Siddhalepa creates herbal garden in Ananda College on World Environment Day
A herbal garden took root in the premises of Ananda College Colombo 10, to mark World Environment Day on June 5.
Continuing an islandwide school programme, the Herbal Garden Project,siddhalepa together with the staff and students of Ananda College Primary School,planted many varieties of herbal plants in their College grounds.
Present at this ceremony were Primary College Principal Saman Chandana Randeniya,primary College Vice Principal Randika Perera,teachers in charge of environment Gnanalatha Matharage, Sumila and managers from the Siddhalepa team.
The setting up of a herbal garden in Ananda College in the heart of the city of Colombo is a continuation of Siddhalepa’s CSR programme herbal gardens which was launched in 2010 and has so far seen more than 25,000plants coming up in schools in all parts of the country.
About 50 to 100 plants,selected according to the climate and soil of the area, are supplied to each school. Siddhalepa also donates all the necessary tools and utensils to prepare and maintain these herbal gardens.
By distributing large quantities of ayurveda herbs for the school gardens,siddhalepa has encouraged schools to plant ayurveda herbs and educate the younger generation on the value and use of ayurveda medicine. The younger generation is not too familiar with ayurveda herbs and their value and effectiveness in treating illnesses. Siddhalepa has taken this opportunity to tell them about the value and importance of such indigenous herbs and the need to grow more herbal plants and trees in home gardens.
While there is a shortage of ayurveda herbs in the country, this grow green campaign in school gardens would replenish dwindling supplies and make school children familiar with these herbs while promoting green conservation.
Many school children’s enthusiasm about herbal gardens prompted them to persuaded their parents to plant ayurveda herbs in their home garden as well, thus encouraging a higher than expected growth of ayurveda plants in the rural areas where land was in abundance. This course of events would be hugely advantageous to the domestic ayurveda herb supply in future years.
By promoting the herbal gardens in school Siddhalepa is also encouraging entrepreneurial skills in the young to invest time and energy in planting herbs which can being them an income.