopard’s wide geographical distribution, a number of subspecies have been described since then.
Deraniyagala (1949) recognized the Sri Lankan leopard as a separate subspecies, Panthera pardus kotiya on the basis that it differed from the mainland form, Panthera pardus fusca by its smaller size and longer tail. Fernando (1964) found no justification for such a distinction, yet recent DNA based genetic studies by Miththapala and others. (1991,1992) have confirmed the genetic distinctness and validity of the Sri Lankan subspecies.
Sri Lankan leopards are characterized by decreased genetic variation in comparison to those in India. They are believed to have been isolated on the island for about 10,000 years. The confirmation of the Sri Lankan leopard as a distinct subspecies is important, as it makes it all the more imperative that proper measures are adopted to conserve it, and its habitat. As this is the only large, spotted felid in Sri Lanka, it cannot be confused with any other wild animal.
The pelage colour is usually golden-tawny or rufous-brown covered with open rosette-like black spots, whose size varies with the age of the animal: the spots are usually larger and farther apart as the animals get older. No two leopards have the same pattern of spots. Older animals often have lighter skin. The rosettes in leopards lack the additional black spots inside, which distinguish them from the Jaguar Panthers onca.
Unlike the tiger Panthers tigris, leopards frequently produce a black or melanistic variety, known as “Black Panther” which is rare in Sri Lanka. They are caused by a recessive gene and are more numerous than the conventionally coloured form in the humid rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia. Melanistic leopards are rare in East Africa, perhaps due to the limited extent of forests. Leopards from arid areas tend to be paler than those from humid forests.
Both melanistic and normal coloured young appear in the same litter. Although albinos among leopards are known, they are extremely rare. In Sri Lanka, at the turn of the century, the leopard was very common especially in the forests of the low country. It ranged from sea level to an altitude of over 2,000 m in the Horton Plains. More recently, a combination of forest conversion and poaching has substantially reduced both the number and range of the leopard in Sri Lanka, and today viable populations occur only within protected areas.
The key conservation areas where leopard are still found in Sri Lanka are: Gal Oya National Park, 62,936 ha; Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, 1,142ha; Horton Plains National Park, 3,160ha; Hurulu Forest Reserve 26,012ha; Lahugala-Kitulana National Park, 1,554ha; Maduru Oya National Park,58,850 ha; Minneriya National Park, 8,889ha; Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, 22,380ha; Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, 1,528ha; Ruhunu National Park, 126,782ha; Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area, 8,864ha; Somawathiya Chaitiya National Park, 37,762ha; Thirukonamadu Nature Reserve, 25,019ha; Ude Walawe National Park, 30,812ha; Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe Sanctuary, 42,087ha; Wasgomuwa National Park, 37,063ha; and Wilpattu National Park 132,317ha. Thus, the leopard’s range includes a total of 624,484 ha, 78% of the island’s protected area.
Leopards of the low country in Sri Lanka are in general larger than those found in the hills. The leopard is an extremely adaptable predator. It is a great wanderer over a given area, and like other forest animals that live a nomadic life, must remain inconspicuous while it sleeps as well as while it hunts. In Sri Lanka leopards occupy a variety of habitats, that range from the dry, semi-arid thorn scrub in the lowlands to the dense montane cloud forest at altitudes of over 2,000m. The only habitat which the leopard is unable to cope with is outright desert.
Today, in Sri Lanka, as human settlements and farming encroach into what used to be wilderness areas, the leopard finds itself with its back against the wall, except in protected areas, and in the hills. This ability to survive in higher altitudes is an advantage for the leopard as the human imprint becomes conspicuous in the lowlands. However, it is essentially a forest animal: even those adapted to semi-arid conditions appear to have a physiological need for shade during the heat of the day. This explains why it is not often encountered in the wild at mid-day. In areas where the leopard has learned to fear man, it becomes much more cautious and nocturnal.
Unless accompanied by dependent young the leopard is generally solitary: 81% of the observations made by Eisenberg & Lockhart (1972) in Wilpattu National Park were of solitary animals, while pairs accounted for only 19%. When undisturbed, the leopard spends a considerable part of its daily activity on the ground, seeking refuge in trees at times. In Ruhunu National Park, it often uses the rocky outcrops of Kotigala and Jamburagala in Block I as vantage points. Much of the daytime is spent dozing, either in the dense scrub, or draped over a stout branch of a tree.
