Partners

Abans PLC, the flagship company of the Abans Group of Companies has a product portfolio encompassing major global brands in electronics, home appliances, mobiles and smartphones, IT and communication equipment, sanitaryware, apparel, footwear and personal care. Their partnership in WNPS's ‘Green Isle’ project in the Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuarr represents Abans’ and LG’s latest efforts to promote sustainable living in Sri Lanka as part of their ‘LG Loves Green Sri Lanka’ campaign, this CSR initiative aims to contribute towards the cause of Sri Lankan wildlife preservation by transforming the region into the one of ‘green lungs’ of the nation.

Alliance Finance Company PLC is a pioneer in sustainable finance in Sri Lanka, guided by a purpose to make the world a better place through responsible financial solutions. AFC’s business philosophy is rooted in the Triple Bottom Line- People, Planet, Profit, and integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into every aspect of its operations.

AFC was the first South Asian finance company to achieve holistic sustainability certification, aligning its strategy with global standards and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its vision includes reducing carbon footprints, promoting financial inclusion, and supporting climate resilience through innovative financial products. By embedding sustainability into its corporate DNA, AFC is shaping a financial ecosystem that uplifts communities, protects nature, and drives long-term value creation. (https://www.alliancefinance.lk/ )

Aranya, a 15 Acre property in Pannila, is located within 5 km of the Rare Species site location south-east of Welipenna, near Uthumgama, and is also in within a similar distance of the Yagirala Forest reserve, a two thousand hectare reserve which appears to be a "true tropical rain forest" and is as old as Sinharaja.

Aranya, a 15 Acre property in Pannila, is located within 5 km of the Rare Species site location south-east of Welipenna, near Uthumgama, and is also in within a similar distance of the Yagirala Forest reserve, a two thousand hectare reserve which appears to be a "true tropical rain forest" and is as old as Sinharaja. Almost two-thirds of the property is secondary forest with forest patches and plantations around the area. Natural streams and small caves exist within the property which result in the added diversity of species. The location was signed up in July 2021. These regions were the extended ranges of Sinharaja of old and continue to be the habitat for many endemics and rare species. Almost a hundred bird species have already been spotted here plus many rare and endangered other species. Adjacent lands are being rapidly cleared as the pressure mounts on transforming trees and lands into economic assets. Aranya is a sanskrit word which means Forest or Wilderness and is interpreted as a Quiet Place and the future aspiration of the Aranya Foundation is to have more research conducted on the facility, while accommodating small numbers of guests who are keen on nature.

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services and the company has been in operation in Sri Lanka for the past 6 decades. They are a B2B company that contributes to positively transforming the world we live in. Their ambition is to be a role model in carbon footprint reduction and biodiversity protection.

Spanning three generations of passion and commitment over 99 years, Colombo Jewelry Store (CJS) is a landmark in luxury fashion and jewelry in Sri Lanka. Proving they are a business with heart and not just a pioneer in high quality gem and jewelry in Sri Lanka, CJS has developed a strong reputation for using its brand awareness to inspire social conscience for environmental issues. CJS has been partnering with WNPS since 2019, and was the first corporate partner on WNPS’ LRS project, where they helped set up a LRS system in the northern border of Udawalawe in Pokunutenna. To celebrate World Biodiversity Day on 22 May 2020, CJS made a further donation to WNPS, to continue their LRS experimental expansion in 25 locations in 4 districts where there are heightened levels of HEC.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest private bank, has long been committed to sustainability and environmental conservation. Recognizing the urgent need to restore degraded ecosystems, the Bank has partnered with WNPS PLANT to support the Maskeli Oya Restoration Project, an initiative aimed at restoring degraded riparian forests creating a 9km long forest corridor along the Maskeli Oya river. This project plays a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity, stabilizing riverbanks, and improving water quality, all of which contribute to long-term environmental sustainability.

