Browns Hotels & Resorts leads mangrove conservation

• Releases exclusive stamp on World Tourism Day

In a significant step towards environmental conservation, Club Hotel Dolphin, Waikkal, part of Browns Hotels & Resorts, launched a one-of-a-kind awareness stamp in collaboration with the Postal Department of Sri Lanka, coinciding with the World Tourism Day. 

This initiative aims to further promote the property’s Nipa Palm Conservation Project launched last month, which focuses on protecting the endangered nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) along the Gin Oya riverbanks.

The event featured an informative presentation highlighting the importance of preserving mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of local biodiversity, along with a speech by Professor Sevvandi Jayakody, a member of the National Mangrove Expert Committee and National Mangrove Task Force, who also serves as Chair Professor of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Department at the Wayamba University. 

The First Day Cover and stamp were officially unveiled by Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe and Philatelic Bureau Director Lanka de Silva, marking an important moment in raising awareness and highlighting the significance of the Nipa Mangrove Conservation Project.

The event was attended by distinguished guests: Conservator General of Forest Nishantha Edirisinghe, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society President Graham Marshall, Wildlife Department Protected Area Management Director Manjula Amararathna and other key figures in environmental preservation. 

General Manager Thurashat Niyathapala commented, “This ambitious programme is underpinned by a comprehensive five-year plan that includes awareness sessions, installation of signage, careful nurturing and ongoing monitoring. We are committed to ensuring that each step is taken with the utmost care and this project will play a significant role in preventing erosion along the vulnerable Gin Oya riverbanks, which have faced significant degradation over the years.”

The Nipa Palm Conservation Project, undertaken with guidance from the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society and Wayamba University, involves the planting and nurturing of 500 nipa palm seeds in a dedicated nursery on the hotel premises as part of the first phase. The newly launched stamp features an illustration of the nipa palm, symbolising the critical importance of this species in fostering and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s mangrove ecosystems. This stamp will be used on postcards and postal material related to Browns Hotels & Resorts, helping to spread the message of conservation throughout Sri Lanka. Through this stamp launch, Browns Hotels & Resorts seeks to engage the public in the vital mission of conserving the nipa palm and its surrounding environment.

Browns Hotels & Resorts CEO Eksath Wijeratne statied, “At Browns Hotels & Resorts, we recognise our duty to safeguard and preserve Sri Lanka’s natural environments. The Nipa Palm Conservation Project is a key component of our broader commitment to conserving endangered mangrove species. Through sustained efforts, we aim to ensure that the ecosystems we value continue to thrive for future generations.”