News
Nuwara Eliya’s parks do not have qualified supervisors
For decades residents of Colombo and its suburbs have been in the habit of taking a break from the severe heat in this part of the island by making their way to the cool climes of the city of Nuwara Eliya. The city also presents an escape from the hustle and bustle of big city life, to the flower bedecked gardens for which N’Eliya is justly famous.
Palitha Wijesiri Acting Supervisor
The British also constructed several magnificent structures like the President’s House, the Prime Minister’s residence and General’s House. The beautiful parks which dot the city remain hallmarks of this beautiful city, with the Victoria Park being the cynosure of all eyes.
The Victoria Park has been maintained by the Nuwara Eliya Urban Council for 125 years.
The credit for creating various parks go to the different Mayors of Nuwara Eliya and their staff. The parks, in addition to beautifying the city and its environs, have helped build bonds of friendship between the locals and the thousands of tourists -both local and foreign- who visit the city.
During British rule persons with a specialised knowledge of Botany and conservation of plant life overlooked the maintenance of these beautiful parks. For some time after British rule ended this practice continued. Unfortunately today, this practice seems to have been done away with, and no qualified superintendent has been appointed.
The care of the Victoria park and the other parks maintained by the Urban Council are left to the tender mercies of a few casual workers who have only a practical knowledge of horticulture, gained through the experience of working in the parks.
Today the responsibility of maintaining the historic Victoria Park has been entrusted to Acting Supervisors (casual workers/labourers).
It's time to spare a thought for those who toil
But whether these workers have an adequate knowledge to spot and/or combat diseases which could strike the parks is questionable and have left the parks vulnerable.
The fate of these parks lies in the hands of poor unqualified casual workers who are struggling to make a living. Even more sad is that their efforts go unnoticed and little appreciated.
Acting Supervisor Palitha Wijesiri (labourer/casual worker) said he took over duties as Supervisor of the Victoria Park six months ago, at the request of the Mayor. He added that, despite the severe drought, he and his 48 colleagues were able to maintain standards at the park during the Wasantha Festival.
He said they had added a few new sections to the park which were still being developed and added, work had commenced on setting up a new plant nursery.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Mr. Palitha said ‘I was originally employed as a casual worker, and now I’m in charge of this park’.
He added all his co-workers were experienced workers
A number of supervisors (all casual workers) told us that sometimes it was difficult to protect the plants from the visitors -as they have shown a tendency to steal plants.
Requests to the Mayor to increase the number of staff have fallen on deaf ears, workers said.
Meanwhile Mayor Chandana Lal Karunarathne said he deeply appreciated the role of the supervisors and had made special awards to them for their contribution towards maintaining high standards at the Botanical Gardens and the parks. He added that certificates had also been presented to other workers in recognition of their services.
Maithtri Gunarathne Governor Central Province attending the Wasantha Festival held on the 29th of May said’ all should work together to ensure Nuwara Eliya remained a flower garden’. He said he was thankful to the Mayor and all the others who helped to make Nuwara Eliya such a lovely place.
- The picture says it all
The park adjoining Gregory's Lake
Workers are on their own with no qualified supervisors