Biodiversity Profile of Sri Lanka - Sixth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity

Sri Lanka’s location, historic and geologic isolation from the continental landmass, topography and climate act to shape its biogeography and biodiversity, including conferring a remarkably high level of endemism, given its close proximity to the mainland. The island hosts several ‘point endemic1 species and even monotypic endemic genera. However this irreplaceable biodiversity is now under severe threat because of extensive anthropogenic landuse changes that began over two centuries ago, under colonial rule, and continues to this present date. Due to high levels of endemism, extensive loss and degradation of natural ecosystem, Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots.