Sigiriya rock fortress rising above the Sri Lankan plain at golden hour

Anargi Jayakody·Nilantha “Birdie” Kodithuwakku

EXPEDITIONSERENDIP— A Sri Lanka Documentary Series on History and Wildlife

The Prospectus

Living landscapes where history and ecology have never been separate.

Rarely are they presented as what they truly are: living landscapes where history, ecology and culture continue to coexist.

Sri Lanka is home to some of the world's most remarkable archaeological landscapes. Yet many are understood in fragments — as isolated monuments, or as destinations for nature tourism.

Expedition Serendip is an original documentary series that seeks to change this. Through historical research, ecological interpretation and on-location exploration, it reveals the stories embedded within the island's ancient mountains, forests and monasteries — demonstrating that the two have always been inseparable.

Meet Your Hosts

Two voices — one conversation between the past and the wild.

The series is guided by a historian and a field naturalist, each bringing a distinct discipline to the same landscapes.

Historian

Anargi Jayakody

Historian and researcher specialising in medieval Sri Lankan history.

A graduate of King's College London and the University of Peradeniya, Anargi specialises in the comparative study of kingship, religion and landscape in medieval history. Her research has taken her from archival collections at the Department of National Archives to fieldwork across Sri Lanka's historic landscapes, reflecting a wider interest in the relationship between archaeology, ecology and cultural memory.

A member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka and the National Trust Sri Lanka, she will continue her postgraduate studies at Harvard University in 2027.

Field Naturalist

Nilantha “Birdie” Kodithuwakku

One of Sri Lanka's leading field naturalists.

With a career spanning several decades, Birdie's experience encompasses ornithology, botany, tropical ecology and biodiversity conservation, with professional collaborations including the Smithsonian Institution and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Equally at home in scientific fieldwork and public interpretation, he has spent years exploring Sri Lanka's forests, wetlands and protected landscapes.

In Expedition Serendip, he provides the ecological perspective that complements the series' historical narrative — showing how the island's natural environments have shaped, and continue to shape, its cultural heritage.

The Series · Season One

Four episodes. Four landscapes. One island's memory.

The inaugural season consists of four documentary episodes, each running approximately twenty minutes — weaving historical scholarship with expert ecological interpretation.

Episode I · Coming Soon

Trailer to be released

Episode I

Pidurangala

Exploring the forgotten monastery that predates Sigiriya and the remarkable ecology surrounding the mountain.

Approx. 20 minutes

The Team

The people behind the expedition.

Tap any portrait to flip it over and meet the animal that matches them.

Tap a portrait to reveal their animal

What Makes It Different

To understand one without the other is to see only part of the story.

Historical Perspective

The political, religious and cultural forces that shaped these sites.

Drawing upon archaeological evidence, ancient inscriptions and contemporary historical scholarship across Sigiriya, Pidurangala, Gerandigala and Ritigala.

Natural History Perspective

The ecosystems that continue to define these same landscapes today.

Geology, biodiversity, endemic wildlife and ecological significance, interpreted in the field by expert naturalists.

A marabou stork representing the wildlife research behind the series

Educational Value

Rigorous research, made accessible.

Without compromising academic integrity, the series presents complex ideas in an engaging, visually compelling format suitable for viewers of all ages. It seeks to encourage:

01Greater appreciation of Sri Lanka's cultural heritage
02Increased awareness of environmental conservation
03Interest in archaeology and history
04Responsible exploration of historic landscapes
05Pride in Sri Lanka's natural and historical legacy

Production & Partners

Produced in collaboration with our media and hospitality partners.

Combining professional production with academic research and field expertise. A digital campaign across social platforms will accompany the series, with national broadcast in Sinhala and Tamil subtitles.

Partners

Endorsed by

Looking Ahead

Every ruined monastery, forest trail and mountain summit preserves stories of people, wildlife and environments that have shaped this island for centuries.

To protect one is ultimately to preserve the other.