Commercial Bank integrates green finance, carbon neutrality, and ecosystem restoration into its broader corporate sustainability strategy. Their environmental initiatives also extend to sustainable land management, renewable energy financing, and community-based conservation efforts, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability. Through its collaboration with WNPS PLANT, Commercial Bank is investing in Sri Lanka’s natural heritage, ensuring that conservation efforts go beyond short-term impact and result in long-term ecological benefits. By supporting the restoration of the Maskeli Oya ecosystem, Com Bank is actively contributing to the preservation of Sri Lanka’s endemic flora and fauna, fostering sustainable land use practices, and empowering local communities.

D. L. & F. De Saram is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest law firms, offering a wide range of legal services for individuals, corporate, domestic, and international clients.

At Deutsche Bank, we view the global transition to a sustainable society and economy not only as one of the greatest challenges of our time, but also as a growth opportunity. Since embedding sustainability as a core pillar of our Global Hausbank strategy in 2019, we have made it central to how we operate, shaping products, services, policies, and processes across the bank.

Our strategy rests on four pillars:
- Sustainable Finance: Supporting clients in their transition with innovative, data-driven solutions.
- Policies & Commitments: Turning regulatory requirements into business opportunities, guided by clear frameworks and impact-based decision-making.
- People & Operations: Building a value-driven organization that integrates environmental and social aspects into everyday processes.
- Thought Leadership & Engagement: Partnering with governments, academia, and stakeholders to accelerate global standards.

To underline this commitment, Deutsche Bank has set ambitious goals: achieving €500 billion in sustainable financing and ESG investments by 2025, reducing our operational emissions by 46% by 2030, and reaching net-zero across our value chain by 2050. We are also committed to diversity, aiming for women to hold at least 35% of senior roles by 2025.

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is a non-profit organization with charitable status in Sri Lanka that was established in 1982 with the objectives of furthering the fields of Architecture, the Fine Arts and Ecological and Environmental Studies. The associated Lunuganga Trust was set up in 1993 by Geoffrey Bawa with the objective of managing and preserving his estate following his passing, which includes the iconic Lunuganga Estate, now a heritage garden and boutique hotel, and surrounding lands in the Bentota estuary. Today, the Lunuganga Trust builds on Bawa’s emphasis on ecology and environmental studies as complements to art and architecture through a year-round programme of conservation projects, exhibitions, publications and talks.

Since its inception, the Lunuganga Trust has engaged partners across public and private environmental organisations and academia to study and preserve the significant biodiversity under its stewardship. In 2011, the Trust established a sanctuary for the critically endangered Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) on Honduwa Island, Lunuganga, in partnership with the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Following the success of this flagship project, the Trust aims to expand its ecological and conservation projects in the following years through ecological restoration, scientific research partnerships, and educational and community programmes. (https://geoffreybawa.com/ )

Hatton Plantations PLC envisions becoming Sri Lanka’s most admired plantation company, driven by a purpose to lead the industry through innovation, sustainability, and responsible stewardship.

The company integrates environmental and social responsibility into its plantation operations, emphasizing energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and climate-smart agriculture. Hatton Plantations promotes a culture of integrity, perseverance, and continuous improvement, aligning its values with the principles of sustainable development. By embracing digital transformation and ESG frameworks, Hatton

Plantations is redefining plantation management to ensure long-term ecological balance and community well-being. (https://hattonplantations.lk/ )

Part of Sri Lanka's Hemas Group, Hemas Consumer, a leading manufacturer in beauty and personal care sector. Hemas strives to enrich Sri Lankan lifestyles via innovative, trusted and exceptional products that offer greater satisfaction in everyday use. Their brands encompass a range of products for babies and adults in hair care, skin care, toiletries, fragrances and oral care. Hemas brands also includes one of Sri Lanka’s most loved brand Atlas, which is a market leader in school stationery and notebooks, pens, pencils and colour products. Their operations are focused on the three components of sustainability; Environment, Social, and Economic and partner with NFPs on a number of environmental conservation projects to protect and restore Sri Lanka's natural environment.

