Visitor's Centre in memory of nature lover

The end of a three decade old war has brought on an onslaught of development. But often these are human society oriented. The Sunday Observer came across an honest attempt to help the four-legged kind.

The late Dr. Ravi Samarasinha's parents decided to donate funds for a new visitor's information centre in Yala in memory of their son.

Dr. Ravi Samarasinha

Dr. Ravi Samarasinha lived for wildlife conservation. He gave up a prestigious career in medicine to dedicate his life to the study of wildlife and wildlife conservation. He dedicated his years first to the study of leopards in Yala and Wilpattu, making such documentaries as 'The leopard hunters' which was translated to Sinhala as 'Koti soyanno'. He then moved on to the study of butterflies.

"Ravi was totally dedicated, disciplined and focused on wildlife conservation and its study", said Dr. Dinesh Samarasinha, brother of the late Dr. Ravi Samarasinha. He believed in the concept of whole ecosystems, that every animal was an important link in a hierarchical chain. He believed that conservation has to be instilled in people, a conservation that is not only for wildlife enthusiasts.

In this sense the Dr. Ravi Samarasinha Information Centre is an eye opener, where visitors will be vested with a true scientific understanding of the workings of nature. "It's not a melodramatic fervour Ravi wanted to instill in people that would force them to feed chocolate cake to wild animals out of love" said Dr. Dinesh Samarasinha.

"Wild animals were never designed to be fed. He always wanted others to understand and respect this - the way animals were designed by nature." The parents did not want a mere physical presence. They wanted something lasting. Laying the foundation stone of the visitors centre, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Patali Champika Ranawaka, said the support received by nature lovers is far greater than the dedication by government institutions. He explained that a visitors centre of this nature would allow the visitors to appreciate the natural resources of the park, claiming "This is the doorway to the real experience." Derek Samarasinha - Dr. Ravi Samarasinha's father said the project will include a ticketing counter, a reception with a display hall and sitting accommodation for 25 people. The sitting area will be used for showing documentaries and slideshows, while the display hall will showcase the dos and don'ts of the park, how to behave within the premises, information on trees and how to preserve them, articles on wildlife conservation and pamphlets. Derek Samarasinha claimed that the work on the new Visitors Centre will be finished within a year.

He also revealed that most of his late son's works are still to be unravelled. His priceless wildlife photographs and video tapes are among them, which are yet to be classified into a library. The last manuscript he was working on is still somewhat of a mystery, although his family members believe that there may have been a huge emphasis on butterflies.

"We are planning to give his books away to the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, of which he was a onetime secretary, for a reference library." The family also intends to start a fund in his name in the near future.

- SP