Jagath Gunawardana

Gunawardana was born in 1961 in Sri Lanka. He completed a Diploma in Agriculture at the Aquinas University College[5] with first-class honours. Later, he went on to become a lawyer by graduating from the Sri Lankan Law College.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura for his contributions towards environmental protection.[6][7][8]

In 1986, he joined the Ceylon Bird Club and in 1987 he joined the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka.[9]

He is an advisor to the Environmental Foundation Limited and a Senior Instructor of the Young Zoologist Association[10] which he joined in 1978 where he volunteers to educate youth on environmental conservation.[11]

Gunawardana also serves as a member of the National Environment Council of Central Environmental Authority (CEA).[12][13]

His work involves environmental policy amendments,[14] awareness on the legal aspect of environmental issues[15][16][17][18] and environmental awareness to strengthen conservation.[19][20][21] [22]

In 2016, Gunawardana was awarded the Presidential Award for the Excellency in the Field of Environment[23] and honoured with the title of Harithabhimani, the Presidential Lifetime Award for Service to Wildlife Conservation.[24]

In honour of his conservation work, a newly discovered frog species in highlands was named after him as Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai or Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog.[25]