The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has partnered with WFP’s work on humanitarian response in several ways. Firstly, they have generously provided risk reduction storage in Sri Lanka since 2021. They have also provided in-kind offerings to support needs assessments, research, warehousing and additional assistance for displaced populations, and programming in order to mitigate future displacements. Furthermore, HIPG is also providing budget to cover the full US$ equivalent costs for quality rice for over 145,000 school-going children today. WFP will also partner HIPG to conduct awareness programs with schools in the Hambantota district along with working with farmer communities with regards to the Managed Elephant Response (MER) in region HIPC.

WNPS through PLANT signed a joint agreement with Horana Plantations PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, thanks to the visionary thinking of the company and its leadership.

Horana Plantations PLC (www.horanaplantations.com) , Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (www.kvpl.com) and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (www.talawakelleteas.com), are all plantations associated with the Hayleys group (www.hayleys.com), and collectively own a large amount of tea and rubber estates, with a land extent of over 20,000 hectares. As industry pioneers in both tea and rubber, they have raised the bar to integrate sustainable practices into business processes, while joining forces with external parties such as the Rain Forest Alliance to reinforce sustainable approaches. Hayleys Plantations is the world’s most awarded and certified sustainable plantations on environmental friendliness, community welfare, people empowerment and ethical business standards. WNPS through PLANT signed a joint agreement with Horana Plantations PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, thanks to the visionary thinking of the company and its leadership.

Under this agreement, over 350 acres of land would be allocated directly to PLANT for Conservation and reforestation purposes in the Horana and Deniyaya regions. In addition, enhancement of Forest corridors along the Kelani River and Maskeliya-Oya, and reforestation of identified existing land areas in high altitude would be undertaken jointly, covering over 500 acres, while broadening over ten kilometers of forest corridors. These properties would be areas in which many biodiversity studies would be conducted by PLANT, while these Plantations would also be setting up several plant nurseries to help provide some of the plant varieties which are required for reforestation. This landmark effort will provide several kilometers of added forest corridor to facilitate animal movement in many parts of the country which are rich in biodiversity and under severe threat. This is by far the largest partnership for PLANT and creates a quantum leap on the efforts being taken to nurture forest corridors and connectivity across protected spaces. This agreement covers a thousand hectares (almost 2500 Acres) and will result in around 500 Acres of new forest being created over time.

A partially cultivated but largely forested 15 Acre block of land, the focus within Issengard Biosphere Reserve is on conserving and preserving existing forested areas, adding new trees and plants to enhance and expand the Forest cover over time, and to conduct biodiversity research.

A partially cultivated but largely forested 15 Acre block of land, the focus within Issengard Biosphere Reserve is on conserving and preserving existing forested areas, adding new trees and plants to enhance and expand the Forest cover over time, and to conduct biodiversity research.

Joining hands with PLANT in April 2022, the location is in the catchment of the Samanalawewa Reservoir and the forest is a disturbed, sub-montane forest, which provides a vital gateway to a much larger hillside of forested reservation. A range of species from the big cats to the smaller endemic frogs and species, all consider this property their domain. A recent project was launched where the initiative was primarily concerned with the conservation of endemic plant species that have been identified as suitable for this project in the Belihuloya area. Some villagers were selectively chosen as beneficiaries, who collect the relevant endemic plant seeds and maintain a nursery of around 800 healthy saplings. Once plants grow to a height of about two feet, they will be replanted in deforested areas and along forest roads. From this project the beneficiary species indirectly include the Golden Palm Civet, the Legge's Hawk Eagle, and the Montane Purple-face Langur, while the Haagala forest reserve will also be a reforesting location. This location receives regular visits from undergraduate study groups who focus mini research projects within the property.

Kumarika is Sri Lanka's leading hair oil used by generations of Sri Lankans. It is one of the leading products by Sri Lanka's Hemas Group. Hemas Consumer, a leading manufacturer in beauty and personal care sector. Kumarika has partnered with WNPS on Marine Chats in order to build public awareness of the devastating effects of plastic waste to marine environments.

