How one man's call to action could save Sri Lanka's vanishing wings

In the heart of South Asia's teardrop-shaped island lies an ecological treasure often overlooked—the butterfly. These vibrant creatures, fluttering silently among wildflowers, have long brought color and movement to Sri Lanka’s gardens, forests, and fields. They are more than just a beautiful sight; butterflies are ecological indicators, vital pollinators, and a symbol of a healthy environment.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

Historically, Sri Lankans revered butterflies, especially during the annual butterfly migration to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak). This natural phenomenon, observed around January each year, saw tens of thousands of butterflies moving en masse from various regions—especially the dry zones—towards the central highlands. The public once believed they were joining pilgrims on the sacred path, reinforcing a cultural and spiritual connection between nature and faith.

But today, those clouds of butterflies are thinning. In some areas, they are gone altogether.

“The decline in butterfly populations isn’t just tragic—it’s a red flag for the health of our ecosystems,” says Rajika Gamage, Conservation Biologist of the Tea Research Institute and researcher who has spent years studying local biodiversity. “And if we don’t act now, many species will vanish silently.”

Butterflies, like many insects, are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment. While the overuse of chemical pesticides and herbicides has long been suspected as a driver of population decline, Gamage says a far more insidious threat is spreading unchecked across the island: invasive plant species.

“These invasive plants are gradually replacing the native flora that butterflies depend on for both food and reproduction,” he explains.

One of the most widespread culprits is Gini Thana (cogon grass), but it doesn’t act alone. A host of other nonnative plants—Eupatorium, Mistweed, Wel Attapassaya, Kalapuwandara, Kahaparamiya, and Yoda Nidigumba—are spreading across rural and forested lands. Even trees like Mahogany, Alstonia, Khaya, and Eucalyptus, introduced for timber or fuelwood, contribute to the changing landscape.

Adding to this complex invasion is the controversial Katu Pol (thorny palm), introduced in recent years as a potential biofuel crop. “It has already spread alarmingly fast,” says Gamage. “Once it takes hold, it’s extremely difficult to remove.”