Wet Zone Botanical Gardens open in 2014

Disna Mudalige

The Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens in Illukowita, Avissawella will be opened for public in 2014, Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Minister Jayaratne Herath said.

Nearly 75 acres of the garden is being developed, and it has been proposed to expand for 100 acres. Accordingly, another 25 acres of land will be added to the project with the intervention of Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena.

The indigenous plants found in the region will be conserved in the new botanical garden.

National Botanical Gardens Director General Dr Cyril Wijesundara said a rose garden will also be established.

Plans have also been made to promote bamboo cultivation, conserve endangered plant varieties, promote floriculture, provide access to undergraduates to the garden for study purposes, promote eco-tourism in the area parallel to Wet Zone Botanic Gardens project.

The estimated cost for the first phase of the project is Rs. 250 million.