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As Sri Lanka confronts mounting environmental and economic pressures, a timely national conversation on resilience has underscored the urgent need to rethink how societies respond to change—by balancing resistance with alignment to nature.
The inaugural Nature Talks Webinar Series, titled “Nature’s Secrets for Building Resilience in a Changing World,” took place on Wednesday night, bringing together leading environmental thinkers who argued that resilience is no longer optional, but essential in navigating climate and ecological uncertainty.
Organised collaboratively by the International Centre for Biological Studies (ICBS), GAP HQ, and the Biomimicry Research Centre, the session aimed to bridge science, policy, and innovation, while drawing practical lessons from nature.
Leading the discussion, Professor Sarath Kotagama of the University of Colombo emphasised that resilience must be understood as a combination of resistance and alignment.
“Resilience is about resisting where necessary, but also forming alliances with change,” he said. “We are not saying we can stop everything. The real question is—can we adjust to live with it?”
He urged societies to reflect on their ability not only to prevent or resist environmental change, but also to adapt intelligently to it. Referring to global developments such as Artemis II, Kotagama noted that humanity is increasingly being reminded of how rapidly conditions are shifting on Earth.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Kotagama outlined several insights that have reshaped thinking on resilience.
“One of the most important lessons was the role of microbes,” he said. “We always focused on large animals in biodiversity, but COVID showed us that invisible organisms can have a massive impact on the planet.”
He explained that while conservation has traditionally prioritised charismatic species such as elephants and birds, microorganisms—often overlooked—are equally critical to ecological balance.
Professor Kotagama also challenged assumptions about nature. “Nature is not always kind or caring. Under certain conditions, it can be harsh, and humans don’t necessarily feel affection for all forms of life—especially microbes,” he said.
At the same time, he stressed the decisive role of science. “If not for science, we would not have survived as we did,” he noted, pointing to the rapid development of vaccines despite global norms that typically require years of testing.
He further highlighted the importance of governance. “We may not always like governments, but during COVID, governments mattered. Without coordinated action, the outcome would have been far worse,” he said.
Professor Kotagama added that the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the global economic system, with industries such as tourism collapsing almost overnight due to what he described as “an invisible microbe.”
“It showed clearly that systems we thought were stable can be disrupted instantly,” he said, warning that unsustainable development models—particularly in tourism—must be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, Professor Sevandi Jayakody of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka highlighted biomimicry as a key pathway to resilience.
“The biggest answer to resilience is biomimicry,” Professor Jayakody said. “Nature already holds solutions—we just need to understand and apply them.”
She explained that biomimicry can operate at the level of form, process, or systems, and cited mangrove restoration as a practical example. Attempts to artificially recreate ecosystems often fall short unless they follow natural patterns such as tidal flows and species interactions.
“In restoring degraded mangroves, we learned that forcing systems does not work. When we followed natural contours and introduced resilient ‘nurse’ species, the ecosystem began to recover on its own,” she said.
Professor Jayakody emphasised that resilience must be embedded within environmental systems rather than imposed externally. “Resilience is a function of the environment we live in. If we ignore that, our interventions will fail,” she said.
She also cautioned against expecting rapid results. “Nature is slow. Humans are in a hurry,” Professor Jayakody noted, pointing to long-term data showing that even measurable ecological changes—such as seasonal shifts—can occur gradually over decades.
“Change is inevitable, but it is not always sudden. We need long-term data, patience, and the wisdom to interpret it correctly,” she added.
Moderating the session, Imaduwa Priyadarshana brought a practical perspective on sustainable design and adaptation, highlighting how nature-based thinking can inform urban planning and infrastructure.
With Sri Lanka grappling with climate variability, coastal degradation, and energy challenges, the experts stressed that such knowledge-sharing platforms are increasingly vital. The discussion aligned with a growing global shift towards nature-based solutions—learning from ecosystems that have evolved resilience over millennia.
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The third annual National Convening on Recognizing Unpaid Care Work was recently held in Colombo under the theme “From Policy to Community-driven Solutions: Engaging Communities to Share Unpaid Care Responsibilities.”
Organized by The Asia Foundation and the Women and Media Collective (WMC) with support from Global Affairs Canada, the event brought together government officials, diplomats, civil society leaders, and private sector stakeholders to address the disproportionate burden of household and caregiving responsibilities placed on women and girls.
Key speakers emphasized that unpaid care work limits women’s access to education, employment, public life, and personal development. High Commissioner of Canada Isabelle Martin reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive economic participation, while The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative Johann Rebert underscored the necessity of centering women’s rights and lived experiences in policy discussions.
A central focus of the convening was the draft National Policy on Unpaid Care Work, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to translating national policy frameworks into actionable reforms. WMC Director Dr. Sepali Kottegoda noted that the draft policy—which aims to enhance social protection, human development, and equitable economic growth—is currently under review and scheduled for Cabinet submission this year.
The program also highlighted ground-level interventions, showcasing community-led initiatives across Sri Lanka:
Care Facilities: Pilot women-led day care models for children, elders, and persons with disabilities operating in Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Anuradhapura.
Community Advocacy: Awareness campaigns promoting shared household responsibilities in Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota, and Batticaloa.
Panelists emphasized the urgent need for affordable, accessible care infrastructure alongside targeted programs to engage men and boys in redistributing caregiving tasks.
Fashion, distinctive architecture and celebrity appeal will come together as Sriyani Dress Point prepares to open an expansive new showroom in Wellawatte, Colombo 06, on 11 November 2026 at 10.00 a.m. Indian actress Pooja Hegde, known for her performances in the popular dance numbers “Butta Bomma” and “Monica Monica”, will grace the ceremonial opening, marking the retailer’s landmark entry into the capital.
With its curved façade, glass frontage and rooftop greenery, the building will introduce a distinctive architectural presence to Wellawatte. Across its multiple floors, clothing, homeware and accessories will bring together fashion and home essentials under one roof, with choices for everyday living, festive occasions and wedding preparations. An extensive car park will offer welcome convenience for shoppers visiting with family and friends.
Matheesha Pathirana, Pathum Nissanka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dharshan Thavaraja will also attend the opening, alongside other celebrity and distinguished guests. As part of the celebrations, 100 registered fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photographs with Pooja Hegde and the other celebrities. Registration will close on 9 November 2026.
The arrival follows a teaser campaign under the tagline “Kolamba Ayata, Kolamba Hayata”, which built curiosity around the brand’s plans before revealing its new Colombo address.
Established in 1993, Sriyani Dress Point operates eight showrooms across Kegalle, Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale, Negombo and Ratnapura, with two each in Kurunegala and Kandy. Its recognition as Most Popular Retailer at the Pinnacle Awards 2025 adds to a retail journey spanning more than three decades.
The Wellawatte opening will begin a new phase of growth, bringing the brand closer to Colombo and Western Province shoppers with a fashion destination designed to welcome the whole family.
Continue Reading Business Meta and Roar AdX launch growth academy for Sri Lankan SMEs Published
Meta recently launched its Small Business Growth Academy in Sri Lanka in partnership with Roar AdX, bringing practical digital marketing knowledge to entrepreneurs looking to reach more customers and grow their businesses.
Presided over by Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the launch brought together government and Meta representatives alongside local entrepreneurs who are clients of Roar AdX to discuss how small businesses can participate more effectively in the digital economy.
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Showers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Kurunegala, Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.
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