Ichthyologists appeased:

An end to 'Singlish'

by Sajitha Prematunge

I remember something Professor Sarath Kotagama said during the official launch of the book 'Fresh water fishes of Sri Lanka', that we are torn between two worlds. It doesn't take an Ichthyologist, to realize that the use of 'Singlish' is not restricted to every day life, but also effects the more technical and academic segments of society.

At an age where all academic resources are only accessible to the English speaking populace, a book like Sri Lankawe Miridiya Masun, is a well-timed effort. The first copy of 'Fresh water fishes of Sri Lanka' was presented to the Minister of Environmental and Natural Resources, Patalee Champika Ranawaka, on December, 10 2007.

The major objective of any research based publication should be to educate. Unfortunately there are very few publications on the study of Fresh water fish. Most books are written on other study areas such as birds, mammals and reptiles. Moreover papers that provide the proper sort of concise information are indeed extremely rare.

The remaining few are written in English. The book consists information on identification methods based on the external morphology of the species, a taxonomic key, scientific as well as Sinhala names for different species of fish and the conservation status of each species according to the 2006 Red List of Threatened Species, Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ordinance.

The book, a collaborative effort of the author and the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, is the most comprehensive publication, written in Sinhala on fresh water fish so far, and provides an in-depth understanding of the area of study.

The author Sampath De Alewis Goonatilakes' hands on experience in the field through working with the Young Zoologists Association and IUCN The World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka Country Office, has proved of vital importance in writing this book.

Sampath Goonatilake is a graduate in Natural Sciences of the Open University, Sri Lanka and has much experience dealing with the subject of fresh water fish conducting such studies as a preliminary study of fresh water fishes in selected streams at Eratna in 1993, a preliminary ecological site report of Attidiya Lake and Marsh in 1997, and 'Preparation of Conservation Action Plan for Pantius bandula.' with the collaboration of Dr. Dewaka Weerakoon and Hasula Wickramasinghe, for Biodiversity Secretariat of Ministry or Environmental and Natural Resources in 2007.

He has also played a key role in the compilation of 2007 Red List of Threatened Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN The World Conservation Union and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

He has published many other papers along the same lines such as, 'Present State of Pantius bandula', with the cooperation of other well known figures in the conservation field, along with many other publications, reflecting his expertise in the field of Ichthyology.

But knowledge is like a two edged sword. Although being informed is of utmost importance in the field of conservation, such information if wrongfully used could cause much damage to the environment we live in. Consequently such knowledge must be handled with great care.

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