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Natasha
Natasha
Sep 09 2025
60Spa Ceylon, the world’s largest Luxury Ayurveda chain, together with its conservation arm Ceylon Elephant Co., launched the Majestic Ceylon Elephant Photography Competition & Exhibition, a four-day public showcase dedicated to raising awareness of the Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka. The exhibition will take place from September 8th to 11th, 2025, at the Havelock City Mall, the official venue partner.
Organised in collaboration with the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS), the initiative invited the public to showcase the magnificence of the Ceylon elephant through the lens of passionate photographers. Submissions were open across two categories, DSLR / Camera Photography and Mobile Photography, encouraging a wide spectrum of participants to engage in the cause. The initiative shed light on the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), one of the island’s urgent environmental issues, while honouring the cultural and ecological significance of the Ceylon elephant, in celebration of World Elephant Day.
“Sri Lanka has lost over 3,400 elephants in the last decade, with nearly 240 elephants killed in 2025 alone. Today, over 70% of our island’s elephants live outside protected areas, threatening their survival. The elephant is not just part of our wildlife, but stands as a living symbol of our heritage and identity. At Spa Ceylon, we believe conservation is not the responsibility of a few, but a shared duty of all. We are deeply committed to working on conservation efforts of the Ceylon Elephant, raising awareness on Human-Elephant Conflict, and the best ways to move forward on both fronts, with initiatives that bring communities together”, said Spa Ceylon Co-Founder and Group Director, Shalin Balasuriya.
“Sri Lanka’s Human-Elephant Conflict is not a wildlife issue alone; it is a crisis of culture, livelihoods, and identity. The elephant is a keystone of our ecosystems and heritage. At WNPS, we believe coexistence is possible only through collective will, science-led solutions, and community engagement. Partnerships like this with Spa Ceylon bring vital awareness and action to the cause”, said WNPS Past President & Chair of the Human Elephant Coexistence Subcommittee, Jehna CanagaRetna.
As part of its ongoing commitment to conservation, Spa Ceylon has dedicated its Ceylon Elephant range exclusively to this cause, with every purchase directly contributing towards initiatives that seek long-term solutions to the Human-Elephant Conflict. In addition, Spa Ceylon spearheads the ‘Gaja Nena Sahana’, scholarship program, launched in collaboration with WNPS in 2024, to support children and communities affected by the Human-Elephant Conflict complications.
About Spa Ceylon
Founded in May 2009 by brothers Shiwantha Dias and Shalin Balasuriya, Spa Ceylon has fast become a dynamic force in the global luxury wellness sector and has taken its Luxury Ayurveda brand to the world. Carving out an expansive global footprint of more than 140 stores across 33 countries, it is the world’s largest Luxury Ayurveda chain. Spa Ceylon captures the romance of old Ceylon combined with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to create a unique range of majestic spa rituals and Royal wellness formulae designed to soothe, calm, and relax the body, mind, and soul. Spa Ceylon products are ethically sourced and cruelty-free, reinforcing its continued commitment to sustainable business practices and caring for the well-being of its communities.
About WNPS
The history of wildlife protection in Sri Lanka is almost synonymous with that of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka. At 131 years old, the WNPS is the third-oldest non-governmental organization of its kind in the world. Our mission is to safeguard Sri Lanka's rich biodiversity, protect endangered species, and promote sustainable practices that harmonize human development with nature. We work tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, advocating for policies and initiatives that ensure the long-term well-being of our ecosystems.
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