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 pleasure garden, it was developed by King Kirti Sri Rajasinhe
(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 "Catalogue of Ceylon Plants" 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 - Coffee, Tea, Nutmeg, Rubber & Cinchona - were tested in Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens. That was during the enterprising governorship (1824-1831) of 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 "Catalogue of Brazilian plants"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, launched 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. "Gardner Monument" was erected at the park to his memory.
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 "Catalogue of Brazilian plants"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, launched 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. "Gardner Monument" 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 wouldn’t be his second best: Dr. Thwaites. Dr Thwaits’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.
Gardner was succeeded by a man who wouldn’t be his second best: Dr. Thwaites. Dr Thwaits’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 Perdenaiya 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.
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