Herpetology Research at University of Sri Jayewardenepura

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura has become a leading centre for herpetological research in Sri Lanka, with its HerpLab group conducting extensive fieldwork and laboratory studies on the island's reptiles and amphibians. Researchers and students from the lab regularly survey forest habitats across the wet and dry zones to document species distributions and assess conservation status.

Much of the lab's work focuses on amphibians, including taxonomic studies to describe new species, genetic analyses to clarify relationships between populations, and ecological research to understand how frogs and toads respond to habitat disturbance. This research provides the scientific foundation needed to guide effective conservation policy.

Beyond fieldwork, HerpLab also plays an important role in training the next generation of herpetologists in Sri Lanka, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and collaborating with international institutions to bring global expertise to local conservation challenges.