Sri Lanka has tremendous potential as an eco-tourist destination. It encompasses a wide variety of scenic and ecologically important natural habitats and possesses some of the richest floral and faunal bio-diversity in the region. This remarkable diversity includes 86 species of mammals, 83 snake species, 54 different species of fish and 40 separate frog species. In terms of avifauna the diversity is even more startling with over 400 species recorded on the island including 23 endemics. It is for this reason that the country, together with India’s Western Ghats mountains is considered one of the world’s 25 bio-diversity “hot spots”.

With its long-standing Buddhist tradition, Sri Lanka has an entrenched environmental ethic. This customary affiliati1234on with wild places and their animal inhabitants is exemplified by the fact that the world’s first wildlife sanctuary was located here, created by King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd Century BC. The importance of undisturbed forestland was also a concept well understood by ancient Sri Lankan royalty, manifested in the form of "Thahanankalle" or forbidden forests, which often encompassed watersheds.

The island has something to suit almost any preference, from the red earth and scrub forest of the dry zone, to the verdant splendor of the tropical rainforest; from the coastal mangroves alive with bird life to the stunning beauty of the hill country, replete with spectacular waterfalls and mist drenched montane forest. Add to this over 2500 years of recorded history, a mosaic of diverse and potent cultures and a rich archaeological heritage and one has the ideal ingredients for enlightening ecological travel.

First research attempts at growing a 'rain forest' and increasing the biodiversity in a Pinus plantation in the buffer zone of Sinharaja by introducing endemic canopy species (saplings in the middle) and other of utility value to villagers (foreground) in specially created gaps in the plantation.

An introduction to eco tourism
The concept of eco tourism was developed in the 1980's as a marriage between the preservation or conservation of natural areas and tourism. Coined by Mexican ecology-economist Hector Ceballos-Lascuria, the term refers to travel that is ecologically and culturally sensitive, combining the understanding of flora, fauna and their ecosystemic interactions with the opportunity to contribute to their on going and future protection.
Theoretically the concept is a simple one: tourists will be drawn to areas that are ecologically significant and have been preserved and protected. The money that is spent by tourists for food, lodging, transport, guide service, park fees etc. will support the local economy by providing jobs and creating a sustainable economic infrastructure. The local community, in conjunction with the government will recognize the economic potential of pristine areas and will actively work to curb any unsustainable activities, thus consolidating the conservation of the area. The reality, of course, is more difficult to achieve and requires the co-operation of all parties involved and a sound, effectively implemented management plan.

Ecotourism today
It was not until 1990 that eco-tourism became officially established as a viable segment of the tourism industry. It has become the fastest developing sector of the international tourism industry, growing by 30% per year through the 1990's (The Nature Company, 1996). This has meant that more and more companies inside the industry have launched ventures catering to this mushrooming market. While many of these new ventures make a concerted effort to be ecologically sensitive and adhere to the ideals of true eco-tourism, many are not and this is where the selection of defining criteria becomes of paramount importance. For this reason it is essential that the development of eco-tourism in Sri Lanka start from the very beginning with a strict code, entrenched in a set of criteria used to determine eco-tourism site locations and project developments.