From Wildlife Enthusiast to Sustainability Advocate
Srilal Miththapala’s journey from power engineer to hospitality leader transformed Sri Lanka’s tourism industry by bridging commercial operations with environmental conservation. By introducing groundbreaking initiatives like the EU-funded Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project and demonstrating how resource efficiency drives profitability, Miththapala shifted sustainability from an optional concern to an operational necessity—paving the way for responsible tourism nationwide.
The story of sustainability in Sri Lanka tourism has many contributors. However, a few individuals have travelled a path as diverse and interconnected as that of Srilal Miththapala, engineer, hotelier, conservationist, tourism leader, researcher, and sustainability advocate. Long before sustainability became a fashionable term, the seeds of environmental consciousness had already been planted in his childhood. Growing up under the influence of a father who nurtured a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife, he developed an enduring fascination with Sri Lanka’s natural heritage, and elephants and wildlife in particular. Frequent visits to forests, wildlife parks and rural landscapes of Sri Lanka, instilled in him an understanding that nature was not merely something to be admired, but something to be protected. Engineering Foundations and Systems Thinking Unlike many tourism professionals, Srilal’s career did not begin in hospitality. After graduating in Electrical Power Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, he embarked on a technical career in industry. The engineering discipline taught him analytical thinking, resource efficiency, systems management, and problem-solving, skills that would later prove invaluable in sustainability work. Entering Tourism Almost by accident a career shift brought Srilal into the hotel industry, initially with the Confifi Group and later with Serendib Leisure. As he rose through the ranks to senior management and eventually CEO, he witnessed first-hand both the opportunities and challenges facing Sri Lanka tourism. The industry depended heavily on the country’s natural assets, its beaches, forests, wildlife, landscapes, and cultural heritage. Yet many tourism establishments paid insufficient attention to environmental management. Energy was wasted, water consumption was excessive, waste disposal was often inadequate, and sustainability was largely viewed as an optional extra rather than a business necessity. Srilal came to understand this early in his tourism career. In the early days when sustainability was not even talked about, he started an environment campaign at the 190 room 4 star beach resort Riverina Hotel, when he was General Manager then. The entire staff took a public oath to uphold the environmental credo of the hotel, and many innovative simple conservation measures were implemented. Bridging Business and Sustainability One of his greatest contributions was helping the tourism industry understand that sustainability was not anti-business. At a time when many hoteliers viewed environmental initiatives as expensive or impractical, he consistently argued that sustainability and profitability could go hand in hand. Reducing energy and water consumption resulted in saving lowered operating costs. Better waste management enhanced brand value while environmental stewardship attracted increasingly conscious international travellers. This practical business-oriented approach helped sustainability gain acceptance within an industry that was traditionally focused on occupancy, revenue, and profitability. The Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project Perhaps the most significant milestone in this journey came with the European Union-funded SWITCH-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project. As Project Director, Srilal led one of the most influential sustainability initiatives ever undertaken in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. The project focused on improving energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and environmental performance across the hotel industry. It engaged hotels throughout the country and sought to transform sustainability from a niche concept into a mainstream business practice. Under the project, hundreds of hotels were exposed to sustainability principles and practical implementation strategies. Training programmes, audits, benchmarking studies, awareness campaigns, guidelines, and technical support helped operators understand how environmental management could be integrated into daily operations. The project became one of the most successful initiatives in the entire SWITCH-Asia programme and won first place among Asian SWITCH-Asia projects at a regional conference. It was subsequently selected for international showcasing at the EU parliament breakaway sessions in Brussels, bringing recognition not only to Sri Lanka but also to the country’s tourism sector. Many industry observers regard this initiative as the moment when sustainability truly entered the mainstream of Sri Lankan hospitality. Creating a Sustainability Culture While projects eventually end, lasting change occurs when mind-sets change. Perhaps Srilal’s most enduring contribution was helping create a sustainability culture within the industry. Through countless workshops, seminars, presentations, publications, articles, and mentoring engagements, he consistently promoted responsible tourism practices. Hotels that had previously paid little attention to environmental management began measuring energy and water consumption, reducing waste, and investing in greener technologies. His efforts also helped build a new generation of tourism professionals who understood that sustainability was not merely about environmental protection but also about economic viability and social responsibility. Wildlife Conservation and Tourism Running parallel to his tourism career was a lifelong passion for wildlife conservation. His special interest in elephants led him to conduct research on elephant population dynamics at Uda Walawe National Park, under the sponsorship of the US fish and Wildlife Society. His work increasingly highlighted the economic value of wildlife conservation and the critical relationship between biodiversity and tourism. Long before concepts such as natural capital valuation became popular, Miththapala argued that wildlife was not simply a conservation asset but also a significant economic resource that generated tourism revenue and livelihoods. This thinking eventually culminated in research attempting to quantify the economic value of wild elephants to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Sustainability Leadership Beyond Hotels Srilal’s sustainability advocacy extended beyond individual hotels. As President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), tourism consultant, lecturer, researcher, and public speaker, he continually pushed for more responsible tourism development. His later work increasingly focused on destination management, carrying capacity, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, community participation, and sustainable tourism policy. He was the proud recipient of the a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award presented by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) AGM in 2023, recognizing his decades of service to the industry. He consistently warned against uncontrolled tourism growth and advocated a more balanced model that protected environmental and cultural assets while enhancing economic returns. His recent work on tourism carrying capacity can also be found on many websites. A Legacy of Mainstreaming Sustainability It would be an exaggeration to claim that any one individual created sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka. Many organisations, professionals, hoteliers, conservationists, and policymakers contributed to the journey. However, it is fair to say that Srilal Miththapala played a significant role in mainstreaming sustainability within Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. At a time when sustainability was poorly understood, he helped translate environmental concepts into practical business language. When only a few tourism leaders were speaking about carrying capacity, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and responsible development, he consistently placed these issues on the industry agenda. Today, as sustainability becomes central to global tourism, many of the ideas he championed decades ago are increasingly recognised as essential for the future competitiveness and resilience of Sri Lanka tourism. And ultimately, a tourism leader who spent much of his professional life trying to ensure that tourism and conservation could prosper together. That may well be his most enduring legacy.
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