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Habitat enrichment in Thoppigala
When war robbed this landscape of its dignity, we rejuvenated it with the power of nature. Every tree planted on this once wounded landscape is an acknowledgement of the quest for peace.
The Thoppigala Monument honours the heroes who fought and gave their lives to bring peace to Sri Lanka. The design is based on a simple theme of diminishing and expanding sets of concentric circles. The diminishing circles represent the attention of the world community over Sri Lanka during our war against terrorism, while that of the expanding circles symbolise the message of peace. The interspaces of the circles are strewn with fine sand representing the universe. A circle is depicted at the centre to represent the world. The area is further emphasized by the cover of well manicured grass. Above the equator, an eye-shaped elevated podium is carved to represent Sri Lanka and its administrative mechanism which gave direction, determination and meaningful purpose to end the war against terrorism. On this podium, firmly placed in the shape of an arc, are four large boulders selected from the area itself. They embody the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence Force. The location of the eternal flame is at the centre of the monument and symbolises the cosmic pillar that joins and separates the earth and heaven. Constantly radiating from it is the vibration of peace. The eternal flame beacons the power, strength and warmth of our message of peace to the nations across the world and beyond; resonating the joy of establishing order out of chaos.
The Thoppigala Heritage Park was designed not only as an area which celebrates the peaceful integration of all communities in the aftermath of the 30 year long war, but it is the foundation for establishing a development process that seeks to lift the area and its people generally. The park contains the Thoppigala memorial - dedicated to the lives lost during the battle for peace - the Eastern Theatre of the Sri Lanka Army, the Dilmah Conservation Heritage Centre and a number of facilities for visitors, including a fully functional camp site, nature trail and trek to the Thoppigala peak.
Once located at the centre of some of the fiercest fighting that took place at the end of the now concluded war, Thoppigala Rock (also known as Baron’s Cap or Kudumbimalai) is an important destination in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.
An ecologically sensitive and diverse region, the area surrounding the Thoppigala Rock is now conserved with the creation of the Thoppigala Heritage Park under habitat enrichment activities of Dilmah Conservation and is carried out in partnership with the Sri Lanka Army. Conservation work in Thoppigala commenced with the planting of 20,000 native trees, emphasising on fruit varieties, to bring about socioeconomic benefits to the people of the area while nurturing a habitat for birds and animals.
Working with the Sri Lanka Army’s Eastern Command, the Dilmah Conservation Heritage Centre was established at the Thoppigala Heritage Park, where the environment of Sri Lanka and its biodiversity is presented in 3D models. The Thoppigala Heritage Park also consists of the Thoppigala memorial, the Eastern Theatre of the Sri Lanka Army, a visitor centre, a souvenir shop, a campsite and a nature trail to the Thoppigala Rock.
During a recent survey in Thoppigala, a remarkable 121 species of birds, 32 species of butterflies, seven species of mammals, 14 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 15 species of dragonflies and damselflies were identified.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, the retired Commanders of Sri Lanka Army and Air Force, Architect Nihal Bodhinayake and Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando during the inauguration ceremony of the Thoppigala Heritage Park.
Members of the Sri Lanka armed forces bow their heads in respect to the fallen war heroes of Sri Lanka at the Thoppigala Memorial. The park was conceptualised and designed by Chartered Architect Nihal Bodhinayake who framed it in the context of national and universal triumph of peace over war and victory for all ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.
In 2012, Dilmah Conservation commenced a programme to plant 20,000 native trees in the area, emphasising on fruit varieties to bring socioeconomic benefits to the people and create a habitat for birds and animals. This was done in collaboration with the Forest Department with support from the Sri Lanka Army. Taking the concept of sustainability a step further, Dilmah established the first Dilmah Conservation Heritage Centre which presents the environment of Sri Lanka and its unique biodiversity in a series of three dimensional models and other educational features for students and adult visitors alike.
To coincide with the opening of the park in April 2013 and to continue its humanitarian efforts in Thoppigala, the MJF Charitable Foundation provided 1,500 students from schools in the area with school uniforms and footwear. Through the Foundation’s Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP), individuals marginalised due to the country’s concluded civil conflict were also granted with necessary equipment and funding to launch a vocational-based business. This effort of the SEP continues, supporting and empowering these individuals even today.
