All for the love of elephants

Dr. Ranjith Bandara and his concern for the human-elephant conflict

by Sajitha Prematunge

It's an unnerving feeling being with Dr. Ranjith Bandara. You feel like you are made of glass or some other translucent materiel. He has this weird knack of seeing through people, speculating on what makes them tick, their personalities, their preferences, etc....

He is also a remarkable observer. One look at my feet and he asserted that I was walking with some discomfort. My new leather shoes weren't quite broken in by then.

But his speciality is neither sociology nor psychology. An Economist by profession Dr. Ranjith Bandara was born in Sirimalwatte Kandy, on 4th November 1964.

He attended the Sirimalwatte Rajakiya Vidyalaya, acquired his B.A Honours in Economics in 1990 from the University of Peradeniya, M.A in Economics in 1992 from the University of Colombo and MSc in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture in 1995 from the Agricultural University of Norway.

He earned his PhD in Economics in 2003 from the University of Queeensland, Australia and is currently working as a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Colombo. Dr. Bandara was recently presented with the University Research Award of Excellence for the year 2005/2006 by the University of Colombo for his immense contribution to the field of research studies.

He is the author of the book "The Economics of Human-Elephant Conflict" PAM WC, Ministry of Environmental and natural Resources. He has contributed to a number of National and International Journals.

He has also written a number of policies, journal articles, book chapters, monographs, book and manuscript reviews, discussion papers and research reports and thesis. Some of his other publications such as "Visitors' Reaction to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka: A Survey, Sri Lanka Modern Studies; "Economic value of Conservation: The Case of the Asian Elephant" South Asian Economic Journal; In collaboration with Clem Tisdell - "Effects of Change in Abundance of Elephants on Willingness to Pay for Their Conservation" Journal of Environmental Management, "Wildlife-Based Recreation and Local Economic Development: The Case of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka", "Tourism as a Contributor to Development in Sri Lanka" Developing Economies in Asia, "The Net Benefit of Saving the Asian Elephant" Ecological Economics; Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences,Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management; in collaboration with Gunaratne L. H. P, Asitha Seneviratne - PREM Extension Study, Department of Agricultural and Business Management, University of Peradeniya; "National Elephant Conservation Policy" Department of Wildlife Conservation (coauthored with Prof. S.W. Kotagama, Prof. Charles Santhiyapilli and few others) and a host of others were considered for the award.

"Economics is an amazing subject that enables one to focus on different disciplines. Environmental economics is just one aspect of it, which is an integration of economics and environmental studies" Dr. Ranjith Bandara told the Sunday Observer.

Environmental economics seek a balance between economic development and the natural environment. It focuses on sustainability of economic development. "The Economics of Human-Elephant Conflict is my pet subject" claimed Dr. Ranjith Bandara. His most recent publication "The Economics of Human-Elephant Conflict" deal with the same subject. In fact almost 70% of his research is based on the repercussions of Human-elephant conflict and its' Economic implications.

"The trouble is that most environmental commodities are not marketable, such as clean air and sceneries. Consequently little economic value can be attached to these entities" But Environmental economics investigate the economical viability of the natural environment.

In consequence Environmental conservation can be better reinforced, by an economical perspective as well. His specialty has become 'Non market valuation' for which he has, for the first time ever in Sri Lanka, used the Contingent Valuation Technique (CVT) to estimate economic values for ecosystem and environmental services.

The contingent valuation method involves direct inquiries such as the use of surveys, to determine the value of specific environmental services for the general public. In some cases, people are inquired about the amount of compensation they are willing to accept to give up specific environmental services, consequently this is referred to as 'Contingent' Valuation Technique.

Judged by a panel of senior faculty members of the University of Colombo, the research award 'The Research Excellence Award 2005/2006' is a lifetime achievement award and is often referred to as a rare opportunity.

This is by no means the first award he got his hands on. Most researches are of international level, explained the doctor, and research papers are judged by international judges. Impressed by one of his reviews, the Netherlands Free University has awarded Dr. Bandara an amount of 20,000 Euros in order to conduct another research.

His other research interests include Environmental and Natural resource economics, Development and Agricultural Economics, Tourism economics, eco tourism for sustainable tourism and environmental education, Wildlife, forest, nature reserves and national park evaluation, Environment and development issues in developing countries, Human resource Development.

He also has training and research experience with many organisations and government authorities such as IRDP, SLAE, Janasaviya, ISB, Norad, Central Environmental Authority, Ministry of Environment and natural Resources and Ministry of Transport and High-ways.

And is currently engaged in writing a research paper on Eco-tourism "Wildlife based tourism and small business sector development".

Dr. Bandara Coordinates three postgraduate degree programmes, Masters in Economics (MEcon) at the Department of Economics, Masters in Business Studies (MBS) and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PgDBM) at the Faculty of Graduate Studies University of Colombo.

Dr. Bandara also holds a number of other positions in university student support services such as the Warden of the Kithiyagara Hostel, Senior Treasurer of the Student Union of the Faculty of Arts and Student Counsellor.

He serves as Director on the Board of Directors in National Livestock Development Board, Sri Lanka-Libya Agricultural and Livestock Development Company Ltd and Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Limited. Dr. Bandara serves as a Senior Business Consultant for a number of leading Business organisations in Sri Lanka.

Finally explaining his own personality Dr. Bandara told the Sunday Observer that he was a Buddhist and lives neither for yesterday nor tomorrow and that he has no regrets in life. Although an economist, his understanding of life and its workings was blatantly profound.

He took out a pen and drew on an envelope, a circle he referred to as the cycle of life. He described a human being's life as a never ending cycle.

"People invariably get in to this routine of getting up, going to work, eating, sleeping, etc. which ultimately make them resent their own lives" He claimed that he makes it a point to take regular detours in his life, stepping out of the cycle to make other cycles around it "thus making a flower out of your cycle of life" he said demonstrating by drawing small circles around the bigger one.

In conclusion Dr. Bandara gave me and the photographer one last piece of advice: "make a flower out of the seemingly endless and tedious cycle of life."

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