The abandoned attempt to establish a botanic garden in Colombo, 1799

This research article was written to investigate the effort to establish a botanic garden in Colombo by the British Governor Frederic North in 1799. The study provides evidence to say that the proposal was abandoned.

The abandoned attempt to establish a botanic garden in Colombo, 1799

Dhanesh Wisumperuma
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Vol 62: No 2, 2017, pp. 51-64


Abstract

Sri Lanka chronicles and other historical sources indicate the existence of a few types of gardens in Sri Lanka. However, the concept of modern botanic gardens was introduced by the British during their occupation of the country.

Based on published sources, it has been proposed that a botanic garden was established in 1799 by the British in Colombo under the orders of Frederic North (1798-1805 CE), the first British Governor of the Maritime Provinces of the country. This is based on the fact that Joseph Jonville was appointed as the Superintendent of Botanic Gardens, and was ordered to establish a botanic garden in a land called Ortafoula in Peliyagoda, near Colombo. This reference has been cited by many subsequent authors as a source for the establishment of a botanic garden at this location.

With contemporary evidence, this study concludes that the botanic garden ordered by Governor North to be established was never established. The land was in Peliyagoda, on the right bank of the Kelani River, and after an examination of the proposed site, and discussions with the locals, Jonville proposed to abandon the project due to the threat of frequent inundation of the land during the rainy season.