Oliyagankele, haven for conservation researches

K. G. D de Silva, Kamburupitiya group corr

The Bio-diversity Park Education Centre attached to the Oliyagankele Conservation forest, Wilpita in Kamburupitiya would be immensely beneficial for university students, researchers schoolchildren and also tourists District Range Forest Officer Matara H. M. Gamini Kumarasiri said.

Kumarasiri was speaking at a seminar organized by the Forest Conservation Department and held at the Bio-diversity Education Park of the Oliyagankele Conservation Forest, Wilpita. It was held to create awareness to media personnel on the usefulness of this bio-diversity park for the public.

Kumarasiri further said some 482.9 hectares of forest are found in the Matara district but it is only in the Oliyagankele Conservation Forest of Wilpita that a rich bio-diversity of fauna and flora are found compared to other forests in the district.

It has more than 34 species of valuable timber yielding trees endemic to Sri Lanka.

A variety of plants and herbs of medicinal species and birds, mammals butterflies, seven species of fish including “Wilpita Dandiya” are found here.

A very rare variety of Kaluwara named Diospyros pemadasai identified by late Prof. Alawattagoda Pemadasa is also found in this forest.

Additional Range Forest Officer Kamburupitiya M. S. Anusha Wanigasinghe said the park is located in an easily accessible, calm atmosphere with facilities study conservation for students and do researchers.

Assistant Divisional Forest Officer, Matara G. L. Somathilaka said Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the hot spots in bio-diversity.

Beat Forest officer Diyadawa Deniyaya G. L. Karunatilake urged the media to extend its co-operation to protect forests environment and lead society towards a balanced approach.