Sunday, September 1, 2019
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2012 Miss. Laxmi / Miss. Dineshika Batch no 169 2nd two week 12/25/2012 2012 Miss. Laxmi / Miss. Dineshika Batch no 169 2nd two week 12/25/2012 A Fersharble day with tourists A Fersharble day with tourists The great father of Cambridge English College It is you who inspires us It is you who gives us courage You are the light in our life So this is a small tribute for your Great service Thank youâ⬠¦ * To speak in English foreigners to boost up our English language and pronunciation * To build up our friendship with them * To improve group abilities * To learn how to contact and associate with them * To make of their opinionWe want to learn a universal language as we step into. A developed world so there is no any other language us close us English. The Cambridge English College is taking a qreat efford to teach English in a period when itââ¬â¢s necessary to learn English as a second language. This book is prepared with regard to an exploring field trip which was organized with the Intention of improving studentââ¬â¢s knowledge in the college we would like to thank and pay our respect to all teachers who was led by dearest principal sir as well as we would like to thank organizing committee and our class mates who worked hard to prepare this book. . What is your name ? Judith b. Where are you from ? Spain c. Why have you come to Sri Lanka ? /what is the purpose of your visit ? To visit d. With whom have you come ? Alone e. What kind of a climate do you have in your country? Very cool (cool and hot) f. What are the main languages and what is the standard of English ? Spanish g. What is your career? restaurant h. How long do you stay here and how many places have you visited ? 25 days,12 places i. What do you think about the hospitality of the Sri Lanka people ? perfect j. How do you compare your culture ? Different k.How is the economy in your country? They have public person but we have poor person a. What is your name ? Elisabeth b. Where are you from ? Australia c. Why have you come to Sri Lanka ? /what is the purpose of your visit ? Holiday d. With whom have you come ? Alone e. What kind of a climate do you have in your country? Cool, hot and summer f. What are the main languages and what is the standard of English ? English g. What is your career? housewife h. How long do you stay here and how many places have you visited ? 2 Months i. What do you think about the hospitality of the Sri Lanka people ? very nice j.How do you compare your culture ? Very Different k. How is the economy in your country? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ a. What is your name ? Aude b. Where are you from ? France c. Why have you come to Sri Lanka ? /what is the purpose of your visit ? To visit d. With whom have you come ? Friends e. What kind of a climate do you have in your country? cool f. What are the main languages and what is the standard of English ? France g. What is your career? Sell books h. How long do you stay here and how many places ha ve you visited ? 9 days, Negambo only i. What do you think about the hospitality of the Sri Lanka people ? good j.How do you compare your culture ? Different k. How is the economy in your country? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. a. a. What is your name ? Antonio,Monshow,Mogal b. Where are you from ? Spain c. Why have you come to Sri Lanka ? /what is the purpose of your visit ? Holidays d. With whom have you come ? Friends e. What kind of a climate do you have in your country? cool f. What are the main languages and what is the standard of English ? Spanish g. What is your career? supermarket h. How long do you stay here and how many places have you visited ? 9 days,7places i. What do you think about the hospitality of the Sri Lanka people ? ery well j. How do you compare your culture ? Different k. How is the economy in your country? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â ¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ . â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦.. â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Miss. Gayathri Gunathilaka Miss. Gayathri Gunathilaka â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã ¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ ignature signature .