Lion Nation Foundation (Guarantee) Limited is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in Sri Lanka, founded by Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC, Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC, Ceylon Investment PLC, Equity One Limited and Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC.

The foundation focuses on three key areas - water, waste, and knowledge - driving impactful initiatives through direct action, collaborative partnerships, research, and knowledge-sharing. By fostering thought leadership, innovation, and the development of Centres of Excellence, Lion Nation Foundation is committed to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.

Tucked away on the slopes of Koslanda, this 80 acre site would have once been virgin rainforest. Many lands in this vicinity have seen the cultivation of tea and other crops including rubber, coffee and pepper over the years. Abandoned in the 1950s, nature began to reclaim the land once more and the result today is an intriguing mix of native Sri Lankan plants, long-forgotten crops and introduced species. The stream which winds its way through the property, forms a beautiful waterfall that continues its journey and helps sustain the eco system of the property and beyond.

Founded on a principle of sustainability, Living Heritage Koslanda is committed to promoting sustainable tourism and preserving and enhancing the natural environment whilst keeping the village economy alive by creating employment opportunities for the local community (www.koslanda.com). In mid-2023, the property joined the growing list of partners of PLANT and will help provide critical links for species movement in this region through the conservation of over 40 Acres of forested land, in addition to its eco-tourism footprint.

A reforestation initiative had been introduced previously, replanting several native tree species. The resort has its own organic garden, and the produce is used to prepare healthy meals for the guests. As part of the MOU, Living Heritage will create and maintain a plant nursery, which would be utilized to grow montane species and act as a plant bank for other PLANT locations at similar altitudes and ecological conditions. Biodiversity projects which will promote environmental protection, reduce invasive species, and engage in further ecosystem restoration, are part of the future plans.

An abundance of bird life, including the very rare Malaba Trogon, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Racket-tailed Drongo and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, has been observed alongside Barking Deer and many varieties of butterflies and moths. This forest is also on the route elephants have used for centuries when they leave the plains below to move to the hills during the dry seasons.

MAS Capital is part of MAS Holdings ( www.masholdings.com ) who is a global apparel tech conglomerate who are setting the industry benchmark for sustainable and ethical manufacturing. With technology at their forefront, sustainability remains at the core of everythingthey do, making them an organisation that is revolutionizing an entire industry. MAS as a sustainability initiative carries out reforestation projects and carries out initiatives to protect the environment to reduce its carbon footprint. MAS provides financial support for reforestation of some identified land blocks in our Minuwanella property.

In 2022, MAS Holdings and WNPS PLANT collaborated to launch a restoration project in Minuwanella. Through a scientific approach, we aimed to rejuvenate 3.75 acres by 2023 and an additional 7.5 acres by 2025. Our efforts have already led to increased Hump-nosed lizard population and promising signs of recovery for other species, signaling hope for our environment.

For more information, visit https://www.plantsl.org/projects/minuwan-ella%2C-deraniyagala

For over 50 years, Mercantile Investments and Finance PLC has been in the forefront of Sri Lanka’s financial services industry.

Nation’s Trust Bank (NTB) has been a long-term partner of WNPS In 2021, NTB signed an agreement to become the sole sponsor of WNPS’s publications – ‘LORIS’, ‘Warana/Varanam’ biannual magazines and ‘The Jungle Telegraph’ quarterly e-newsletter, in addition to funding the very popular WNPS Monthly Lecture series which is now being watched by over 700 people on average per lecture. Established in 1999, Nations Trust Bank has been driving innovation within the banking sector for two decades and challenging the norm to deliver an unparalleled banking experience to customers. More than your average bank, NTB regularly invests in conservation programs in Sri Lanka and has implemented multiple environmental initiatives to foster biodiversity research and education, reforestation and species conservation and climate change action. Their partnership with WNPS is an investment in ensuring Sri Lanka’s fauna and flora is protected for the future generations.

