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Colombo’s ancient trees need to be phased out
View(s):Ancient and massive trees like the Flamboyant and Gal Siyambala have added shade and colour to Colombo since British times.
While in residential areas like Cinnamon Gardens these trees look smart, in the older commercial quarters of the city they have begun posing a risk to life and limb with branches spreading in a manner that pose a danger to the citizenry.
Thick and invasive aerial roots of ancient trees choke old walls making even walking past them a risk. An even a greater threat is posed by old trees whose roots lie exposed. A strong gust of wind could bring any one of these giants crashing down. In Slave Island (Kompanna veediya), Gunasinhapura Road, at Technical Junction in Maradana or in the Pettah, these trees blight the town.
Colombo’s old commercial quarter needs a facelift, which means a few of these trees need to go. Gamini Gunasinha, a resident of Gampaha and a regular visitor to Colombo said he had observed at several locations massively overgrown trees which posed a danger to the populace. ’The authorities need to keep the city clean and be mindful of the massive trees. They need to check this regularly’, he said.
The wall of this block of land covered by exposed roots and owned by the police dept. also poses a risk to passers-by
The gnarled large tree with its exposed roots wrapped around this wall at Gunasinhapura pose a distinct threat to road users