Army Initiatives Plant 200 Indigenous Herbal Plants, Threatened with Extinction

Positively responding to a request, made by the reputed Anuradhapura Ayurvedic physician, Vaidyakalanidhi, Dr S.S Gunawardene to the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, seeking Army assistance to conserve more than 200 varieties of indigenous herbs, now threatened with total extinction, the Army Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) on the directions of the Commander, has come forward to assist the re-cultivation of those species in Oyamaduwa, Anuradhapura area after the Army collected those rare herbal saplings from every corner of the island.

Army troops in the DAL, in close cooperation with the Department of Indigenous Medicine launched the project for cultivation of those plants a few days ago in a land, belonging to Dr Gunawardene in Oyamaduwa with the active support of professionally qualified agricultural instructors at the Army-run ‘Manic Farm’ in Vavuniya.

To be in line with the national ‘Wana Ropa’ project of the Ministry of Environment under the ‘Haritha Gammana’ concept, the project was made a reality under the guidance of Brigadier Buwaneka Gunaratne, Director, DAL after the DAL collected those rare herbal saplings such as Sudu Hadun, Rath Hadun, Beli, Beraliya, Beheth Anoda, Madatiya, Thippili, Kekirinda, Dodampana, Gansooriya, Mahahinna, etc.

Troops of the 21 Division at Anuradapura also joined DAL troops on Friday (5) in Oyamaduwa and assisted the cultivation work in Dr Gunawardene’s land of about 2 acres in extent.

The simple inaugural ceremony was held under the directions of the Commander, Security Forces - Wanni (SF-W), Major General Kumudu Perera and under the supervision of General Officer Commanding (GOC), 21 Division, Major General Ruwan de Silva who attended the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest. ‘Seth Pirith’ chanting and religious observances were administered by Ven Meepawala Sirisumana Thero, Incumbent at Thammanna Viharaya to invoke blessings on the project.

21 Division GOC, Dr S.S Gunawardane, Director, DAL, Officers and Other Ranks joined planting of the saplings on the occasion.