Sri Lanka's next Parliament has many issues to contend with, but underpinning many of these is the looming threats to our nature and biodiversity. Elected members of Parliament at the forthcoming General Election need to understand what these issues are, and what priorities need to be tackled. CSF contributed to a document that is released today on selected critical environmental issues facing Sri Lanka, aimed at informing prospective legislators in our next Parliament.

Sri Lanka needs to become much more open to, and informed about, the new sources and mechanisms that are available for biodiversity financing. With the right domestic mechanisms, a credible policy commitment, open-mindedness among government and non-government stakeholders, and a nuanced view of the financing options, Sri Lanka can rise up to meet the challenge.

CSF recently hosted a panel discussion with three national and international experts on the role of nature-linked sovereign debt instruments in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, amidst debt distress and acute environmental pressures. This Analytical Note summarises the 10 key messages.

Short-term and unsustainable plans for a tourism recovery, with narrow views on destination identity, can threaten the natural assets that Sri Lanka's tourism is branded on. On World Tourism Day 2024, we argue that its time for Sri Lanka to re-define tourism destination identities through an inclusive and imaginative approach. With examples from Kalpitiya and Yala, based on ongoing research, this article suggests the need to 'co-discover' destination identities with local stakeholders.

Climate finance is growing globally, but women risk getting left behind. From the instruments we use, to the climate actions we fund, women are impacted. As Sri Lanka attempts to accelerate climate finance, gender must be a leading consideration.

Sri Lanka is yet to give dedicated national priority to this agenda, unlike several other countries that have placed it at the heart of public policies on TVET and employment. The country must build on the recognition given to green jobs in its Climate Prosperity Plan, and articulate a clear and future-oriented ‘Green Jobs Strategy’.

CSF announces the launch of a set of knowledge materials, findings reports, and easy guides for interested stakeholders, freely available for download, developed under a project with Blue Resources Trust on marine conservation finance.

Beach cleanups, tree planting programmes, and commitments to recycling. These are some of the common ways in which Sri Lankan financial institutions typically market World Environment Day, falling each year on the 5th of June. Yet, there are major outstanding questions as to whether the country's financial institutions are effectively orienting themselves to meet the environmental challenges emerging in the country, and ensure that capital flows in the direction needed to foster a nature-positive economic recovery for Sri Lanka. New research by CSF shows that Sri Lankan financial institutions have some way to go in demonstrating environmental integration in their business.

For a recent Roundtable on green finance with financial institutions and development partners, CSF had the opportunity to provide inputs into the design of the session and provide concluding insights at the end of the session. This Analytical Note serves as a recap of the key findings and takeaways on the progress of implementing green finance in Sri Lanka, the near-term prospects, and current and emerging challenges to be tackled.

As Sri Lanka endures mounting pressure on public finances and explores new avenues for funding conservation efforts, CTFs have emerged as a promising mechanism that could provide long-term financing for its Protected Areas (PAs). David Meyers, Executive Director of the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA), spoke at a recent Knowledge Roundtable organised by CSF on Conservation Trust Funds. Read our Analytical Note Edition 3, which summarises the key takeaways and insights from David Meyers and discussion generated by the participants.

CSF Research Associate Senith Abeyanayake reflects on a recent engagement with tourism industry leaders for a panel on charting a nature-positive economic recovery for Sri Lanka's tourism. This is part of CSF's 'Perspectives Series' of articles.

From our work with BRT on sustainable financing for marine conservation, read our Analytical Note Edition 2, from our second Knowledge Roundtable. It focuses on the imperative to develop bankable marine conservation plans, incorporating financial incentives and showcasing economic feasibility.