May 23, Colombo: The government has decided to raise the admission fees for the country’s botanical gardens with effect from July 1st.

Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando has issued the relevant gazette notification.

According to the Gazette notification, visitors of Sri Lankan Republic, dwellers of the residences within the gardens, government servants who enter into the gardens for official duties and persons who are granted free admission by the Director General are exempted from paying the fees.

Accordingly, the admission fee for local adults and children over twelve (12) years of Age is 200 rupees per person and the entry fee for children under 12 is 30 rupees. Earlier an adult was charged Rs.100 and a child was charged Rs.20.

The entry fee for foreign adults and children over twelve (12) years of Age to the botanical gardens is 3,000 rupees per person and for foreign children under 12 years of age is 1,500 rupees, the gazette notice states. Previously, foreign adults were charged Rs 2,000 and children were charged Rs 1,000.

For foreign school children & university students (upon producing of satisfactory proof of the same to the curator of the Botanic Gardens) admission fees are Rs. 2,000