When big trees fall
But Siran responded swiftly: in his official capacity as Director of Archaeology he issued a letter addressed to the Mayor of the Colombo Municipality. In it he explained that these trees, which were more than 150 years old, were an important national heritage and that their removal was a prosecutable offence.
At the same time, he informed the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga, and alerted the National Museum authorities, who thanks to Siran’s intervention, responded positively. The Municipal team tasked with cutting the tree abandoned their task and these magnificent trees were saved. In effect, Siran’s efforts single-handedly saved
ate the important environmental function served by the vegetation in and around the museum property. The felled trees were an effective barrier against the vast amount of dust thrown up by the traffic on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha and also served as a buffer to reduce the sound emanating from the myriad of buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles that ply this road. The trees in the museum property have also served as a refuge for birds and butterflies, providing sustenance for a variety of species. Among the birds that have been recorded from the museum premises are the Barn Owl, Indian Roller and the migratory Blue tailed Bee eater. The trees also provided shade for the numerous commuters and pedestrians. In a city some of the oldest and largest lacking large parks, it is trees trees in the centre of Colombo. bordering roadsides and within
The second sad development and around properties that help that has occurred over recent keep Colombo cool, clean and weeks is the ruthless felling of oxygenated. the trees bordering the boundary During the most recent lockwall of the museum on Sir down, the National Museum Marcus Fernando Mawatha. appears to have been engaged in Among these mature trees were a project to uproot the existing Mango ( Mangifera Indica), lawn. As to why this has been Margosa ( Azdirachta Indica), prioritized when there are far Ehela ( Cassia fistula), Ruk more urgent needs is unclear. An Athana ( Alstonia scholaris) and extensive portion of the musethe Indian Cork tree um’s roof is damaged and leak( Millingtonia hortensis). A ing, and urgently needs maintemajority of these trees would nance and repair. Many of the have been planted almost 75 storage cupboards and exhibiyears ago, and many of them tion stands are old and require have been flowering and fruiting modern fittings or have to be for several decades. replaced. The museum’s exten
Those responsible for the fellsive, historically valuable and ing of these trees do not appreci- irreplaceable collections require
better protection, with the installation of a comprehensive surveillance and burglar alarm system being vital.
At the present time, the last thing the National Museum needs is extensive concrete paving, which would not only increase the glare but will also increase levels of heat and dust in and around the museum premises.
As I understand it, the trees that have been felled were closely associated with Siran’s father, Paul Deraniyagala, who was Director of the National Museum from 1939–1963. Although the finances available to the National Museum were dismally inadequate, Dr Deraniyagala tried to maintain the museum’s extensive gardens and enhance the surrounding landscape. He is reputed to have initiated the planting of the avenue of trees along the museum’s boundary wall. A prolific researcher whose interests ranged from paleontology and zoology to cultural history, he almost single-handedly raised the profile of this institution through his scientific publications, much of which was published in the museum’s journal Spolia Zeylanica, of which he was the Editor-in-chief for a number of years.
The legacy left by Paul Deraniyagala and his son Siran are a testament to the enormous contribution that key government personnel have made over the years to the country.