water Review Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in a Highly Modified Tropical River Basin in Sri Lanka Thilina Surasinghe 1,* , Ravindra Kariyawasam 2, Hiranya Sudasinghe 3 and Suranjan Karunarathna 4 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Dana Mohler-Faria Science & Mathematics Center, 24 Park Avenue, Bridgewater, MA 02325, USA 2 Center for Environment & Nature Studies, No.1149, Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya 10100, Sri Lanka;
[email protected] 3 Evolutionary Ecology & Systematics Lab, Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Kandy 20400, Sri Lanka;
[email protected] 4 Nature Explorations & Education Team, No. B-1/G-6, De Soysapura Flats, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-508-531-1908 Received: 11 October 2019; Accepted: 13 December 2019; Published: 19 December 2019 Abstract: Kelani River is the fourth longest river in the South-Asian island, Sri Lanka. It originates from the central hills and flows through a diverse array of landscapes, including some of the most urbanized regions and intensive land uses. Kelani River suffers a multitude of environmental issues: illegal water diversions and extractions, impoundment for hydroelectricity generation, and pollution, mostly from agrochemicals, urban runoff, industrial discharges, and domestic waste. Moreover, loss of riparian forest cover, sand-mining, and unplanned development in floodplains have accentuated the environmental damage. In this study, based on Kelani River basin, we reviewed the status of biodiversity, threats encountered, conservation challenges, and provided guidance for science-based conservation planning. Kelani River basin is high in biodiversity and endemism, which includes 60 freshwater fish species of which 30 are endemic.