katuwa dot lk

As I reflect on my first six months as an Operations Manager, I am grateful for the support and connections I have established in this company. Having previously known most people from my previous job, it has helped me settle in faster and foster a sense of familiarity. The existing relationships I had within the company have been invaluable in navigating the challenges that come with a new role.

The support I have received from my colleagues has been instrumental in my journey as an Operations Manager. Their willingness to share their knowledge, provide guidance, and offer assistance has made a significant difference in my ability to adapt and succeed. I have been fortunate to have made new friends since joining the company, expanding my network and forming connections with individuals who share my passion for teamwork and achieving common goals.

These new friendships have not only enhanced my professional life but have also provided a source of encouragement and camaraderie. Being able to rely on these individuals for support and collaboration has been a vital aspect of my experience thus far. Together, we have been able to tackle challenges head-on, leveraging each other's strengths and expertise to find innovative solutions.

In a work environment where blame culture persists, the importance of strong connections and supportive relationships cannot be overstated. By surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals who prioritize teamwork and cooperation, we can create a positive and inclusive work culture that fosters personal growth and collective success.

Moving forward, I am committed to nurturing these connections and forging new ones. I aim to build bridges between departments, encouraging collaboration and emphasizing the value of teamwork in achieving our shared objectives. By fostering an environment of mutual support and respect, we can overcome the barriers created by blame culture and foster a culture of collective responsibility.

In conclusion, while the blame culture within the company has been disheartening, the support and friendships I have formed in my first six months as an Operations Manager have given me hope and determination to make a positive impact. By leveraging my existing connections and building new ones, I am confident that together we can transform the work environment into one that promotes collaboration, teamwork, and ultimately, success for all.

I'd like to think my interest in photography and nature/wildlife is slowly growing on me. Last November, I purchased a new camera - Nikon Z 50 - the baby of the mirrorless range. I first used my new camera on a day trip made to Wilpattu National Park in the 1st week of December 2021 and though it wasn't many, I am quite satisfied with the photos I captured. These photos will have to be preserved, for if not anyone else, but for me to come here and have a look. They are good memories to cherish!

I was fortunate for being able to join Rohan & friends from Nikon School for another fabulous photography tour on November 14th, 2021.  It was the first time in about 6 months after a long lockdown that we managed to get out in the wilds. It was indeed a sense of relief! 

Wikipedia lists "Kanneliya" as a forest complex in Southern Sri Lanka. Dediyagala _ Nakiyadehiya or KDN

Wikipedia lists “Kanneliya” as “Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya or KDN is a forest in a complex in southern Sri Lanka According to folklore, Kanneliya got it’s name from the historical anecdote of a lady who offered her food plate to King Valagamba to eat, while he was hiding in the forest. That’s said, during the recent nature photography tour organized by Nikon, Sri Lanka, the guide tracker who accompanied the group mentioned that the name Kanneliya has been derived from the two Sinhalese words “ Kanya” (virgin lady) and “Liya” (trees) to resonate plenty of giant untouched trees in the forest. As Wikipedia lists, the guide tracker also confirmed that the Kanneliya rainforest is made up of 3 individual forests.

According to the guide tracker who accompanied the Nikon photographers group, the total area of the rainforest is hectare 10,139 (Acres 26,000). From mid-May to September, Kanneliya records annual rainfall of 3750 - 5000 millimeters. From a biodiversity perspective, Kanneliya ranks number 1 in Sri Lanka, even richer when compared to the Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest. It is also reported as top 20 in the world ranking. Kanneliya has 155 varieties of trees - one more variety ( Stemeni Forest Kanneliy) than the Sinharaja Rainforest. It is reported that “Stemeni Forest Kanneliy) is only available in Sri Lanka.

As for Fauna, some 220 faunal species were recorded from Kanneliya, including 41 endemic species. It has 86 species of mammals - which includes 4 species of shrews, 5 rodents, 1 carnivore, and 2 primates.

I had the opportunity to join a passionate group of photographers cum birders last month ¹ for 2 nights trip to what is officially called Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka. The educational workshop’s primary goal was to give a collaborative opportunity for like minded group to capture the native rainforest birds in Sinharaja. It was another First for me not only for being the first time in a forest reserve; but also being able to join with a group of true birding lovers, passionate photographers and most of all, nice group of human beings.

Apparently there are 33 birds endemic to Sri Lanka and I was fortunate being able to see 2-3 of them during our stay. The first one was Serendib Scops Owl which we sighted in the dense forest nearby Sinharaja on April 24th, 2021. I believe it was a pair, although I managed to capture only one of them. Almost all people had ultra professional camera gear with all kinds of lenses, while I had only a small Nikon Coolpix, with digital zoom. As a result my capturing of quality photos were very limited. I did use my iPhone camera though in some occasions. We also witnessed Sri Lanka frog mouth and a couple of other birds, whose names I cannot remember..

On the day two, we did approximately 5 kilometers trail in the forest reserve back & forth. Though most people expected to sight more birds, mammals etc, not too sure we did see any! That’s said, on our way back from the forest reserve, we were told by a ranger that we could see Tawny Frogmouth in the forest neighborhood. For me, it even took a few minutes to really make out and see the pair sitting on a branch of a tree, as they were almost like part of the tree. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do a decent photograph due to very low light and also perhaps digital zoom and even more so, my inexperience of photography. I have lots to learn.

Day Three, was free style in which the participants were free to do whatever they wished. So the people went in groups to do more exploration either on Jeeps or even just on foot. A few apparently took the opportunity to take a dip in the ice cold water in the nearby natural water stream. I thought, it was a well thought agenda item to give people to their on their own.

All in all, I’m glad that I joined this trip and I certainly hope to join many more. Of course that can only happen when existing people movement and travel restrictions are lifted and relaxed.

1. April 24 - 26