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Facelift for Gampaha Gardens

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The 127 year old Gampaha Gardens (Henarathgoda Botanical Garden), is currently undergoing a facelift under a massive modernisation programme using the latest botanical modification techniques on an initiative by the Agriculture Ministry.

On the directive of Agriculture Minister S.B.Dissanayake, the activities relating to modernise the botanical garden have already commenced and all the major development activities of the project are expected to be completed within this year, National Botanical Gardens Director Dr.Cyril Wijesundara told the Daily News yesterday.

Nearly Rs.20 million is expected to be spent on the first stage of the project, he said.

"The Henarathgoda Botanical Garden (HBG) dates back to 1876. It was created to commence research activities on the rubber plantations in Sri Lanka. The HBG holds the international reputation of introducing rubber plantations to the entire Asian region."

Dr.Wijesundara said several new features will be included to the project which aims to safeguard the freedom and security of the people who visit the HBG. The project includes a new laboratory, horticulture research institute and a special unit for botanical and environment studies within the 36 acre land of the botanical garden.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has taken steps to change the present main entrance of the HBG. Arrangements have been made to use the entrance situated on the Gampaha-Ja-Ela road side as the main entrance in future. This would help the public to reach the botanical garden easily and quickly, he said.

He said a new children's park will be established in the HBG which will be different when compared to other children parks. This environment friendly park will consist of various kinds of flora and fauna to educate the children on the environment.

He said 300 new benches and a modern cafeteria managed by Milco (Pvt) Ltd will also be set up for the benefit of the people who visit the botanical garden. In addition the HBG has also reserved space for the sport activities.

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