All for the love of elephants
Dr. Ranjith Bandara and his concern for the
human-elephant conflict
by Sajitha Prematunge

Dr. Ranjith Bandara
Pic. Kavindra Perera
|
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.

No more sharing- trapped by electric fences |
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."
[email protected]
|