Hidden in plain sight, it was more than just a walk in the park
Contrary to the old adage, it is the trees that are not seen for the forest and not the other way round! The best example? Colombo’s Viharamahadevi Park which, though a thick mantle of green with stalwart sylvan sentinels aplenty, is often overlooked as a parkland of wonderful arboreal specimens, many dating back to British times and beyond…
When the Ruk Rakaganno hosted their Tree Walk there, it was time to celebrate the giants (and more modest denizens) hidden in plain sight. On Saturday, May 2, megaphone in hand, President of Ruk Rakaganno Dushy Perera, and the guide for the day, artist and environmentalist Channa Ekanayake, led a large flock of Colombo urbanites across the park to get up-close with the flora.
Starting point: The war memorial
Tree lessons: Channa Ekanayake (right) sharing some insights
The oldest and the largest park in Colombo, originally called Victoria Park after the Queen-Empress of Britain and her dominions, few are aware that the British Army with the Australian 17th Brigade was based here during World War II.
The 54 acres (which originally belonged to philanthropist Charles Henry de Soysa) is a refuge, says Channa, for an abundance of native trees such as Hora, Na (Ceylon ironwood), Ruk, Madara, Bakmi, Gammalu, Bulu, Mee, Ebony, Sal and Koon.
Amidst remarkable specimens the walkers admired were a gigantic wal ehela (Andaman redwood) tree and an old Flame Tree (maimaara in Sinhala) while they also stopped at the medicinal plants section, and also by the Ruk (Eeriya) tree planted by the Maldivian President and the long avenues of shady kumbuk planted within the last few years.
Channa also talked about improving the biodiversity and the aesthetics of the park. Among his suggestions were introducing endemic wet zone forest trees. Endangered rain forest trees like Rath Beraliya, Yakahalu Doon, Mihiriya, Kiri hambiliya, Alu bo, Ruk, Eeriya, Rath Kaeliya, Uuru kanu, Hal, he said, can be obtained from the plant nurseries at the Department of Forest Conservation.
To attract butterflies (60 species flit around Colombo), he suggested planting climbers such as Sapsanda, Anguna, Olinda, Gurulu raja, Dael batu, Kapu kinissa, Wellangiriya, Rasa kinda in sunny patches- especially at the boundary edges so butterflies can draw nectar and lay eggs.
Channa also advocated for undisturbed, prohibited areas (as constant sweeping and cleaning kills topsoil and habitat) for the sake of birds, amphibians and insects.
Time for a break: Refreshments with a view of the Town Hall
He added, “Though there are over 1100 trees in the park there are only around 90 different species. By removing most common foreign trees we can bring more space for the indigenous trees to increase the city’s biodiversity.”
Dropping in for the Ruk Rakaganno walk was Mayoress of Colombo Vraie Balthazar who strolled over the hedge to speak in friendly support.
The walkers were replenished with maalu paan and Milo and as the walk wended to a close near the giant Buddha statue in front of the Town Hall, a spontaneous vote of thanks was proposed by former principal of CMS Ladies’ College Eesha Speldewinde.
Dushy Perera of Ruk Rakaganno said about the successful walk, “It was certainly encouraging to see so many people who are not members of Ruk Rakaganno joining the walk and encouraging us to conduct similar programmes. We were also questioned before and during the walk why there was no charge for the events. In fact we hosted the participants with free refreshments.
“It appears that the general public is interested in the environment and want to learn more. We are hoping to conduct our next Tree Walk around Independence Square towards the end of the year.”
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