The Best of Malkoha celebrates half a century of Sri Lankan ornithological writings
By Ifham Nizam The launch of The Best of Malkoha: Half a Century of Ornithological Writings marked a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s birdwatching and conservation history, as the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. The book, drawn from five decades of […]
The Island Sri Lanka reported on the launch of The Best of Malkoha: Half a Century of Ornithological Writings, marking the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL)'s Golden Jubilee. The book, a compilation of writings from the FOGSL newsletter spanning five decades, brought together a rich record of observations and discoveries that have shaped modern field ornithology in Sri Lanka.
The event, held at the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, celebrated the organisation's 76th birthday, paying tribute to founding figure Vidyajothi Emeritus Professor Sarath Kotagama and its role in making birdwatching accessible to the public. Biodiversity expert Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda emphasized the importance of FOGSL's work in making bird and nature knowledge accessible, highlighting the publication of A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka in 1994 and Sri Lanka Kurulu in Sinhala as key accomplishments.
Pethiyagoda also cautioned about current and future challenges, including habitat fragmentation, climate change, and inadequate research, as the country continues to expand its protected-area network and faces serious institutional challenges.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
