Sri Lanka’s botanic gardens have a long and proud history, punctuated by colonialism, and industrial change. Throughout this period the gardens have continued to flourish, and the plant collections and herbarium grown. Within the context of the 21st century, the gardens represent a significant national asset for Sri Lanka.

Over 1.4 million people visit Sri Lanka’s botanic gardens every year. And that is in addition to the 5% of the nation’s schoolchildren who visit annually. As a profit-making public institution, employing almost 450 people, the National Botanic Gardens are uniquely placed to educate by stealth, taking advantage of the pleasure and joy experienced by visitors to share, gradually, our growing knowledge and expertise in conservation, biodiversity, floriculture and sustainability.