• 6.3 million invested towards preservation of 9 acres of wetland habitat
• Land adjacent to park allocated for organic paddy cultivation
• Ecological data compiled in collaboration with Ministry of Environment
• 146 species of flora and 149 species of fauna, including endemic and threatened species discovered

Further strengthening its commitment for a greener tomorrow, Hayleys Group subsidiary and leading textile manufacturer, Hayleys Fabric invested Rs. 6.3 million in 9 acres of wetland to preserve biodiversity and raise awareness of the unique endemic species found within its borders. Bordering the Horana- Anguruwatota- Mathugama Road and Narthupana- Warakagoda Road, in the Kalutara District, ‘Diyathuru Uyana’ is situated opposite the manufacturer’s Narthupana Estate in Horana. Hayleys Fabric also allocated a 5 acre land adjacent to the park to promote organic paddy farming.

“One of the most serious threats to the survival of life on Earth is the loss of biodiversity. We’ve arrived at a position where we have to focus on the regeneration of biodiversity rather than just conservation to ensure a sustainable future. This is decidedly challenging in an industrial setting, but we are proud to say that we have successfully established a sustainable manufacturing process that is not only environmentally friendly but also positively impacts our stakeholders and employees. We have made extensive progress on our sustainability initiatives as an organisation and are now at the beginning of another chapter in our story,” Hayleys Fabric Managing Director/CEO Rohan Goonetilleke said.

Working in consultations with the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, Hayleys Fabric compiled ecological data captured from field surveys conducted from August 2020 to January 2021. The surveys discovered over 140 species of flora and fauna, including several endemic, nationally threatened, critically endangered and vulnerable species within its boundaries.

Moreover, Hayleys Fabric hopes to open up the wetland park to the general public and other interested parties. Towards this, Hayleys Fabric will construct a butterfly garden at the entrance of the park, an observation deck to oversee the park, a lake and bird watching tower to spot migrant birds, in addition to an auditorium and library to share biodiversity findings with the public, including school children and researchers.

Notably, Hayleys Fabric is also collaborating with the Agrarian Department to promote organic paddy cultivation with the allocation of a 5 acre land adjacent to Diyathuru Park. The initiative will promote healthy and sustainable food among the employees at the factory and residents in the area. A food outlet is to be constructed in the vicinity, opening up avenues for organic farmers to sell their crops alongside the rice harvested from the park. Employees also have the opportunity to grow their fruits and vegetables at home with the opportunity to sell any excess produce at the location.