Animals and wildlife

ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to discuss the transboundary haze at an upcoming meeting. The episode highlights longstanding regional tensions over the annual haze, which has strained diplomatic relations in previous severe seasons such as 2015.

Expanding wildlife rescue centres to every province and linking them with tourism is also under discussion.

Without deliberate ecological planning, the green transition risks creating new biodiversity deficits even as it reduces greenhouse-gas emissions.

Worldwide, stronger protection has helped push tiger numbers up from a low of roughly 3,200 in 2010 to around 5,800 today.

As Minister Jayatissa and experts emphasise, the private sector’s dynamism, combined with targeted public support, offers the best path to a competitive, sustainable livestock industry that delivers for consumers, producers, and the nation.

The High Court’s procedural victory for the activists keeps hope alive for preserving one of the Indian Ocean’s most celebrated marine protections.

This development reflects evolving societal values in Sri Lanka, where animal welfare is increasingly seen not just as a moral imperative but as integral to sustainable development and compassionate governance.

The persistence of illegal hunting and trade underscores a tension between traditional practices, economic necessity, and modern conservation imperatives.