In a significant move to protect the island’s biodiversity, the Ministry of Environment has declared the natural habitat of the endangered freshwater fish species ‘Bandula Pethiya’ a conservation zone. The announcement comes as part of a series of special initiatives marking the International Day for Biological Diversity.
The Bandula Pethiya, also known as the Bandula barb, is a species endemic to Sri Lanka and found only in the Galapitamada area within the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat. The species is currently facing the threat of extinction due to habitat degradation and environmental pressures.
An official conservation program for the species is set to take place in Galapitamada under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, aiming to safeguard the rare fish’s long-term survival by preserving its fragile ecosystem.
In a parallel initiative, the Ministry has also announced the formal declaration of the Nilgala Forest as a protected reserve. The ceremony will be held today at 8:00 a.m. at the Rathugala Indigenous Heritage Center in Bibile, with Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi presiding.
Spanning 40,683 hectares, the Nilgala Forest comprises four major conservation blocks: Madagama, Bibile, Nilgala, and Inginiyagala, with Bibile recognized as the core conservation zone.
These declarations coincide with the fourth day of Sri Lanka’s Environment Week, held in conjunction with World Environment Day, underscoring the country’s renewed commitment to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
