Otara Foundation brings ‘Thimbiri’ back to Thimbirigasyaya

A project to bring ‘Thimbiri’ back to Thimbirigasyaya has been launched by the Otara Foundation in partnership with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

The Foundation set up by entrepreneur and animal lover Otara Gunewardene commenced the project with the planting in Thimbirigasyaya of three Malabar Ebony (Diospyros malabarica) trees, called ‘Thimbiri’ in Sinhala and believed to be the inspiration for the name of the area.

“Thimbiri would have once lined the road that runs from Narahenpita to Havelock Town, giving Thimbirigasyaya Road its name,” the Foundation said. “However none of these trees remain on the roadside today. The Otara Foundation is working with the Colombo Municipal Council to replant as many Thimbiri trees as possible in Thimbirigasyaya, to help restore the area to its past glory.”

The Otara Foundation supports the work of the Colombo Municipal Council to keep Colombo green. The Foundation recently donated CMC uniforms to the hard working staff, which were worn by some of the Council workers who participated in the Foundation’s tree planting work.

The Otara Foundation has also undertaken to plant 184 trees such as Ehela, Moodilla, Karanda, Kohomba, Takomaria and Kaha-Mara, most of which are native to Sri Lanka in other parts of the city of Colombo.

Pictured here is the planting of Thimbiri trees in Thimbirigasyaya.