First ever concert for rainforests in Sri Lanka on 29 June

Friday, 13 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

For the very first time in Sri Lanka, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) will hold a concert to raise awareness and conserve rainforests on Sunday 29 June at the Bishop’s College Auditorium. Featuring Alien Accent, the Green Tear Concert, a charity fundraiser to save Sri Lanka’s rainforests, places the spotlight on the world heritage site Sinharaja with its high biodiversity and large population of endemic plant and bird species.

Organisers said with almost all of Sri Lanka’s endemic flora and fauna confined to rainforests, the WNPS is collaborating with Alien Accent, whose message oriented music has gathered a large following, to cascade its ‘Save our Rainforest’ message. Alien Accent comprises Dillain, Suresh and DK, all amazing musicians in their own right, and all of who have wowed audiences with their unique brand of music. Speaking at a media meet prior to the Green Tear Concert, WNPS President Professor Lakdas Fernando looked back on history, saying: “The history of wildlife protection in Sri Lanka is almost synonymous with that of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka. Incepted in 1894, the WNPS of Sri Lanka is one of the oldest conservation entities in Asia and has been at the forefront of numerous important milestones pertaining to conservation efforts. The formulation of the new Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance 1938 and the formation of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in 1949, were direct results of the WNPS’ work with the Government of Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka’s forest cover has been dwindling from the time of British Colonial rule, where thousands of acres of forest cover were cleared for coffee, rubber, coconut and tea plantations. Very little of the island’s original rainforest cover remains. Industrialisation, cultivation, encroachment and illegal felling of trees is taking its toll on the rain forest,” Prof. Fernando said. “With our future generation in mind, we need to act now to help regenerate the rainforest. This is an era where poaching is rampant, the human-elephant conflict is at its worst, national parks are being mismanaged and buffer zones of our fragile rain forests are being ignored,” the WNPS Chief added. Prof. Fernando emphasised that it was crucial that the WNPS be able to carry out its mandate. However, in the recent past many instances of practical action have been quite challenging due to the lack of funding. Explaining their enthusiasm at being the messengers to save Sri Lanka’s rainforests through their music in this Green Tear Concert, Dillain said: “Alien Accent is happy and privileged to perform at this unique ground breaking event. All of us feel deeply towards this cause and we have been rehearsing for the last two months to ensure that our music will do justice to this cause. Please be there to hear us perform and support this concert.” Tickets for the concert are priced at Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,500 Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500, and are available at the Bishop’s College Auditorium.

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