Ranjith Siyambalapitiya’s ‘My Wendala Orchard’ – a richly layered tribute to generations of cultivation

A garden shaped by memory, discipline and quiet perseverance with over 500 varieties of fruit trees, has been brought to life in print with the release of My Wendala Orchard (Mage Wendala Palathuru Arana), a valuable work by former Minister and parliamentarian Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and agricultural expert Dr Suba Heenkenda.

The 436-page volume is at once a meticulous record and a deeply personal narrative, chronicling a fruit garden in Ruwanwella that has evolved across three generations of the Siyambalapitiya family. Conceived by Siyambalapitiya as a sanctuary from the pressures of public life, the Wendala Fruit Garden stands today as an expansive and carefully curated ecosystem, home to some 500 varieties of fruit trees and vines.

What sets this work apart is the breadth and depth of its documentation. Each fruit is described in English, Sinhala and Tamil, complete with botanical names and colour illustrations, transforming the book into both a practical reference and a visual journey. Visitors to the garden, the authors note, are often struck by the diversity contained within a single space, from multiple varieties of mango, numbering around fifteen, to lesser-known and rare species that seldom find their way into conventional orchards.

Yet beyond its scientific and horticultural value, My Wendala Orchard carries the weight of lived experience. Siyambalapitiya’s long public career, which began with his entry into politics in 1994 and later saw him serve as Minister of State for Finance and Minister of State for Plantation Enterprises Reform during some of the country’s more testing periods, forms a quiet counterpoint to the reflective, almost meditative nature of the garden he has nurtured.

Among the many stories embedded in the book is that of a jackfruit tree that has become emblematic of the orchard itself. The sapling, brought to the property by Siyambalapitiya’s grandmother from an exhibition in Colombo, has endured the passage of time, even surviving a lightning strike before being carefully nursed back to health. It continues to bear fruit, standing as a living link between generations and a symbol of resilience.

Dr Heenkenda, a former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, brings technical rigour and context to the collaboration, complementing Siyambalapitiya’s personal insights with professional expertise. Together, the authors have produced a work that bridges the gap between science and storytelling, offering readers both knowledge and inspiration.

In essence, My Wendala Orchard is more than a catalogue of fruits. It is a testament to sustained commitment, an exploration of biodiversity, and a tribute to the enduring relationship between people and the land they cultivate. The book is distributed by Vijitha Yapa Bookshop.