Sri Lanka, Oct. 9 -- The Government is taking steps to declare the Diyagama forest area in Homagama, Colombo District, a forest reserve to protect its biodiversity and ecological importance, Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said in Parliament today (9).

Addressing Parliament, he said the area, which was once abandoned land, had naturally regenerated over the past two decades into an ecologically sensitive habitat with rainforest characteristics.

He said several wildlife species displaced by rapid urbanisation across the Colombo District had migrated to the area, making it an important refuge for wildlife.

Citing field research conducted by a team of academics from the University of Colombo, including Professors S.W. Ranwala,...