Preliminary study on Lampyrids in Kiralakelle nature reserve, Matara District, Southern Sri Lanka; An ecotourism perspective

Lampyrids  or fireflies are one of the ecotourism subjects throughout the world and there is a possibility to use them as a rapidly increasing tourism aspect in Sri Lanka. Previous records have revealed 63 species of fireflies belonging to 24 genera were listed in the country. However, the ecotourism significance of Sri Lankan firefly fauna is poorly studied and never been documented. The aim of the present study was to introduce the existing lampyrid fauna of Kiralakelle nature reserve in ecotourism view point as one of proposed tourism development site in Southern Province, Matara, Sri Lanka.Study carried out throughout year 2010 from 6.00 p.m. to 22.00 p.m. as one sampling in each month. Fireflies were observed using 6 observation points located in two types of landscapes (1-3 points closer to forest patches and 4-6 closer to marshy water filling lands) along the main pathway of the nature reserve. Each point had 2.5 m radius and distance between two points was 250m. Abundance and diversity indices were estimated. Totally, 7 adult firefly species, namely  Luciola cingulata,  L. extricans,  L. melaspis,  L. praeusta  complex, and Asymmetricata humeralis,  Curtos costipennis  and  Lamprigera tenebrosa  were recorded. Genus-  Luciola  was the dominant lampyrid group in nature reserve and the lowest abundance was recorded in genus-Lamprigera  fireflies. While  A. humeralis  was the highly abundant species in nature reserve,  L. extricanswas recorded as the less abundant one. The highest percentage abundance of recorded lampyrids was shown in observation point 1 and the lowest in point 5. The average percentage abundance of lampyrids was high in 1-3 observation points closer to forest patches than others.  L. cingulata, L. praeusta  complex and  A. humeralis were shown their abundance throughout the year in Kiralakelle nature reserve and the other 4 species were recorded as seasonally dominant lampyrids. The highest Shannon Wiener diversity was obtained from observation point 2 (1.554) and the lowest in point 6 (1.240). Records of this  study will be helpful for better understanding of firefly fauna in Kiralakelle nature reserve and provide clear outline of their usability for tourism success. The site  currently has threatened by illegal human activities such as felling, garbage filling,  animal hunting and forests firing. Hence, additional conservation strategies are needed to protect the lampyrid fauna in this nature reserve. Sustainable ecotourism based on lampyrids will be a vital aspect to succeed the night-tourism industry in Kiralakelle nature reserve in future and throughout Sri Lanka as well.Key words: Ecotourism, Kiralakelle nature reserve, Lampyrid

Socio-Demographic profile of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is known to Sri Lanka from 1992. The distribution of the disease is increasing and large numbers of CL cases are reported from Hambantota district. This study was focused on selected clinical features and socio-demographic factors of CL positive patients in Hambantota district and this information were collected using a questionnaire from CL suspected patients who attended to the Tangalle Hospital from June, 2016 to January, 2017. For selecting the CL positivity, slit skin smears were obtained from lesions of suspected patients. These smears were stained and examined for Leishmania amastigotes. Smears were positive in 183 patients. Majority of them had one lesion on the body and 117 patients were males (p<0.001). The most affected age group was >50 years. House-wives and students were identified as highly affected occupants. The higher number of CL patients lived in rural areas (p<0.001). Most of the CL patients lived in houses with cemented floors and walls with tiled -roofs meanwhile 117 houses had cracks, either in floors or walls. Further, 95.5% of patients were unaware of sand-fly biting. These findings highlight the socio-demographic profile of the CL patients in Hambantota district which will be important for the disease management strategies