Mr. M.S.L.R.P. (Ranjan) Marasinghe has been appointed as the 35th Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). 

The appointment was made by the Minister of Environment, Dhammika Patabendi.

Marasinghe is a long-standing officer of the department, having joined in 1998. He has climbed the ranks from Assistant Director to Director of Operations and Additional Director of Technology.

He brings a multidisciplinary academic background to the role, holding degrees in Agriculture, IT, and Law, along with a Master’s in Forestry and Environmental Management.

His leadership begins at a critical time as the DWC works to repair over 860 km of electric fencing damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, which has significantly escalated human-elephant conflict in the North Central province.