New Ranger office at Dayagama entrance of Horton Plains

Sri Lanka’s Horton Plains National Park is UNESCO World Heritage Site with sweeping grasslands and montane evergreen cloud forests is an outstanding natural wonder of remarkable biodiversity. The 5 km long Dayagama East Walking Trail at Horton Plains is a trekking path, a section of the Pekoe Trail - meant for birding enthusiasts, guaranteeing encounters with migratory and resident bird species, many of them endemic to Horton Plains.

Being less popular, the Dayagama East entrance was largely unmonitored, thus making it a vulnerable entry and exit route to the Park. A Ranger Office donated by the Tokyo Cement Company was opened recently at the entrance of the Dayagama East Walking Trail and will help the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) streamline visitor activity on this route.

Mr. S. R. Gnanam Managing Director of Tokyo Cement Group, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman of Tokyo Cement Group inaugurate the Dayagama DWC Ranger Office at the Horton Plains National Park.

Chairman of the Tokyo Cement Group Dr. Harsha Cabral PC and Managing Director, S. R. Gnanam handed over the newly built office complex to the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and the Director General of DWC, Chandana Sooriyabandara.

Opening the new Ranger Office Mr. Gnanam said, “This marks the beginning of a ‘Culture of Forest Bathing’ in our country, made famous by the Japanese who revive their lives bathing in the healing tranquility among trees and nature. I have personally experienced this walking trail to be the most picturesque route to the Horton Plains, providing an incomparable forest-bathing experience as you walk through the dense tropical montane forest.”

(From left) Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman of Tokyo Cement Group, Kanchana Jayaratne, (Mrs.) Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, and S. R. Gnanam, Managing Director of Tokyo Cement Group inspect the newly opened Dayagama Walking Trail to the Horton Plains National Park

Whilst thanking the DWC for assuring exclusivity of the trail for trekkers and cyclists, he added that Tokyo Cement Group partnered this initiative because they understood the importance of scientific conservation of unique nature reserves such as the Horton Plains National Park (HPNP). It is the only nature reserve where visitors are allowed on foot, across the rolling plains and tropical hills. Whilst many visitors take the motorable routes from Pattipola or Ohiya, the 5 km long Dayagama East Walking Trail is taken essentially by discerning nature lovers.

Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman of the Tokyo Cement Group, commending the efforts of Minister Wanniarachchi said, “This Dayagama visitor entrance, dedicated to those who come here purely to enjoy the scenic peak wilderness, extends Tokyo Cement Group’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Prohibiting the entry of all forms of motor vehicles and unauthorized trespassers will ensure the protection of this unique flora and fauna not just today, but for our future generations.”

In addition to the new DWC office, the Group established educational signage at key points of the walking trail and main road, on the unique flora and fauna at the HPNP. These informative boards designed by the Parrotfish Collective, create awareness on the park's rich biodiversity and educate visitors about the importance of its conservation.