The opening ceremony celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Polonnaruwa Arboretum and the Conservation of the Parakrama Samudra Greenbelt was held on Friday, 2 October 2026, in Polonnaruwa.
The event was organized with the participation of distinguished invitees, including representatives of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), the United States Embassy, and heads of local government and private institutions that have supported conservation initiatives over the years.
The celebration highlighted the importance of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and the preservation of the Parakrama Samudra Greenbelt. The Polonnaruwa Arboretum, associated with the Smithsonian Primate Research Station, locally known as the “Monkey Camp,” represents a longstanding commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental research.