The National Botanic Gardens of Sri Lanka: Origin and evolution

Botanic gardens have long served as centers for plant collection, research, conservation, and public education. This article reviews the historical development of botanic gardens with particular emphasis on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Early forms of managed plant landscapes in Sri Lanka, including royal, monastic, and home gardens, are recorded in ancient chronicles and archaeological evidence from the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. These early gardens combined aesthetic, cultural, and utilitarian functions and reflected advanced knowledge of plant cultivation and landscape design. The introduction of European botanical traditions during the colonial period led to the establishment and expansion of formal botanic gardens, with Peradeniya emerging as the principal botanical institution in the country. Over time, the garden has played a significant role in plant introduction, economic botany, scientific research, conservation, education, and tourism. This historical perspective highlights the transformation of botanic gardens in Sri Lanka from cultural landscapes to modern scientific institutions contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable plant use.