Leopards, birds, whales, and forests — Sri Lanka’s wild heart beats in every corner. Naturalist Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne shares how this tiny island rivals the world’s great biodiversity hotspots. 

In this episode of “Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot,” I speak with Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, one of Sri Lanka’s leading naturalists and authors. Together, we explore the island’s extraordinary biodiversity — from its ancient forests to its unique evolutionary story. Gehan reflects on his early inspirations, his career fusing business acumen with wildlife tourism, and his deep passion for photography. The discussion offers insight into Sri Lanka’s approach to balancing wildlife tourism, conservation, and sustainable growth, highlighting how the nation can welcome more visitors while preserving its precious natural heritage.

00:00 Introduction to Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives

01:17 Meet Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Sri Lanka's Foremost Naturalist

03:36 Gehan's Early Inspirations and Journey

13:24 The Rich Biodiversity of Sri Lanka

16:09 The Ancient Origins of Sri Lanka's Wildlife

29:06 Challenges and Solutions in Wildlife Tourism

37:17 Photography and the Esoteric Experience of Sri Lanka's Nature

51:09 Future Projects and Final Thoughts

Photo and Soundscape credits Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

1. Leopard, Wilpattu

2. Shama and Jerdons Nightjar, Sigiriya

3. Koel n Tailorbird, Colombo

About Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne
Regarded as one of the most high-profile wildlife personalities in Sri Lanka, his work helped raise awareness of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and turned nature-tourism into a more viable proposition in the country.  Gehan has an ability to bridge science, photography, publishing and business (tourism). He has written over 20 books and is credited as being Sri Lanka's foremost naturalist.  

Major Publications (Selected)

A Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka | 2019 (First Edition)  | Covers all 468 bird species recorded in Sri Lanka including 34 endemics
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Mammals of Sri Lanka | | Field guide for mammals of Sri Lanka; includes checklists & top mammal-watching sites.
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Butterflies & Dragonflies of Sri Lanka | Focuses on ~280 species of butterflies & dragonflies, with photographs and field-use info.
Wild Sri Lanka | | More general overview of Sri Lanka’s wildlife, biodiversity and nature-tourism.
Birds of Sri Lanka | | A photographic guide to Sri Lanka’s avifauna (with co-authors in some editions).
Mammals of Sri Lanka | | A photographic guide to mammals of Sri Lanka.

Title: Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot
Host: Dee Gibson — Sri Lankan-born, award winning designer based in London and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka. www.kalukandahouse.com | instagram @deegibson2017 & @kalukandahouse

Podcast Themes:

• Modern Sri Lankan identity and culture
• Architecture, art, and design
• Sustainability and heritage
• Diaspora experiences and storytelling

Why Listen:
This podcast offers deep, intelligent storytelling about Sri Lanka’s evolving identity — a blend of East and West, ancient and modern. It’s for listeners who love culture, travel, architecture, and thoughtful conversation.