Reading the “Spectrum” pages (June 11) on the above, I took my mind back to the seminar on “Forestry in Sri Lanka and the Soviet Union” held in 1990 at the Centre, to commemorate which, a sapling of the National Tree of Sri Lanka, the Ironwood or “Na” tree was planted by the Forest Department in the front garden of the Centre in Colombo.
On that occasion I made a presentation of “Forestry in Sri Lanka”, and a high official of the Cultural Centre did a likewise presentation of “Forestry in the Soviet Union”.
I must thank you for maintaining the relationship between Russia and Sri Lanka on cultural matters, and also thank the Director of the Russian Cultural Centre and his staff for maintaining the National Tree of Sri Lanka, exceptionally well, enhancing the attractiveness of the garden of the Russian Centre, in Colombo.
V.R. Nanayakkara
(A former Conservator of Forests, Sri Lanka)