Leopards Crossing the Buttala Kataragama Road Milinda Wattegedera
of the Yala Leopard Diary
Leopards have excellent night vision, and hunt relying very largely on sight. Although the leopard is often considered to be a nocturnal predator, this generalization may not be strictly valid across the range of the species. In areas where poaching is intense, the leopard is certainly more active at night and becomes highly secretive. It becomes more nocturnal only in areas where it feels insecure by day, as a result of human harassment or disturbance by other carnivores. But within many of the protected areas in Sri Lanka, the leopard appears to be the least nocturnal of all the worlds big cats.
The leopard is a more opportunistic predator than any other felid and will attempt to kill any prey it comes across. Despite its relatively small body size, the Sri Lankan leopard is capable of taking large prey, and is extremely adaptable to changes in prey availability. In general, female leopards with cubs are more successful in killing their prey than males. Larger prey is taken predominantly by the females when they are lactating.
Leopards sometimes carry their kill and rest it on a branch of tall tree in order to avoid the unwelcome attention of other predators such as jackals and crocodiles. In the Serengeti National Park in East Africa, leopards are known to climb trees with a 150 kg Grant’s gazelle clamped between their teeth. Leopards prefer prey in the 20-70kg size category, with an upper limit at about 150kg, two or three times the weight of the cat itself.
Females also use their slightly smaller home ranges more effectively in capturing prey. However, should the prey density become very low, they would range over a wider area, since the behaviour of female felids is usually more closely keyed to resources, given their responsibility of raising young. Both females and males spend a substantial part of their time locating and capturing prey, especially during the night.
The classic hunt consists of stalk, chase and kill. Stalking distances vary according to prey type, and as far as the male leopards are concerned, they increase as the prey size increases. In captivity, leopards are fed 1-1.2 kg of meat per day or 365-438 kg per year. On the assumption that on average 25% of a kill consists of inedible portions, Schaller (1972) suggests that a leopard may need 487-584 kg of meat per year to survive in the wild.
But according to Turnbull-Kemp (1967), a leopard can eat from between 8.1-17.6 kg of meat in a 12 hour period. This factor perhaps explains why the leopard is catholic in its food habits. Foraging effort per individual also varies seasonally, with prey being relatively easily captured during the dry season. Although the leopard’s principal prey in Sri Lanka is the Spotted deer Axis axis, several other herbivores may function as buffer prey items.
The leopard always kills its large quadruped prey by seizing it by the throat with its teeth and then grasping it firmly round the neck and shoulders with its strong forelegs, and commences feeding on the soft parts in the belly first. Unless disturbed, it will stay by its kill until all the edible portions have been consumed.
In a study of 183 leopards, Amerasinghe et al. (1990) found hair of 12 genera of mammals, highlighting the fact that the leopard is more diverse in its food preference than was presumed before. Their study shows that in addition to the spotted deer, other mammals such as the wild boar Sus scrofa, mouse deer Tragulus meminna, black-naped hare Lepus nigricollis and even water buffalo Bubalus bubalis are also eaten by the leopard.
It is especially interesting to note the capacity of the leopard in Sri Lanka to subsist at times on much smaller prey such as rodents, frogs, snakes, and birds, when its usual prey are scarce. According to Eisenberg & Lockhart (1972), buffalo calves are rarely taken because of the vigilance of the cows. Occasionally, the leopard may eat carrion. In one instance, two leopards were seen feeding on an elephant carcass in Ruhunu National Park. One of the more significant observations regarding the leopard’s diet is the almost complete absence of domestic livestock, even from areas close to human settlements.
CONSERVATION: Leopards are an integral part of the food chain, and an unobtrusive part of the ecosystem, valuable both for their ecological role and for their exquisite beauty. The greatest threat to any wild cat comes from the increasing use of poison in agricultural areas. Hoogerwerf (1970) considered the critical element in the decline of the Javan tiger to be poison, almost certainly the work of agricultural settlers, for whom the predator is an unwelcome visitor. As Myers (1976) points out, given its propensity for scavenging, the leopard is more susceptible to taking poisoned meat.
Leopards are also widely poached for their skins, even within protected areas. Poaching still continues to be a threat throughout the leopards’ range in Sri Lanka. A 100 years ago, Clark (1901) estimated the number of leopards in the island to be about 1,660. At the beginning of the twentieth century at least 50% of the land was forested. Since then forest cover has declined to less than 23% of the land area.
The leopard is seriously affected by deforestation and the consequent loss of habitat. Given the low overall population, the leopard may be among the most seriously endangered species of large mammal in Sri Lanka. Viable conservation areas that support the leopard in Sri Lanka, and the establishment of connecting corridors, must be of sufficient size to ensure that at least minimum populations exist within their boundaries.
The article by late Professor Charles Santiapillai is extracted from the publication “for the leopard’
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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