Nature lover of Haltota

by Milton Dharmasinghe, Bulathsinhala Spl. Corr.

In Sri Lanka we find a selected few who love soil, water, trees, birds, reptiles and other creatures. We call them nature lovers. Actually, nature is a part of our life. It is very difficult to live without our basic resources as air, water, food and clothes.

People who live in concrete forests in urban areas and lead unhealthy lives amidst polluted environment, are very far from nature. Hemasiri Wickramasinghe of Kelesgamuwa, Haltota, in Millaniya Secretariat Division who is in his sixties in a nature lover who has been keeping a garden left mainly for all kind of animals, birds, small creatures and rare plants.

In his garden there are fruit trees like jumbu, mangoes, mangosteen, narang, lovi, divul, rambutan, papaw, kamaranga and many other varieties. Many kinds of vegetable, medicinal herbs are grown in his garden. Small ponds, cages for birds, small pots of water, are kept for them and maintain well. Many kind of flowers are grown to attract birds and butterflies that add beauty to the garden.

Fruits in trees are not for him but for the birds and other creatures that visit the garden on and off to quench their hunger and thirsty and stay there freely and leisurely. Kelesgamuwa is a village in a calm and quiet area where natural beauty, clean air, water resources, and fauna and flora are in abundance

Mr. Wickramasinghe and his wife, Hema, day in day and try their best to keep their garden clean and tidy beautifully.

They get much pleasure providing all facilities to birds, butterflies, squirrels and other creatures who visit the garden throughout the day.

Watching the behaviour of all creatures including birds in their past time.

Mr. Wickramasinghe once worked as an Officer in the Army. After that he joined the Tourist Board as a guide and worked there for 32 years.

After his retirement he turned his attention towards nature, birds and animals and has turned his entire garden for the wellbeing of innocent animals and birds.

He associated with bird watching tourists and other tourists who took much interest in Sri Lankan birds and animal. The admired our environment, birds and animals better than our own people.

Their attitude towards our nature encouraged Mr. Wickramasinghe to be a nature lover and protect environment and love for birds and all kind of animals. After querying why he became a nature lover, Mr. Wickramasinghe (Wicky) said, "As a tourist guide I had travelled to every nook and corner of Sri Lanka with foreign tourists have visited many botanical gardens, game sanctuaries, birds sanctuaries many times.

Tourists love Sri Lanka very much as it is rich in natural beauties, everywhere with beautiful birds and animals big and small.

No person can bring polythene bags or boxes into the premises. Separate cans have been placed to place garbage.

For the use of vegetations in the garden composed manure is produced within the garden itself. He has formed an Association named 'Paradise Nature lovers'.

Many nature lovers in the area and in distance areas have become members of the Association. He has planned to organise special lectures and workshops for nature lovers. He wishes to organise awareness programmes especially for schoolchildren who like to be nature lovers.

The Association seeks the assistance from foreign nature lovers to develop the activities of and future plans of this organisation. If any one needs to know further details of the 'Paradise Nature Lovers' he can write to Hemasiri Wickramasinghe, Wickramage Maha watta, Kelesgamuwa, Haltota, Sri Lanka or contact him on phone number:

0777609260 or 0602386414 or [email protected]