Plants containing medicinal properties have been known and common in Sri Lankan indigenous medical treatments in the past, unfortunately, the practice has been diminishing in modern days. Center for Sustainability Solutions (CSS) of University of Kelaniya took the first among the Sri Lankan University system in developing a medicinal plant cloister in the University Premises with the collection of all the medicinal plants including rare varieties available in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Cadre Chair & Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor- University of Kelaniya on the 25th of September 2020.
Senior Prof. S.R.D. Kalingamudali, Dean- Faculty of Science, Prof. M.M. Gunathilake, Dean- Faculty of Social Sciences, Senior Lecturer Sudath Senarath, Dean- Faculty of Humanities and Cadre Chair & Senior Prof. Janaki De S. Hewavisenthi, Dean- Faculty of Medicine graced the occasion accompanied by Ms. Dammika Arambegoda, Deputy Registrar- Academic Establishment.
Medicinal plants such as, Thippili, Kasuthuri Dehi, Heenaraththa and Komarika were planted by the honorable invitees, members of the center, students and supportive staff of the landscape division.
This event was organized upon request made to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya by the University Grants Commission in parallel to the project titled "Indigenous Medicine Development and Conservation" project initiated by the Education Ministry. Senior Lecturer Dr. Rangika Bandara, Director- Centre for Sustainability Solutions elaborated the objectives of the project as using the cloister associated with a medicinal garden that could be used as an arboretum to aware university community and school children about indigenous medicinal plants. A booklet including plant description, geographical distribution and medicinal uses will be published in the future as a supplement with the support from experts in the field. Sri Lanka Associationfor the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), Section B is in collaboration to supply wide varieties of medicinal plants to the proposed garden.