US Forest Services is a Federal Agency of the United States with the mandate of managing public lands in the form of national forests and grasslands, provide technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies and make up the largest forestry research organization in the world. Their mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. As part of their moto, US Foresr Services lends international assistance to formulate policy and coordinate U.S. support for the protection and sound management of the world's forest resources. They have generously offered to partner with the Youth Wing on x, y, z in line with their mission.

Natures Beauty Creations ( www.nbc.lk ) manufactures and markets personal care products and ensures its products are developed with utmost care for the environment, with many initiatives implemented across biodiversity conservation, sustainable sourcing, waste management and sustainability awareness. NBS also possesses a medicinal plant arboretum around their production facility which is probably Sri Lanka’s largest privately owned collection of medicinal plants for conservation and research, including endemic and critically endangered species, and they have a knowledgeable team of in-house specialists in this area. NBC is supporting WNPS PLANT with plants, saplings, and seedlings etc, and specialist input and added resources in pursuit of their objectives whilst also acting as an official Specialist Plant Nursery Partner for WNPS PLANT. The company hopes to provide thousands of plants for the reforestation initiative, both from its existing plant specie base, and through specific plants that they would nurture at the request of WNPS PLANT.

Nisarga is a fifteen-acre property which was secured by private individuals as an extension to link up with an existing PLANT property to buffer the aggressive deforestation going on around in those regions and provide an extended nature corridor.

Nisarga means Nature in Sanskrit and is an apt word to describe this rural forest patch which plays host to many interesting species. Nisarga is a fifteen-acre property which was secured by private individuals as an extension to link up with an existing PLANT property to buffer the aggressive deforestation going on around in those regions and provide an extended nature corridor. Birdlife is rich and complimented with several other species, many of which are endemic and special. Being located within 5 km of the Rare Species site location near Uthumgama (and similarly to the Yagirala Forest reserve, a two-thousand-hectare reserve which appears to be a "true tropical rain forest" and is as old as Sinharaja), the region is a hotspot of biodiversity but under extreme duress due to commercial exploitation of land, and urbanization. Enrichment of the flora will be undertaken in small patches where partial old agricultural plantations have existed. Rocky outcrops, a bordering stream and varied vegetation make a great recipe for species refuge and conservation.

Otter Fonds is a Dutch foundation committed to nurturing eco-cultural diversity through community-led restoration and conservation. Its vision is to support grassroots organizations that protect biodiverse ecosystems while fostering sustainable futures grounded in local ecological and cultural values.

Otter Fonds emphasizes holistic sustainability, valuing traditional knowledge, intergenerational collaboration, and inclusive development. By empowering communities to define and implement their own conservation strategies, the foundation promotes scalable models that address global challenges like climate change and habitat loss. Its approach is rooted in long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and the belief that small-scale, locally driven efforts can inspire broader environmental transformation. (https://www.otterfonds.com/ )

Penn International Impact Consulting (PIIC) ( www.penniic.org ) provides pro-bono consulting services to NGOs and social entrepreneurs worldwide. PIIC is composed of some of the brightest and most passionate globally-minded students from all four schools at the University of Pennsylvania. Partnering with NGOs to create sustainable social impact via on-site and off-site consulting engagements, they believe in scalable, measurable results that can empower real change. Since inception, PIIC has grown to include over 50 NGO partnerships and has worked to complete over 80 unique projects in 40 different countries. The Impact Consulting team have been collaborating very closely with WNPS and PLANT to help establish the digital footprint for PLANT, advise on some of the routes to be used for engaging different audiences, and in how to best position the work being done across diverse areas. The team engaged in building the website, advising on developing other digital assets, and consulted on improving the sustainability elements when it comes to usage of plastic packaging for nurturing young plants across nurseries. The team also plans to support WNPS on the Fund raising and providing exposure for the Human Elephant Conflict issue.

