Deyata Sevana: tree planting:

First sapling in Kotte botanical garden

Disna MUDALIGE

This year's Deyata Sevana national tree planting campaign will be inaugurated by planting the first sapling in a proposed new botanical garden in Kotte, said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

The minister said the proposed botanical garden would be located in a seven-acre bare land near Japan-Lanka Friendship road close to the Parliament complex. He noted that even though the initial cost of the project was estimated to be around Rs 8 million, the government could lessen this amount to about Rs 2 million due to the contribution of various institutions of the government. He said the Sri Lanka Army, National Botanical Gardens Department and Land Reclamation and Development Corporation have extended their support towards this move with manpower and consultation.

He added that once the botanical garden is completed, schoolchildren who come to view the Parliament can also visit this place to enjoy and improve their knowledge on environment. The Deyata Sevana will be inaugurated at the auspicious time of 9.01 am on November 15 with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and ministers.

This year's programme aims to plant 1.1 million saplings countrywide. The Forest Conservation Department (FCD) will be supplying 900,000 saplings while 600,000 out of which will be distributed to Grama Niladari Divisions through the District Secretariat Divisions.

The rest of the saplings will be distributed among voluntary organizations. The FCD is producing about 2.5 million saplings per year.