â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens dates as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli Ganga. Later, in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe from 1747 to 1780 this was made a Royal Garden and from 1780 ââ¬â 1798 King Rajadhi Rajasinghe resided therein, where a temporary residence was erected for him. A vihare and dagoba were built in the reign of King Wimala Dharm a which was improved by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe.The vihare and dagoba were destroyed by the English when they occupied Kandy. The famous historical battle of Gannoruwa between Rajasinghe II and the Portuguese was fought on the Northern side of the river. A priest resided here till the Gardens were formed by Mr. Alexandar Moon in 1821 six years after the final conquest of the Kandyan Kingdom. In 1810 under the advice of Sir Joseph Banks a garden named Kew was opened in Slave Island and Mr. William Kerr was appointed as its Superintendent.In 1813 the garden was moved to Kalutara for the reception of economic plants which could be cultivated there on a larger scale than was possible at Slave Island. Kerr died in 1814 and under the rule of his successor Mr. Alexander Moon this Garden was finally moved to Peradeniya in 1821 as it was found to be favourable and better adapted for the proposed Botanic establishment. The transfer of exotics from the Kalutara Garden was made by successive Su perintendents at least up to 1843.During Moonââ¬â¢s superintendence the opening of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, can be said to have commenced though at first only the South West portion of the Gardens was cleared and opened and it was mostly planted with cinnamon and coffee. Moon published his ââ¬Å"Catalogue of Ceylon Plantsâ⬠in 1824 in which was given the Botanical and native names of 1,127 plants, indigenous to the island. After the appointment of Mr. George Gardner in 1844 the institution started upon its more active independent and useful existence that it has since maintained.Only 40 acres of the 147 acres were in cultivation when Gardner took charge and the chief use made of the land was to grow jak, coconuts and vegetables for sale by the Government Agent in Kandy. Gardner effected many important improvements in the condition of the Gardens but his chief work was the exploration of the country for the collection and preparation of its flora. He died at Nu wara Eliya in 1849 and was succeeded by Dr. Thwaites who for over 30 years maintained the Gardens in a high state of efficiency, added largely to our knowledge of the flora of the Colony and gave the establishment its world-wide reputation.Thwaites was succeeded by Dr. Henry Trimen, under whose rule and capable management the beauty and usefulness of the Gardens were very considerably advanced. He established the Museum of Economic Botany, opened branch Gardens at Badulla and Anuradhapura and began the publication of his work, ââ¬Å"The Flora of Ceylonâ⬠which however was finished by Sir Joseph D. Hooker after Trimenââ¬â¢s death in 1896. In 1896 Trimen was succeeded by Dr. J. C. Willis and from that date a new extension of scientific work took place.In the early years work was mainly directed towards the introduction and acclimatization of useful and ornamental plants but in later years activities developed towards Economic botany and Agriculture and led to the development of the Department of Agriculture in 1912. Mr. H. F. Macmillan who was appointed Curator in 1895, was made the Superintendent of Botanic Gardens in 1912 and Mr. T. H. Parsons the Curator in 1914. During Macmillanââ¬â¢s superintendence the Gardens were improved and extended and his great work ââ¬Å"A Hand Book of Tropical Planting and Gardeningâ⬠was published.Macmillan retired in 1925 and Mr. T. H. Parsons continued as Curator till 1945. Mr. D. M. A. Jayaweera who was appointed as the Superintendent in 1945 contributed a lot to our knowledge on medicinal plants and orchids of Sri Lanka. Mr. D. T. Ekanayake who became the Superintendent in 1971 pioneered the floriculture in Sri Lanka. Mr. D. B. Sumithraarachchi, as the Director National Botanic Gardens improved the condition of the botanic gardens tremendously and conducted many useful taxonomic works until leaving the gardens in 1998.Dr. D. S. A. Wijesundara assumed duties as Director in December 1998 and served the gardens in that capacity until August 2006. In August 2006 the Department of National Botanic Gardens was established and Dr. Wijesundara was appointed as the Director General. Today, the responsibilities of Royal Botanic Gardens include the management and development of Garden attached to the Kandy Official residency of His Excellency the President and the maintenance of religious and ancient trees.The location of the finest of its kind