Harnessing Sri Lanka’s biodiversity for national benefit

22 May marks World Biodiversity Day, a time to reflect on the importance of nature’s variety and the urgent need to protect it. For Sri Lanka, this day holds special relevance as it is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, home to a remarkable range of flora and fauna, much of it endemic, found nowhere else on Earth.

Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity is the product of millions of years of geological isolation from the Indian subcontinent. This isolation has allowed species to evolve in distinctive ways, resulting in ecosystems of exceptional scientific and ecological value. From the rainforests of Sinharaja to the highlands of Horton Plains, the country boasts a living laboratory of rare plants and animals.

But while Sri Lanka has been blessed with this natural treasure, it has failed to convert this wealth into meaningful economic or social gains. The biodiversity that could have supported a thriving industry in pharmaceuticals, eco-tourism, and sustainable agriculture remains largely untapped and poorly researched.

In fact, the story of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is often one of lost opportunities and missed benefits. One glaring example is that of Kothala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata), a plant known locally for its anti-diabetic properties. Although Sri Lankan traditional knowledge recognised its medicinal potential, it was foreign researchers and companies that capitalised on it, developing profitable drugs without returning any benefit to the country of origin. This is a classic case of biopiracy—the exploitation of natural resources and indigenous knowledge without proper compensation or recognition.

If Sri Lanka is to protect its biodiversity while also benefiting from it, the Government, academic institutions, and private sector must work together to create a robust framework for research, development, and innovation. This includes investing in biotechnological research, encouraging interdisciplinary studies in ecology, medicine, and economics, and building infrastructure to support intellectual property rights and patents.

Additionally, there must be legislation to protect against the unauthorised use of native species and traditional knowledge. Material transfer agreements which allow access to local biodiversity to foreign research institutions and companies while ensuring benefit sharing of the results of those ventures is a primary necessity. Taking this one step forward Sri Lanka should look into collaborations which would return the benefits both in terms of monetary value and knowledge for such material sharing. While Sri Lanka has signed onto several international instruments such as the Biodiversity Convention and the Nagoya Protocol that ensure countries benefit fairly from the use of their genetic resources, it is yet to utilise these legal instruments to their maximum potential.

Importantly, biodiversity research must not be viewed as merely academic. It should lead to practical outcomes—products, processes, and policies that contribute to healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. Sri Lanka’s universities and research institutes must take the lead in this transformation, supported by Government policy and funding.

We are sitting on a gold mine of biodiversity, yet we continue to treat it as a museum piece rather than a driver of development. Protecting it is essential, but utilising it wisely is equally important.