Botanical gardens earn record income

The country's three main botanical gardens have earned a record income in the first quarter of this year.

"Within the first four months of 2012, the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens and Hakgala and Henarathgoda (Gampaha) Botanical Gardens earned nearly Rs. 156 million," said Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens. This is a significant development compared to last year's income during the same period which was Rs. 124 million.

The National Botanical Gardens Department made several improvements in the infrastructure of the three main gardens providing more facilities to the local and foreign visitors, according to Dr. Wijesundara. During the first four months of 2012, 644,207 people visited the gardens of which 112,155 were foreigners. Last year, 95,433 foreign tourists visited the botanical gardens.

As per data up to April 30, the major part of the income has been from the Peradeniya Gardens. - DY