in Asia Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn't be better located. In the Mediterranean climate ofà Kandy, the gateway to theà Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, were tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka.The town of Peradeniya is located at a distance of 110km from Colombo and another 6km over the Peradeniya Birdge and you are atà Kandy, home to the sacredà Temple of Tooth. Peradeniya, the name Peradeniya is believed to take its exotic name from Sinhalese names Pera (guava) and Deniya (a plain). The name also reveals, although Guava is not indigenous to Sri Lanka, introduction of the fruit to the island and cultivation had occurred even prior to the era of British Colonialists in Ceylon.The official establishment of Peradeniya Botanical Gardens during the colonial era It was British colonialist rulers (1815-1948) of Ceylon, who destroyed the invaluable forest cover of a thousand wooded hills from Kandy toà Badullaà of Central Highlands of Ceylon that was protected by the gentle sway of Buddhism, which indoctrinated the respect for all living beings. The wooded hills were converted to hill after hill of Ceylon Coffee and following the devastating ââ¬Å"coffee rustâ⬠(a leaf blight ââ¬â Hemileia vastratrix) in 1869 to seamless hill plantations ofà Ceylon Tea.The very same British Colonialist rulers of Ceylon es tablished the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens that contribute, today, towards the enlightenment of concepts of floriculture conservation, birdlife conservation, butterfly conservation, biodiversity and sustainability of the island of Sri Lanka: 5% of the school children of Sri Lanka visit the Peradeniya gardens every year. The vegetation The vegetation is purely tropical, being characterized by an abundance of climbing plants or lianas, palms, bamboos, pandanus or screw-pines, epiphytes (orchids, ferns etc. , and lofty trees, the latter often having buttresses roots. The leaves are generally large, thick and leathery; the flowers usually brilliant and considerable in size, and the fruits often of immense proportions and borne on the trunks of trees or older branches. H. F. Macmillan, F. L. S, F. R. H. S. 1906 (Curator) 4000 labeled species of flora at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens A signboard at the entrance, with a map, feature a numbered circuit from 1-30. The corresponding numbers are placed at strategic points on the route, black on a yellow background. 0 ha (150 acres) gardens, where you can easily stroll around a whole day, are stuffed with a bewildering variety of local & foreign tree & plant species. There are around ten thousand plants & trees inclusive of 4000 labeled species. One of the most interesting sites here is bizarre-looking snake creeper, whose tangled aerial roots look just like a writhing knot of vipers. Main entrance, River Drive and avenues Main entrance opens up the River Drive which takes you straight down to the great circle and then on to the suspension bridge over the River Mahaweli.River drive branches off to a number of avenues: Double Coconut Avenue, Cook's Pine Avenue, Royal Palm Avenue, Palmyrah Palm Avenue and Cabbage Palm Avenue The spice garden, Orchid house The spice garden to the right of entrance is replete with exotic spices. Cardamom, Coves, Pepper & Vanilla. We follow the path to the right, right into the Orchid House with an outstanding collection. The great circle and memorial trees The great circle is a grassy central area of nearly 4 acres in extent. Around the circle is a diverse array of trees planted by dignitaries, who had visited the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens.A ââ¬Å"Flamboyanteâ⬠of Madagascar (Poinciana regia), planted by Princess Henry of Prussia in 1899; a ââ¬Å"Boâ⬠(Peepal) tree (Fiscus religiosa), planted in 1875 by King Edward VII; a ââ¬Å"Naâ⬠tree, or Ceylon Ironweed (Mesua ferrea), planted in 1891 by Czar of Russia; Brownea grandiceps tree planted by the King of Greece in 1891; Amherstia nobilis, planted byà Prince Henry of Prussia in 1898;ââ¬ËAsokaâ⬠tree (Saraca indica) planted by Emperor of Austria in 1893; ââ¬Å"Cannonballâ⬠tree (Couroupita guianensis), planted by the Prince of Wales in 1901. Alongside enerations of European royalty, there are trees planted by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India; Yuri Gagarin, the first man t o circle the orbit of earth, thereby cracking the door to space;à Marshal Tito, the man who rebuilt Yugoslavia devastated in the Second World War; U Thant, the Secretary-General of