Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

Message from the Founder
Looking back on nearly three decades of Dilmah Tea, I am honoured that Dilmah
has been able to play a significant role in sharing its success by supporting social
and environmental development initiatives across Sri Lanka. Dilmah Conservation
was established as an affirmation of our commitment to protecting nature and the
environment and ensuring that we leave behind a better planet for future generations.
Butterflies have always been a subject of great fascination to children and adults
alike due to their association with Samanala Kanda or Adam’s Peak which is of great
spiritual significance to Sri Lankans of all faiths. The spectacle of the annual butterfly
migration when thousands of butterflies fly towards Adam’s Peak in the South-Central
Mountains is steeped in folklore and has captivated the Sri Lankan imagination for
centuries.
However, I have noticed that over the years, even within our home gardens the
number of butterflies has sadly diminished. Having learnt that this decline has
occurred as a result of increased urbanization and the interlinked use of harmful
chemicals, I wished to help create a space for conserving butterflies in the city. We
have made great strides in butterfly conservation in Sri Lanka by founding an urban
butterfly garden at the Moratuwa MJF Centre which is home to over 50 types of
butterflies.
I hope that this publication not only inspires a new generation of enthusiasts to
undertake further study about butterflies and learn more about their intriguing
habits, but also motivates readers to minimise the use of harmful chemical substances
in their gardens so that local butterfly populations might flourish once again.
In line with its pledge to sustainability, Dilmah will continue to strengthen its
commitment to supporting conservation and accessible environmental and nature
education.
Merrill J. Fernando
Founder – Dilmah Conservation