Guarding the green: Shiranee on biodiversity

hiranee Yasaratne, BSL’s Senior Technical Advisor, holds a BSc (Hon) in Zoology and Environmental Science and a MSc in Molecular Biology and Gene Technology. She was formerly the Deputy Director General of the Central Environmental Authority and Country Representative of IUCN ( International Union for Conservation) Sri Lanka. In each role she has pushed for practical, science-based solutions to some of the island’s most pressing environmental problems. As Sri Lanka eyes a greener future, her work is a blueprint for how vision, knowledge and persistence can transform policy into practice. This September 24th and 26th, Colombo plays host to LIFE 2025 - a two-day celebration under the theme: ‘Biodiversity Means Business: A Decade of Impact, A Future of Action’, which will bring together, the nation’s most influential business leaders, academics, policymakers, and conservationists for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and collaboration. This is more than a celebration. It’s a catalyst for next-generation leadership in Sri Lanka’s nature economy. It is a chance for private sector leaders to align with global best practices, build resilience, and shape national policy.

- By ZANITA CAREEM

Organized by Biodiversity Sri Lanka — a national platform entirely owned and driven by the private sector, as it celebrates a decade of strong engagement by the corporate sector in biodiversity and environmental conservation in Sri Lanka, BSL’s 10th anniversary becomes a milestone moment to spotlight corporate leadership in biodiversity.

Q: Can you tell us about your journey into environmental conservation and what inspired you to work in biodiversity?

I have been in the field of environmental conservation from the time I came out of the University of Colombo, armed with a degree in Zoology majoring in Environmental Science with first class honours. My first experience was at the Central Environmental Authority for which I served for 15 years. It was an interesting time, when the Authority was just being founded and I am happy to say that I played a leading role in the promulgation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures under the National Environmental Act which are still being enforced today. I then served as the Country Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sri Lanka at which I was able to take the lead in supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in framing biodiversity related policies and plans.