Admitting that there is a lack of sufficient and reliable data on certain plant and animal species in the country, Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said that a comprehensive national programme is being prepared to study species that are extinct, believed to be extinct, or at risk of extinction.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said that they had begun the process of studying plant and animal species across the country in order to improve biodiversity records and strengthen conservation planning. “This is a comprehensive exercise, and we are currently in the process of studying plant and animal species found in our country,” he said.

He explained that Sri Lanka contains a wide range of ecosystems, each supporting different forms of life. "This programme will focus on conducting studies across these ecosystems to obtain more accurate data on species distribution and their conservation status. For instance, there are certain plants and animals that have been recorded as extinct, but, in reality, they are still present. This situation has arisen because there is not enough data available,” he said.

Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the biodiversity hotspots, with a high number of endemic plant and animal species found within its relatively small land area. The country’s diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, dry zone forests, wetlands, and coastal regions, provide habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the Island. However, there have long been gaps in data and the lack of updated, comprehensive studies on biodiversity.