TikaWeeks #27/2025: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 2nd July 2025
Since first launching in 2007, The Galle Literary Festival has become one of the most anticipated literary events in south Asia, and the next annual event will run from 21 to 25 January 2026 all around Galle on Sri Lanka's south coast. The festival encompasses all forms of creative art – showcasing the works of writers and poets, but also giving space to painters, dancers, chefs, architects, photo enthusiasts and cinematographers.
The latest episode of Guardians, a docuseries by Prince William and The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, shines a light on Sri Lankan rangers working to reduce human-elephant conflict. The episode follows Chinthaka Pathirana, a veterinary expert with over 20 years of experience at the Department of Wildlife Conservation. He and his team risk their lives to rescue elephants, track their movements using GPS collars, and respond to conflict in local communities.
Sri Lanka has the highest density of wild elephants in Asia, but rapid deforestation and development have increased deadly clashes. In 2023, 176 people and 470 elephants were killed. Prince William, who narrates the series, said rangers are “the true guardians of our planet,” working on the frontlines to protect wildlife and promote coexistence. The series, co-produced with Zandland, is available weekly on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social platforms, and will be screened at Adventure Cinema locations across the UK.
In Gal Oya National Park, nature unfolds from a different vantage point – the water. Home to Sri Lanka’s only boat safari, this tranquil park offers a front-row seat to elephants swimming between islets, mugger crocodiles basking on banks and fish eagles diving across the lake’s mirror-like surface. A hidden gem in the east, Gal Oya reveals wildlife at its most peaceful and untamed. To stay locally, we recommend Gal Oya Lodge, Wild Glamping – Gal Oya and Explorer by Eco Team.
Bordering the Cultural Triangle, Wasgamuwa National Park offers raw, untamed wilderness. Elephants roam open plains, leopards prowl rocky outcrops and Sloth Bears shuffle through the undergrowth. Rich in birdlife and steeped in history, these lands are said to have hosted King Dutugemunu’s army before the conquest of Anuradhapura in the 2nd century BCE. Wasgamuwa is remote, difficult to access and traverse, and it is only included in specialist itineraries on request. Currently, we only offer Explorer by Eco Team as local accommodation, however the glamping tents are set up within the wildlife reserve itself, providing an intimate and one-of-a-kind wildlife experience.
Udawalawe National Park is renowned for its resident herd of 600–700 elephants, offering unparalleled opportunities for close-up wildlife encounters. Adjacent to the reserve, all-inclusive glamping with Mahoora by Eco Team means guests enjoy gourmet meals, premium beverages, and expertly guided safaris as well as exclusive and complimentary night safaris, providing guests with the rare opportunity to witness nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat. The handcrafted tents feature full-size beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, private lounges, and verandas, ensuring a comfortable retreat amidst nature.
Sri Lanka's rich biodiversity continues to reveal its secrets. Recent discoveries have added to the island's list of unique species:
- A newly identified leaf nosed bat species (Hipposideros srilankaensis), endemic to Sri Lanka, is distinguished by its unique echolocation calls and genetic makeup.
- A vibrant bronzeback snake (Dendrelaphis thasuni) was discovered in the Maragala range, adding to the island's diverse reptilian fauna.
- A day gecko species (Cnemaspis kawminiae) was discovered in the granite caves of Mandaram Nuwara, showcasing the unique reptilian life adapted to Sri Lanka's specific habitats.
Sigiriya was recently anointed as Sri Lanka’s first sustainable destination. Sustainability must be a core principle of all future tourism projects in the country, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is championing sustainability through its dedicated Sustainable Tourism Unit. This unit will hopefully strengthen sustainability integration in the tourism sector.
Sri Lanka welcomed 138,241 visitors in June this year, which is a 21.8% year-on-year (YoY) increase in tourist arrivals compared with the same period last year. This is obviously good news for the tourism sector, although some of this upsurge may be attributed to the week-long global Bohra Convention taking place in Colombo from 27 June, where up to 15,000 devotees are expected. The UK maintained its second-place position in June's tourist arrivals rankings with a YoY increase on June last year.
Categories: Accommodation, Culture, News, Sightseeing, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Travel tips, Wildlife
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