It’s no longer a mere ‘malvatta’

Gone are the days when we used to talk in terms of going to the Peradeniya ‘malvatta’. Today it’s much more. Peradeniya Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens as it is officially known) mean different things to different people and entities. To the Government, it is a revenue earner. To the scientists, it is a place for research. To the leisure-lover, it is a place to relax away from the noisy city. To the foreigner, it is a fine tourist attraction. And of course, to the public it is still the ‘malvatta’ where there are lovely flowers.

In a well-illustrated presentation, Dr. D. S. A. Wijesundera, Director-General of the National Botanic Gardens, gave a new dimension to the botanical gardens. He was speaking at the monthly gathering of the Wildlife Protection Society.

Not often do we hear a definition of a botanical garden. Neither are we bothered – as long as we see nice flowers, tall trees, well paved paths and space to relax. Dr. Wije started his talk with a definition picked up from many: “Botanic gardens are institutions holding documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education.”

Tracing the history of the Botanic Gardens in Sri Lanka, he quoted from the Colombo Journal of 30 January 1833: “His Majesty having signified his pleasure that a Royal Botanic Garden be established in the Island of Ceylon, …has been pleased to appoint Mr. Wm. Kerr to be Resident Superintendent and Chief Gardener of His Majesty’ said Royal Botanic Garden as communicated in the Earl of Liverpool’s letter to the Rt. Hon. Lieut. General Maitland dated 5th of June 1810.”

To Peradeniya via Kalutara

Maitland was Governor at the time. Kerr arrived in August 1812 and set up a botanic garden at Slave Island under the name ‘Kew’ obviously taking the cue from the famous Kew Gardens in England. It was soon moved to Uggalboda in Kalutara. Kerr died in 1814 “in consequence of some evil habits he had contracted, as unfortunate as they were new to him,” and was succeeded by Alexander Moon as Superintendent.

He arrived in 1817 and following instructions to look for a spot in Kandy to set up a botanic garden he submitted a report in 1821 recommending Peradeniya. He wrote: “I am of opinion that the site of the late Kandian King’s Garden at Peradeniya is better adapted than any other place for the proposed Botanic Establishment…”

Dr. Wije quoted from records that there had been four private gardens at the site. One was Agala Kotuwewatte which was one ‘amunam’ and two ‘pela’ of paddy containing 20 coconut, 13 jak, 34 ‘kekuna,’ coffee and some fruit trees with no one occupying the land which supplied 24 measures of oil to the Maligawa annually.

Kandewatte comprising one ‘amunam,’ two ‘pela’ of paddy and 15 coconut, four jak and 14 kekuna trees belonged to the Natha Devale  and was occupied by Kandwatte appu who was the umbrella bearer at the Perahera. The land supplied 30 coconuts to Maligawa annually.

The other two were Udowatte (12 ‘kornies’ of paddy, one coconut, four jak and four ‘kekuna’ trees) and Karandagahawatte (13 ‘kornies’ paddy, 20 ‘kekuna’ and 150 coffee trees). Both were owned by   Ukkurala Vidane of Peradeniya. Kandwatte appu and Ukkurala Vidane got land from elsewhere at Peradeniya.

When the Peradeniya Gardens was set up in February 1822, its extent was 75 ‘amunam,’ (147 acres) and contained 800 coconut, 244 jak, 13 del, 33 ‘kitul,’ 740 coffee, 77 pepper vines and 178 cardamom plants.

There were seven superintendents in the period 1825-44 when George Gardner was appointed and development was begun in earnest. By then the plants from Kalutara had been taken to Peradeniya. His successor G.H.K. Thwaites (1849) served for 31 years during which time a lot was achieved.

He started several publications including ‘Enumeratio Plantarum Zeylaniae’ which he started in 1858 and completed in 1864. Two new botanic gardens were established during his time – Hakgala in 1861 and Henerathgoda (Gampaha) in 1876.

Cinchona, which became a lucrative industry, was introduced after Henry Trimen was appointed head in 1880. He started the ‘Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon’ in 1893 and completed three volumes during his lifetime. The last two were completed after his death by Sir J.D. Hooker.

Cocoa was introduced in 1835 and Peradeniya was distributing coffee seedlings of the Arabian variety in 1845.Tea was introduced in 1820s but the Assam and China varieties came in 1840s. Rubber was introduced in1876.

Dr. Wije mentioned H. F. McMillan F.R.H.S (1895-1925) and T. H. Parsons (1914-45) as notable curators. Then came the Sri Lankans – D. M. A. Jayaweera F.L.S. (1945-71), D. T. Ekanayake, BSc. (1971-83) and D. B. Sumithraarachchi BSc., MSc. (1983-98).

The Gardens was under the Department of Agriculture from 1912 – 2005 after which the Department of National Botanic Gardens was formed in 2006.