CARETAKERS OF RARE RED SANDALWOOD PLANTATION

Military dedicated to fighting the wars or controlling conflict situations towards the nations and concurrently they are the protectors of the national heritage and its interests. As the pioneer Military elements of Reserve Strike Force (RSF) of Sri Lanka Army, 53 Infantry Division (RSF) have taken an initiative to protect the environment with the mean of planting, growing, managing, maintaining, and caretaking one of the rarest plants species of the world “Red Sandalwood” (Pterocarpus Santalinus).

The Sandalwood tree is alarmingly threatened due to illegal trading and overexploitation to meet the rising global demands for indigenous medicine and the cosmetic industry. This plant is being inducted into International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to being vulnerable to extinction. Major General MAM Dias RWP RSP VSV USP psc (Retd) 21st General Officer Commanding of the 53 Infantry Division (RSF) took the initiative and decided to cultivate this rare plant within the Divisional Headquarters premises by planting the first sapling out of 500 saplings imported from India on 29 October 2015 with the assistance of Mr NKGK Nammawatta Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment.

As of today, 402 Red Sandalwood plants have been grownup height of over 16 feet and all appointed General Officer Commanders and staff of the Divisional Headquarters consider this as one of the essential tasks to preserve this for the future generation. The dedicated staff is assigned to supervising, maintaining, and protecting these plantations daily for the purpose of conservation.

This plantation block constitutes the highest number of Red Sandlewood plants prevailing in Sri Lanka and they are proud, privileged, and fortunate to have such a rare plantation at their eyesight. Let us all view and appreciate this great effort and protect this for future generations.