Down here near Meemure, the whispers from the hills have been all about scales and science this past week. Kandy has just wrapped up a major gathering that brought together local and international experts for the very first time [Sunday Times].
The event, titled the World Congress on Snakes 2026 - Snakes, Science, Species Survival & Sri Lanka, was inaugurated on October 1 and concluded on October 4 [Sunday Times]. According to the Sunday Times, the hill capital serves as a global biodiversity hotspot, making it a fitting stage for such a comprehensive forum linking biodiversity science, medicine, and society.
The inauguration featured Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi as the chief guest [Sunday Times]. A number of prominent figures spoke at the opening, including Congress Chairperson Dr. Anslem de Silva, IUCN/SSC Chair Dr. Vivek Menon, and IUCN/SSC Snake Specialists Group Chair Dr. Daniel Natusch [Sunday Times]. Additional speakers included Dr. Sandun Perera of the IUCN Sri Lanka Country Office, Dr. Kevin Messenger and Dr. Curt Barnes from the IUCN/SSC Viper Specialist Group, Johannes Els representing the IUCN/SSC Sea Snake Specialist Group, Department of Wildlife Conservation Director-General Ranjan Marasinghe, and Thushan Kapurusinghe of the Turtle Conservation Project [Sunday Times].
During the proceedings, a commemorative stamp was issued and several books were launched [Sunday Times]. The scientific scope of the congress spanned 12 major thematic areas that touched every dimension of snake biology and human interaction, while nine plenary speakers focused on conservation science, clinical medicine, and wildlife management [Sunday Times].
Away from the conference halls, business developments have also been making waves across the broader corporate landscape. According to Kandy Prime News, the Softlogic Group—led by businessman Ashok Pathirage—has entered a phase of business restructuring and network expansion following a period of pressure brought on by financial challenges [Kandy Prime News]. When SPAR initially entered the Sri Lankan market eight years prior, the vision was to offer local customers a world-class shopping experience complete with an improved product range [Kandy Prime News].
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