the United Nations during the decade from 1961 to 1971 & Supermac Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the period ofà 1957 to 1963. Between the great circle & the great lawn is the Herbarium.Then there is an arboretum. Lawns, pavilions, sandwiches & a cup of tea There are extensive well-kept lawns, pavilions, an Octagon Conservatory, fernery, banks of Burmese, Chinese & Japanese bamboos & numerous flower borders with cannas, hibiscus, chrysanthemums, croton & colorful bougainvillaea. You will see unusual exotic species, especially palms (Palmyra, talipot, royal, cabbage) &à Ficus elasticaà (latex-bearing fig or ââ¬Å"Indian rubber treeâ⬠with buttress roots), an amazing avenue of drunken looking pines & some magnificent old specimen tr ees.Then there are Ebony collection, Fiscus collection, Cycad Collection, Flower garden, Medicinal Garden, Cactus house and Plant house. Natural pavilion Grown from a sapling brought from East Indies, huge Javan fig tree covering 1600 sq. meters of the lawn, with its sprawling roots & branches create a remarkable natural pavilion. The Cabbage Palm Avenue The Cabbage Palm Avenue from the South America was planted in 1905. Walking along the stately avenue of Royal Palms (1885) we find fruit bats in large colonies hanging in the trees. Oh! Yes, true to their style, upside down.Cannonball avenue Cannonball Avenue is lined with beautiful cannonball trees, wreathed in creepers from which hang the large, round fruits. These Sal trees are loved by the Sinhalese. The flowers have a singular shape: a tiny stupa shaped bud in the centre is shaded by a cobra like hood & surrounded by tiny florettes which resemble a crowd of worshipers. It is believedà Prince Siddharthaà (who was to become G autama Buddha) was born in a park of Sal trees calledLumbini, near the Sakyan kingdom ofà Kapilavastuà in then north India, now the southern region of Nepal.Talipot palms Talipot palms (Corypha umbraculifera) are the easiest to identify with its enormous leaves. The talipot palm is one of Sri Lanka's botanical celebrities, an arboreal oddity which flowers just once in its lifetime, after about forty years, producing theà largest cluster of flowers in the world. In Kandyan times the enormous leaves reaching a height of 10 m were used to make tents by sewing a couple of leaves together. ââ¬Å"One single Leaf being so broad & large, that it will cover some fifteen or twenty men, & keep them dry when it rainsâ⬠wroteà Robert Knox.Talpot leaves were utilized to produce fine ultra long lasting solidà parchmentsà called Ola, in Sri Lanka & India as early as in 500 BC. Young talipot leaves were boiled, dried in the sun, exposed to dew & smoothed & stretched. The treated le aves were then engraved with writing using steel stylus to cut in the characters. Then the engraved leaf was smeared with ink made out of a resin blended with finely powdered charcoal. The great chronicle of Sri Lanka (Mahawamsa) & all other ancient books were written on these treated, cut & loosely bound talipot palm-leaf parchments. Artificial lakeIn the centre of the Gardens is an artificial lake with water plants including the giant water lily & papyrus reeds. Beside the lake is a white-domed rotunda commemorates George Gardener, the Superintendent of the park during 1844-1849. ââ¬Å"Coco de Merâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Double Coconut Palmâ⬠One of the rarest plants in the world, Coco de Mer (Lodoicea sechellarum) is on a path leading to this monument of Gardner. This plant has theà largest & heaviest fruit or nutà in the plant kingdom, weighing an average some10 ââ¬â 20 kg. They take between five to eight years to mature & are surprisingly productive.It is not unusual to have 20 nuts on a tree. They are all carefully numbered. Native Coco de Mer are only found in Praslin, an island in theSeychelles. Strolling along the path we reach lily tank which is surrounded by giant bamboo, some 40m tall that grows 2-3 cm a day. Suspensionà Bridge Suspension Bridge across the River Mahaweli takes us to theà School of Tropical Agricultureat Gannoruwa hill, where research is carried out into various important spices & medicinal herbs as well as into tea, coffee, coca, rubber, coconuts & varieties of rice & other cash crops.Peradeniya campus Just across the main road from the gardens is Peradeniya campus ofà Sri Lanka University(1942), built in the old Kandyan style in an impressive setting of a large park with the River Mahaweli running through it & the surrounding hillocks. The History of Peradeniya Royal Botanical Park