New botanical and safari parks to be set up
By Lakshme Parasuraman
Setting up new Botanical and Zoological gardens and developing the
existing parks will be a boom to the tourism sector.
|
Peradeniya Botanical
Gardens |
Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Minister Jayaratna Herath has
taken several steps to speed up the above projects, on a directive by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Two new zoological gardens will be set up at Ridigama, Hambantota and
Kahapola Piliyandala apart from the Dehewala zoo and Pinnawala national
park. New botanical gardens will also be located in Mirijjawila,
Hambantota, Seethawaka Avisawella and Jaffna. Most of these projects
which will commence by the end of this year, will conserve biodiversity
with special attention to the environment.
These projects will attract both local and foreign tourists, while
being a boost to the university students and research.
A herbal garden has also been set up at Ganewatha.
It with 58 acres, it conserves many Ayurvedic plants most of which
are unique species for Sri Lanka.
Students who conduct research are benefited by the Ganewatha
botanical garden. It will be open for local and foreign tourists by the
end of this year.
Piliyandala - Kahapola Zoo
Giraffes at the Dehiwela Zoo |
The ministry had decided to set up a zoo in Kahapola in Piliyandala
on the way to Ganewatha botanical garden.
This project will be located in a 125 acres land. Animals will be
brought from other countries under the animal exchange program. The
local and foreign tourists could visit this zoo with much ease as it is
situated close to Colombo.
Hambantota - Mirijjawila Botanical Garden
Sri Lankas only botanical garden in the dry zone will be set up in
Mirijjawila in Hambantota.
The rationale behind setting up such a garden is to conserve the
indigenous plants in the district of the dry zone. This will help
attract tourists whose numbers will go up with the commissioning of the
Hambantota new harbour and the Mattala airport.
Hambantota - Ridigama Safari Park
The 'safari' for local and foreign tourists is a novel project to be
launched soon by the SL Government.
This would be the largest animal kingdom in Sri Lanka. Steps have
been taken to set up a safari park in keeping with international
standard.
The park comprises two zones to represent African and Asian
countries.
The ministry sources said that a land in extent of 161 acres has been
allocated for the African zone and 54 acres for the Asian zone. Already
lions have been brought to Sri Lanka from Africa under the animal
exchange convention. There are other animals such as buffaloes,
giraffes, zebras, tigers, bears and leopards also to be brought from
African countries.
Avissawella - Illukovita Botanical Garden
Another botanical garden in Illukovita, Avissawella will be set up in
2014 to conserve wetzone plants. The garden which covers a total area of
75 acres will be expanded to 100 acres in the near future. The presence
of rich biodiversity in a cool climate provides tranquility and peace of
mind to the mentally retarded. Botanists of the Peradeniya garden
maintain this garden.
Dehiwela Zoo
According to the Ministry officials there is no move to shift the
Dehiwala zoo to another location. Annually around 2 million people visit
the Dehiwala zoo. There is however a move to shift the big animals to
the Hambantota safari park. The zoo is to be developed as a research
centre for university students.
Jaffna Botanical Garden
An another botanical garden will be opened in Jaffna by the end of
this year. It will be a habitat for many other animal species to be
brought from Japan, Korea, China and South Africa. |