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by Sian Woodcock

Horticulturist, Henry Wijenayake is a very talented man with a modest attitude. England is a well known country to him and it was very interesting to hear about the places he had visited. Now working part time for the Galle Face Hotel he began his love of horticulture following in his uncle's footsteps. He too was a gardener and from the age of twelve Henry would show interest by visiting places and asking questions.

At 52 he decided to follow protocol and retired. Gardening was his hobby, working on his vegetable plots at home, but this was not sufficient. It had become a part of his life so he began work at the Galle Face Hotel on 1 October 2001 and will continue there as long as he is needed.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks the gardens to the front of the hotel have been removed by bulldozers to make way for extra car parking space under new management orders. Although Henry was upset he said that he will now have to concentrate on the remaining gardens. These will be confined to the back of the hotel to be admired by those visiting. As well as this, part of his job is to pass on innovative ideas to the management and these are accepted or rejected on their say so.

His love of gardening means that he travels the 116 kilometres from Kandy to work to start at 7.30 in the morning. The gardens of the hotel are marginally smaller than his previous experience of hotel work but he told me, "It is interesting to work in the town, at the hotel, because it is another new experience and a change for me".

Henry has achieved many things in life. So what has happened between those first influences and his return from retirement? Firstly let me tell you about the scholarship that he gained from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 1980 for a trip of a lifetime. This would take him to my homeland of England for just over 3 months. He firstly went to Pershow College of Worcestershire.

After spending a month there he queried whether he would be able to spend some time at Kew Gardens in London. This is a well established Royal Botanic Garden where plants are looked after in glass houses. It is renowned for informing the public about world class gardening. His dream came true and he spent his days looking after a number of varied plants that he had not known before, as well as working in potting sheds. Among these visits in England he also gained experience at Wisley in Surrey and at the University of Reading.

His first grounding in horticulture began after finishing his O'levels at 16, when he went to the Sri Lanka Agriculture School.

He followed a two year diploma. From here he then did a two year apprentice course at the Royal Britannic Gardens in Peradeniya in 1950. As an apprentice he was learning about digging and watering plant beds and learning the names of the many flowers. "In those days very few diverted in the direction of gardening, this made it different and original" Henry said. He continued to flourish and his many skills took him from place to place.

A Foliage Exchange Program was Henry's next challenge. This time it was America's turn. He spent 6 months of 1979 with the American farmers. Again he was experiencing a different type of gardening, dividing his time between Colorado, South Decota and Missrouri. He was using machines such as tractors and combine harvesters, working on 4,000 acres of land. "The USA has been my favourite destination because they were the most helpful with more time to do varied work", I was told.

Henry has also had time for Sri Lanka and was known at the Botanical Gardens in Hakgala as a field assistant, as well as working for the Prime Minister at his official residence for eight years. His position as head gardener meant maintaining the gardens and looking after the vegetable plots.

He then moved onto working at the Pegasus Reef Hotel which boasts a beautiful seven acre garden where he worked for 10 years. "I can give something back to my country through the knowledge I have gained", Henry told me. This is something that I would agree that he has fulfilled.

There is no doubt that Henry is well travelled and has a wealth of experience that is difficult to comprehend.

I will forgive Henry, this once, for his love of America more than England but only because it was such a pleasure to have met such a proud man.

He was truly a master of the art of horticulture.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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