The history of the park wouldn't take a backseat to its geography, terrain or vegetation. Conceived originally in 1371 as the Queen's plea sure garden, it was developed byà King Kirti Sri Rajasinheà (1747-1778) where royal visitors were entertained.It was converted into Botanical Gardens in 1821, by the British during the deputy governorship of General Sir Edward Barnes, six years after fall of the last King of Sri Lanka. Alexander Moon, the botanist Alexander Moon, a diligent student of the Ceylon flora was appointed the superintendent of the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. In the year 1824, Mr. Moon published a ââ¬Å"Catalogue of Ceylon Plantsâ⬠with the description of 1,127 plates referring to same by native names as well as botanical names.Sri Lanka's first tea trees were planted here at Peradeniya Gardens in 1824, though the full commercial potential wasn't to be realized for another half a century. All prime imported crops ââ¬âà Coffee, Tea, Nutmeg, Rubber & Cinchonaà ââ¬â were tested in Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens. That was during the enterprising governorship (1824-1831) ofà Sir Edward Barnes. Imported crops, Tea & Rubber together with the local crop of Coconut became mainstay of the economy of the island in the time to come.After the death of Mr. Alexander Moon, a succession of superintendents followed. George Gardner, the famous traveler botanist In 1844, an aptly named Scotsman was appointed the Superintendent of Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens: Mr. George Gardner (born in1809 or 1812), a son of a gardener to 5th Earl of Dunmore. Mr. Gardener's deeds had already well surpassed the carry of his name: his expeditionary account of ââ¬Å"Catalogue of Brazilian plantsâ⬠numbered a collection of enormous 6100 plants.Gardener collected the specimens during his four years of explorations in Brazil & was responsible for importing Rubber as well as Cinchona to Ceylon. Both of these imports have been blessings to the island; Rubber becoming a prime export & bark of Cinchona tree producing anti malaria drug Quinine. Mr. Gardner, with great industry, launche d upon the development of Peradeniya Gardens till his tragic death in 1849 with a fit of apoplexy at the Rest House of Nuwara Eliya, the prime sanatorium of the colonialists in the Central Highlands of Ceylon.His untimely death left his work towards a Ceylon Flora incomplete. ââ¬Å"Gardner Monumentâ⬠was erected at the park to his memory. Dr. Thawaits's 30 years of unbroken selfless service to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens Gardner was succeeded by a man who wouldnââ¬â¢t be his second best: Dr. Thwaites. Dr Thwaitsââ¬â¢s term of service extended over thirty unbroken years, during which he never left the Island of Ceylon. A devoted student of the science of Botany, Dr. Thwaites is credited with bringing world wide recognition to the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens.He retired in 1880, and died in Kandy in 1882. While their fellow Englishmen were busy game hunting, killing thousands of elephants, killing mammals and birds, those illustrious botanists of Ceylon at the Per denaiya Royal Botanical Gardens, contributed with their tireless work towards enlightening their follow colonialists with the value in conservation of biodiversity and floriculture of our Sri Lanka Holidays. The End The End Miss. Dineshika Miss. Dineshika Miss. Laxmi Miss. Laxmi Miss. Gayathri Miss. Gayathri * Name :- ShahanFrom :- Mawathagama, Kurunegala * Name :- Madusha From :- Kolonnawa, Colombo * Name :- Vihanga From :- Nathtandiya, Chilaw * Name :- Chanaka From :- Narammala, Kurunegala * Name :- Sahan From :- Eheliyagoda, Awissawella * Name :- Bandula From :- Mirigama, Minuwagoda * Name :- Chaturika From :- Ruwanwella, Awissawella * Name :- Saroja From :- Haguranketa, Kandy * Name :- Sadaruwan From :- Digana, Kandy * Name :- Vipula Thero From :- Gampola, Kandy * Name :- Chandaratana thero From :-Wellawaya, Monaragala * Name :- ShahanFrom :- Mawathagama, Kurunegala * Name :- Madusha From :- Kolonnawa, Colombo * Name :- Vihanga From :- Nathtandiya, Chilaw * Name :- Chanaka From :- Narammala, Kurunegala * Name :- Sahan From :- Eheliyagoda, Awissawella * Name :- Bandula From :- Mirigama, Minuwagoda * Name :- Chaturika From :- Ruwanwella, Awissawella * Name :- Saroja From :- Haguranketa, Kandy * Name :- Sadaruwan From :- Digana, Kandy * Name :- Vipula Thero From :- Gampola, Kandy * Name :- Chandaratana thero From :-Wellawaya, Monaragala
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