In May 2022, a yearlong effort came to fruition when PLANT completed acquisition of three parcels of adjoining lands in the ecologically sensitive Peak Wilderness area off Erathna. The properties on the Minuwan Ella Estate, ensure around Forty-four Acres of refuge to a very diverse range of species.

In May 2022, a yearlong effort came to fruition when PLANT completed acquisition of three parcels of adjoining lands in the ecologically sensitive Peak Wilderness area off Erathna. The properties on the Minuwan Ella Estate, ensure around Forty-four Acres of refuge to a very diverse range of species. PLANT is very proud to have obtained funding for purchase through two globally strong conservation Partners from USA, namely Rainforest Trust (www.rainforesttrust.org ) and The Quick Response Fund for Nature, through the Preventing Extinction Fund (www.quickresponsefund.org ). These were two partners from USA who believed in the PLANT vision and inspired WNPS to do more and we will always remain indebted.

Since 1988, Rainforest Trust has been safeguarding imperiled tropical habitats and saving endangered species by establishing protected areas in partnership with local organizations and communities. With its partners, Rainforest Trust has safeguarded more than 37 million acres of vital habitat across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The Quick Response Fund for Nature (QRFN) is a philanthropic collaboration focused on protecting some of the world’s most critical sites for endangered species.

These combined blocks have two streams on either side of the property, some small waterfalls, and it virtually borders the spectacular Minuwan Ella falls. The location benefitted from some previous studies done (thanks to Mendis Wickramasinghe and team) and showed that the property is home to an astonishing 145 endemic species count within its small confines. The location is adjacent to a tea plantation and forest newly cleared for Cinnamon and thus provides critical connectivity for species movement along streams and ridges, plus important undisturbed breeding grounds for many of them. PLANT is currently establishing the boundary signage and installing Camera traps (Sponsored by Retrace Hospitality) within the property. MAS Capital has funded a reforestation initiative within parts of the location.

RETRACE™ Hospitality ( www.retracehospitality.com ) partners with investors, property developers and operators to rethink and revitalise Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. Reconnecting global hospitality and professional real estate experience with Sri Lanka’s deep-rooted regenerative heritage, they hope to bring meaningful progress to the island’s diverse hospitality landscape.

Retrace engaged with PLANT in late 2022 and has funded the setting up of some camera traps within the Minuwanella Property, which will provide the team with much needed insights about the occupants on this critical block of land. The company hopes to support PLANT on an ongoing basis in this manner.

One of WNPS's longest standing partners, Sampath Bank Sampath continued to extend its support towards environmental sustainability by donating Rs. 5/- for each new issuance of a Sampath Debit Card every year since 1994 to WNPS. Through Sampath Bank’s 25 years of commitment to the cause, every user of a Sampath Debit Card can take pride in making an active contribution towards the conservation of wildlife and nature in the country. As a pioneer in digital innovation, Sampath Bank has steered a host of Digital Banking services with an aim to promote the best practices of green banking concept among its customers. Taking a revolutionary step in its effort to reduce carbon footprint, Sampath Bank Head Office was awarded ‘Carbon Neutral Certification’ by Climate Smart Initiatives for 2018. Attested by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the carbon neutral certification was a result of a stringent and comprehensive process implemented by the Sampath Bank Head Office and its entire branch network. With environmental sustainability ingrained in its core values, Sampath Bank constantly strives to provide eco-friendly products and services while opening new avenues for everyone in the country to opt for Green Banking while proactively contributing towards environmental sustainability and conservation.

In March 2022, PLANT and WNPS signed a collective MOU with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka’s most broadly embedded community-based development organization network. Sarvodaya works with 26 district centres, 325 divisional centres and over 3,000 legally independent village societies in districts across the country ( www.sarvodaya.org ). Along with WNPS, the three parties will work closely on several conservation initiatives and efforts. The partnership brought in many Acres of land under PLANT coverage and these efforts include working together to protect and further develop the forest eco system and biodiversity, carry out research, assess progress, publish findings, and conduct training programmes to educate communities from Sarvodaya and neighboring villages to ensure sustainability, among other areas.

Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart partnered with WNPS WildsKids on the “Up-cycled Waste Items Competition”. Seylan Tikiri, is a pioneer in children’s savings accounts in the country. Apart from inculcating the habit of saving amongst children, Seylan Tikiri also focuses on moulding the future generations of Sri Lanka to be responsible, educated citizens. Seylan Bank is always on the lookout for innovative ways to educate, engage and encourage children on multiple aspects, through digital platforms. Throughout the lockdown period, Seylan Tikiri played an important part in keeping children’s spirits high with a range of online activities such as Tikiri lockdown diary, Tikiri Digital Avurudu, Vesak Pathuma, Tikiri Champ, Story Telling and many more. These activities were able to keep the children engaged and occupied while being indoors.

Spa Ceylon is Sri Lanka's luxury Ayurveda & Wellness brand and prides itself as being a conscious Sri Lankan brand committed to contributing to the island and mother nature by promoting the protection of the country’s most recognizable ambassador - the majestic Ceylon Elephant. Spa Ceylon has embarked several initiatives to help raise awareness about their plight and to fund conservation projects that address the situation. As a socially conscientious brand, Spa Ceylon proudly donates 10% of their turnover from the sale of The Save The Majestic Ceylon Elephant range towards specific elephant conservation projects in Sri Lanka They are a proud sponsor of WNPS's LRS method of mitigating the HEC.

TeeJay Lanka PLC is the largest Textile Group and Knit Fabric Provider in South Asia and Sri Lanka’s only multinational mill. Teejay Lanka PLC believes that the sustainability of their profitability ultimately depends on the sustainability of the communities and environment that we they a part of, and that creating social and environmental value, while important in itself, is also integral to sustaining long-term shareholder value.

Formerly known as the Carbon Consulting Company, CCC (www.climateconserve.com ) with Sustainability at the heart of everything they do, possess a team of several in-house specialists and partner with an external pool of sustainability consultants and industry experts and provide management and technical expertise, and advisory services encompassing all aspects of Integrated Sustainability Solutions to leading companies across the globe. The team has agreed to support PLANT with specialist inputs in some of these areas, which is a much-needed value addition for our work, while also acting as an Ambassador for PLANT by channeling efforts of international and local partners who seek credible sustainability initiatives to fund and endorse.

The Lanka Environment Fund is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering local communities and conservation groups to protect Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. Established in 2019, LEF acts as a conduit for international and local funding, supporting impactful grassroots environmental initiatives.

LEF’s mission is to foster stewardship of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity through transparent, accountable, and community-driven conservation. Its vision is to create a future where development and conservation converge, enabling people and nature to coexist in harmony. As part of the global Conservation Collective network, LEF promotes marine and terrestrial ecosystem protection, responsible tourism, and sustainable waste management, ensuring that conservation efforts are inclusive, scalable, and locally relevant. (https://www.lankaenvironmentfund.org/ )

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, under the Department of National Botanic Gardens, serves as Sri Lanka’s premier institution for plant conservation, botanical research, and public education. Its mission is to provide opportunities for the public to study, admire, and sustainably conserve plant resources in both natural and cultivated environments.

With over 4,500 conserved plant species, including rare and endemic flora, the Gardens play a vital role in ex-situ conservation, floriculture development, and biodiversity awareness. The institution also supports sustainable tourism, community education, and scientific research through its herbarium and training centers. Peradeniya’s vision is to become the most impressive tropical botanical garden by maintaining excellence in botanical aesthetics and research, contributing meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s ecological and cultural legacy. (https://www.botanicgardens.gov.lk/service/royal-botanic-gardens-peradeniya/ )

NDB has been the exclusive financial partners of the WNPS Youth Wing and were pivotal in the implementation of the ‘Education for Conservation’ programme' carried out by the WNPS Youth Wing. The program successfully engaged with 58 schools across 12 districts, islandwide, reaching more than 5000 students. Programmes are conducted in the three languages; English, Sinhala and Tamil depending on the region and demographic participating in the programme. NDB remains dedicated to bringing its customers one step closer to accomplishing their life long ambitions and uplifting their standards of living through the range of services that is accessible through its growing branch network.

