11 February 2021 12:00 am
By Sheain Fernandopulle
It was revealed that a mature plant, endangered ‘crudia zeylanica’ could also be found at the Henarathgoda botanical gardens and another small plant on the border of the 14th km point on the central expressway, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) said yesterday.
The CEA said it came to light during the field observation by the CEA, the National Botanical Gardens Department, the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Road Development Authority (RDA) in December 31, 2019.
The Wildlife Conservation Department initially recommended to uproot the endangered ‘crudia zeylanica’ plant on the expressway construction site, and replant it at another suitable location.
The CEA said the RDA had informed there are more places in the country where ‘crudia zeylanica’ could be found. The Sri Lanka legume (crudia zeylanica) was discovered and named a new species in 1868; in 1911 it was found in another locality. Since then, however, there was no trace of it even being seen, and it was eventually presumed to be extinct.
The only surviving tree of ‘crudia zeylanica’ was re-discovered close to the Daraluwa Railway Station in Gampaha along the Kadawatha-Mirigama stretch, where the central expressway is being constructed.
Environmentalists raise serious concerns over removing it and doubt whether Sri Lanka is equipped with such technology to relocate the plant.