National Botanical Garden- Achievments 2004

Visitors

The three botanic gardens were patronized by over 1.6 million visitors in 2004, of which, 238,689 were foreigners.

Number of visitors and vehicles that entered the NBG in 2004

Category	Peradeniya	Hakgala	Gampaha	Total
Local Adults	682,142	325,343	78,699	1,086,184
Children	207,149	100,803	4,915	312,867
Foreign Adults	221,245	8,157	257	229,659
Children	4,203	422	7	4,632
Students	3,981	409	8	4,398
Total	1,118,720	435,134	83,886	1,637,740
Vehicles
Motor Cars	0	2,843	1,470	4,313
Motor bicycles	0	264	4,103	4,367
Push bicycles	0	8	45	53
Total	0	3,115	5,618	8,733

Revenue
The NBG earned the highest income in 2004. Revenue earned under different categories by the different units of the NBG are given in Tables, and the number of seedlings and potted plants sold in.

Revenue earned in 2004 (Rs.)

Source	Peradeniya	Hakgala	Gampaha	Ganewatte	Total
Entrance Fees	82,689,065.00	9,921,795.00	2,031,880.00	0.00	94,642,740.00
Sale of Plants	2,043,192.50	1,102,362.00	152,127.00	37,573.00	33,352,54.50
Other Sources	3,291,741.75	80,495.00	137,375.50	123,260.75	3,632,873.00
Total	88,023,999.25	11,104,652.00	2,321,382.50	160,833.75	101,610,867.50

Total revenue exceeded expenditure by Rs. 60,106,724.29.

Plant production for sale
Number of seedlings and potted plants sold in 2004

Category	RBG	Hakgala	Gampaha	Ganewatte	Total
Anthurium T/C	2,227	-	-	-	2,227
Orchids	37,778	-	-	-	37,778
Indoor Foliage	35,483	30,000	7,911	-	73,394
Roses	-	3,660	-	-	3,660
Outdoor plants	53,789	27,415	30,000	-	111,204
Medicinal plants	-	-	-	5763	5,763
Seed Packets	2,480	7,300	58	-	9,838
Total	131,757	68,375	37,969	5763	243,864

Education and Training

i. One day training Programmes

Extension

1. Participated in 28 TV programs and one Radio program to promote floriculture and educate the public on
various aspects of growing flowers and ornamental plants. These consisted of the following:

i. 21 programs on the 3-5 TV series aired on RUPAVAHINI.
ii. 05 programs on the "Govi Bimete Arunalu" series aired on RUPAVAHINI
iii. 02 programs on the " Krushi Sandalle" series aired on RUPAVAHINI
iv. 01 program for the "KANDU RATA SEVEYE" radio station

2. 163 individuals personally visited the laboratory and were provided with needed advice on initiating
commercial floriculture ventures, laboratories for mass propagation of plants, pest and disease
management as well as general cultural practices.

3. 35 Nurseries cultivating Orchids, Anthuriums, Roses, Carnations, Gerberas and host of other flowers as
well as a variety of foliage plants were visited in various parts of the island and growers were provided
with needed information on improving their cultivations as well as overcoming problems in their
nurseries.

4. 03 lands were inspected to assess the feasibility of growing cut flowers and foliage plants on a
commercial scale.

Special Projects

1. Index to the Revised Hand Book to the Flora of Ceylon was completed.
2. Preliminary sorting of voucher specimens of lower plants and literature survey on the same were completed.
3. Rearrangement of the fern specimens of the reference herbarium was completed.
4. 75 herbarium specimens were prepared for the Herbarium at Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens, Gampaha.
5. Development of Ganewatta and Ambuluwawa Herbria were continued.
6. A programme on collecting medicinal plant gerplasm was begun.

Ex-situ Conservation

A work shop on Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants was conducted for a group of participants, organized by the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine.

47 new trees were planted in the arboretum and 157 cavity treatments were performed.

The following Historic and Religious trees were treated

1. 'Na' tree at Bodimaduwa Nagbodhi Temple, Eheliyagoda.
2. 'Bo' tree at Getambe Temple, Peradeniya.
3. 'Bo' tree at Muthyangana Temple, Badulla.
4. 'Bo' tree at Weligama Purana Viharaya, Weligama.
5. 'Bo' tree at Buwanakaba Pirivena, Gampola.
6. 'Bo' tree at Kuda wanawasi temple, Tangalle.
7. 228 native plants were planted in the arboretum. About 100 tree labels were fixed in the arboretum.
8. A soil protection programme was launched to prevent erosion due to heavy rain.

Highlights

125^th anniversary celebration of the Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens was held by inviting all retired members of the Gardens. A souvenir was published.