Unraveling the mysteries surrounding our Wild Buffaloes

Unraveling the mysteries surrounding our Wild Buffaloes

The Buffalo, since ancient times, has been an animal of great reverence owing to its social and cultural significance in the Sri Lankan society. Many chronicles and rock inscriptions (e.g. Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya, Aluthgama and Hevevissa Korale, Kurunegala) bear ample testimony to this fact. Owning and managing buffalo and cattle herds were considered a…

Are we dulling bird calls?

Are we dulling bird calls?

Silent Spring, spurring the interest of conservationists, industrialists and the general public, was one of the most influential books in recent history. Here, Rachel Carson, signaled the devastating impacts of chemical pesticides on birds, apparent through drastic population declines. Ill-effects of pollution continue to take a heavy toll on integral biotic components in the most…

Profiling fatty acids in rice for ascertaining human nutrition and health

Profiling fatty acids in rice for ascertaining human nutrition and health

Rice is the dietary staple for half of the world population. In most Asian countries, the annual per capita consumption of rice is greater than 110 kg and it is reported to provide major nutrients namely carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and also fat in significant quantities. Further, the contribution of rice towards the…

FOGSL, University of Colombo unravels the mysterious migratory journeys of enigmatic waterbirds of Sri Lanka – Part 03: The Himalayan Crossing of Brown-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – 2022

FOGSL, University of Colombo unravels the mysterious migratory journeys of enigmatic waterbirds of Sri Lanka – Part 03: The Himalayan Crossing of Brown-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) – 2022

It is with great excitement that we announce the second Himalayan crossing of a tagged bird of our CAF migration tracking project in Sri Lanka. After witnessing the trans-Himalayan crossing of our first tagged Brown-headed Gull (Hima Kumari) last year, we have just observed another successful Himalayan crossing. Again, it is another Brown-headed Gull that…

A microbial bio-fertilizer to replace 50% urea usage in rice

A microbial bio-fertilizer to replace 50% urea usage in rice

Research Team: Dr. Thilini A. Perera, Prof. Shamala Tirimanne, Prof. Gamini Seneviratne, Prof. S. A. Kulasooriya Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population. To obtain required rice yields sufficient to feed the increasing world population, with the challenge of decreasing arable lands, increased productivity needs to be aimed at. Specified amounts of inorganic…

Ethnic Reality of Sri Lankans: A Hidden Story Unravelled

Ethnic Reality of Sri Lankans: A Hidden Story Unravelled

How related are we to each other? Can we predict the kinship between two individuals no matter how distant and complex the relationship is? Are Sri Lankans truly one big family? How related are we to other nationalities? These intriguing questions that have piqued the interest of many Sri Lankans have finally being addressed, in…

Dengue virus-resistant, a transgenic mosquito from the University of Colombo!

Dengue virus-resistant, a transgenic mosquito from the University of Colombo!

Even though it has been buried with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dengue has been a major epidemic spanning across the world in tropical as well as subtropical countries. Over the decades it has been infecting millions of people, claiming thousands of lives every year, and leaving 40% of the world population (2.4 billion) at risk of…

A Healthy Glass of Water Against the Silent Killer

A Healthy Glass of Water Against the Silent Killer

“We are trapped between kidney diseases and day-to-day income” A common yet despairing phrase among individuals, particularly in North Central Sri Lanka. Some of them might not know that the water they drink is contaminated with inorganic species such as heavy metals and fluoride, which is considered hazardous in many parts of the world. Chronic kidney…