WealthTrust Securities Limited (WTS) is a leading Primary Dealer company under license from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. As one of the largest capitalized non-bank Primary Dealers, Wealth Trust acts as a specialized intermediary in the government securities market with shareholder reserves exceeding Rs. 2.7 Billion as per the audited financial statements for the year ending 31st March 2021 and a Net Asset per Ordinary Share of Rs. 82.03. Our main shareholders consist of Finco Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, SAFE Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Sierra Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and GENESIIS Software (Pvt) Ltd.

ROAR (Reforestation Of A Rainforest) is the oldest running project of WNPS. These learnings provided much needed background for us to pursue our PLANT ambitions. After an initial setback, the project was resuscitated and developed under sound scientific principles in 2016 with the assistance and guidance of Professors Savitri and Nimal Gunatilleke and Dr. Suranjan Fernando.

ROAR (Reforestation Of A Rainforest) is the oldest running project of WNPS. These learnings provided much needed background for us to pursue our PLANT ambitions. After an initial setback, the project was resuscitated and developed under sound scientific principles in 2016 with the assistance and guidance of Professors Savitri and Nimal Gunatilleke and Dr. Suranjan Fernando. Diyakothakanda is a typical lowland rainforest that has been clear felled and cultivated by subsistence farmers and abandoned after depletion of soil fertility. When WNPS stepped in to reforest this steep denuded hill slope of about 5 acres in extent, the entire site was completely colonized by the ‘Old World Forked Fern’ Dicranopteris linearis, popularly known as Kekilla, and repeatedly set on fire by the local vandals. WNPS has been able to successfully arrest and reverse this status to slowly bring back the rainforest. In zones A and B, we are in the second lap of the relay floristics technique where our initially planted fast growing and sun loving pioneer species such as Kenda, Geduma, Bukenda, Bovitiya etc. suppressed the Kekilla by cutting off the sunlight which it needs for survival. Under the shade provided by the pioneer species we were soon able to introduce early successional forest trees which are now growing well. In Zone C, where the soil is badly damaged, the process will be longer.

Our Forest is coming alive - new visitors enter ROAR!
Subsequent to the successful growth of the 10-15 foot canopy, the ROAR team have now discovered many endemic and special species back within the site. They include species such as the Toque Macaque, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon, Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Crimson-fronted Barbet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Crimson-backed Flameback, Red-backed Flameback, Layard's Parakeet, Sri Lanka Swallow and the Black-capped Bulbul. Several snakes and lizards now make it their home including the Whistling Lizard, Rough-nosed Horned Lizard, Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard, Sri Lankan green vine snake, Sri Lanka Cat snake, Sri Lankan Wolf Snake and the Lowland Hump-nosed pit Viper. Amphibians include Common Shrub Frog and Common hour-glass tree-frogs. These are all endemic to Sri Lanka as is the Sri Lanka Birdwing butterfly which graces us with its bright yellow colours (our largest butterfly specie). Many other species have been recorded as well, which strongly indicates project success in terms of reforestation. There are several research projects planned to assess the flora and fauna diversity within the site in future.

Community Engagement is Key.
WNPS strongly believes in community engagement for future success, and in the case of ROAR, it has extended not just to the setting up of Community plant nurseries, but towards major infusion of knowledge and funds into the adjacent school through building new libraries, infrastructure and doing many workshops, mural paintings and more. The library building of the Dikhena Kanishta Vidyalaya, renovated at a cost of nearly Rs 3 million, by Mr. Ajita de Costa, (our current ROAR sponsor) in loving memory of his mother Mrs. Iris Bertha de Costa, was handed over to the students at a simple ceremony held at the school on Sunday 20th November 2022.