LOLC’s continuous mission to save Sri Lanka’s apex predator

Friday, 1 August 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UK-based Wildlife Field Director Hannah Gormley, and Wildlife Cinematographer Noah Falklind with LOLC Holdings Chief Operating Officer Kithsiri Gunawardena, alongside officials from LOLC and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society

In celebration of Sri Lankan Leopard Day today, 1 August, LOLC Holdings PLC reinforces its enduring commitment to the protection of the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), a critically threatened apex predator found only on this island. As the driving force behind one of the nation’s most extensive and impactful conservation initiatives, LOLC continues to spearhead a results-oriented, research-led program that moves decisively beyond awareness into lasting, on-ground intervention.

At the heart of this mission is the multi-regional Leopard Research and Conservation Project, launched in 2022, in partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS). With six active conservation zones spanning Labukale, Maskeliya, Norwood, Wellawaya, Monaragala, and Pusellawa, this initiative combines field research, community engagement, snare removal, and biodiversity protection. Over Rs. 10.6 million has been invested to date, establishing the project as one of the largest privately funded leopard conservation efforts in Sri Lanka.

In the lead-up to Sri Lankan Leopard Day 2025, LOLC hosted an advance internal conservation discussion, featuring global voices in wildlife protection. UK-based Wildlife Field Director Hannah Gormley and renowned Wildlife Cinematographer Noah Falklind joined LOLC Chief Operating Officer Kithsiri Gunawardena in a discussion highlighting the urgency of protecting Sri Lanka’s last remaining leopards. “This leopard isn’t just a symbol of Sri Lanka’s wild, it’s our living heritage. Ensuring its survival is non-negotiable,” emphasised Gunawardena.

Adding global perspective, Gormley remarked, “Conservation doesn’t rest solely on scientists, it demands collective responsibility. LOLC’s work through WNPS is a model of what corporate-led environmental stewardship can achieve.” While Falklind resonated these sentiments, noting, “The Sri Lankan Leopard is not only ecologically vital, it holds emotional, cultural, and economic significance. LOLC’s efforts are inspiring and critical.”

To amplify the message, LOLC and WNPS, in collaboration with Sirasa TV and MBC Network, will launch a nationwide awareness campaign, including a three-episode program series broadcast in Sinhala and Tamil. The series will spotlight leopard conservation, human-wildlife coexistence, and community success stories.

This initiative follows a successful year of outreach, with the continuation of its 103 public sessions educating 6,396 participants, and LOLC planning to extend awareness materials to its branch network and subsidiary company properties around leopard habitats.

As a responsible corporate citizen, LOLC Holdings champions a future where conservation and development coexist. Through unity, science, and education, LOLC continues its bold mission to protect a legacy that belongs to us all.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.