Botanic Gardens revenue up
by Dhaneshi Yatawara
The annual income of the Department of Botanic Gardens in 2014
recorded a noteworthy increase compared to 2013. National Botanical
Gardens Department Director General Dr. Cyril Wijesundara said the
Department recorded over 17% increase in the revenue earned from foreign
visitors.
The income for 2014 was over Rs. 4.46 million of which Rs. 3.7
million was earned from tickets issued to foreigners. All four botanic
gardens recorded nearly 345,470 foreign visitors. In 2013 the number of
foreign visitors was 293,454, Wijesundara said.
A number of projects were implemented during 2013 and 2014 to improve
the infrastructure facilities and services of the four botanic gardens
of Sri Lanka in Peradeniya, Hakkagala, Mirijjawila and Awissawella. In
addition, the National Botanic Gardens Department has introduced several
programs to promote conservation of flora in Sri Lanka through research
and ‘in situ’ conservation methods in collaboration with local and
foreign universities.
Through these botanic gardens floriculture is promoted across the
country as a self employment venture and steps are taken to improve the
quality of the products such as cut flowers, foliage and potted plants -
to suit the demand in the global market.
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