Botanical Gardens for Hambantota, Awissawella
by Priyanka Kurugala
Following the announcement of their planned investment of Rs. 500 million towards revamping and refurbishing their hotel in Trincomalee late last year, the John Keells Hotels Group has well poised itself to herald the burgeoning of East-Coast tourism in Sri Lanka.
Two botanical gardens will be opened at Hambantota and Awissawella by early next year, said National Botanical Gardens Department Director General Dr. Cyril Wijesundara yesterday. The Government has launched a program to established 15 botanical gardens in the country according to the 10 year Mahinda Chinthana policy plan of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The construction program will cost between Rs. 300-500 million for the Hambantota Botanical garden and about Rs. 200 million for the Awissawella botanical garden.
The Peradeniya Botanical Garden is home to about 4,500 species of plants of the world.
(Source: Daily News – 3rd March, 2010)