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Ranjith Siyambalapitiya turns custodian of a rare living collection
From Parliament to Fruit Grove: After more than two decades in politics, rising to the positions of Cabinet Minister and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has turned his attention to a markedly different arena — one far removed from parliamentary debate and political intrigue. Today, Siyambalapitiya spends much of his time tending to a sprawling 15-acre home garden at Vendala in Karawanella, near Ruwanwella, nurturing what has gradually evolved into one of the most remarkable private fruit collections in the country. Situated in Sri Lanka’s Wet Zone Low Country agro-ecological region (WL2), Ruwanwella lies at an elevation of roughly 100–200 metres above sea level. Deep red-yellow podzolic soils, annual rainfall exceeding 2,500 millimetres, and a warm humid tropical climate combine to create conditions that make the region one of the richest areas in the island for fruit tree diversity. Within this favourable ecological setting, Siyambalapitiya has become what may best be described as a custodian of a living collection—a fruit grove that now contains around 554 fruit trees and vines, many of them rare or seldom seen in contemporary agriculture. Of these, 448 varieties have already been properly identified and documented with the assistance of agriculturist Dr. Suba Heenkenda, a retired expert of the Department of Agriculture. Together they have undertaken the painstaking task of cataloguing the plants by their botanical names, common Sinhala names, and the names used in ancient Ayurvedic and indigenous medical texts, assigning each species a unique identification number. According to Siyambalapitiya, the Vendala estate is possibly the only single location in Sri Lanka where such a large number of fruit varieties—particularly rare and underutilized species—are maintained within one property. “This garden came down to me through my grandfather, grandmother, mother and father,” he says. “It is a place shaped by three generations.” The estate, he explains, began as a traditional home garden where crops such as tea, coconut and rubber were cultivated alongside fruit trees planted by family members over decades. Over time, however, it evolved into something much larger: a carefully nurtured grove preserving both common and obscure fruit species. Siyambalapitiya recalls with affection one of the oldest trees in the garden—a honey-jack tree known locally as “Lokumänike’s Rata Kos Gaha.” The story behind it has become part of family lore. Accordi...
Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith remanded after arrest in sexual harassment ...
Filmmaker Ranjith after he was remanded in judicial custody in Kochi on Wednesday (April 1, 2026). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Malayalam filmmaker and actor Ranjith, who was arrested in a sexual harassment case, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on Wednesday (April 1, 2026). He was then being sent to the Ernakulam Sub Jail.A Judicial First Class Magistrate remanded him, a day after he was taken into custody from Thodupuzha in Idukki district late Tuesday following a complaint from a young female actor. He was brought to Kochi later and his arrest was recorded.Speaking to the media outside the Magistrate’s residence, the director claimed he has been “framed” in the case. Before being produced before the Magistrate, he was admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital for a brief duration as he complained of uneasiness.Bail pleaHis lawyer said a bail plea would be submitted before the court.Mr. Ranjith, resigned as the chairperson of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy following a sexual harrassment case in 2024, was booked in the latest case after the actor lodged a complaint with Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar. The police arrested him after recording the complainant’s confidential statement.He has been charged with attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.ALSO READ: Clamour for director Ranjith’s resignation grows over actor Sreelekha Mitra’s allegations against himA special investigation team (SIT) led by the Kochi City Police Commissioner is probing the case.Two cases of sexual assault were registered against Mr. Ranjith in 2024 following allegations made against him in the wake of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. However, the Kerala High Court in October 2025 quashed one of the cases in which a Bengali woman actor had accused him of trying to outrage her modesty. Published - April 01, 2026 09:51 am IST
Cuba and the End of an Era: A Response - The Island
Within this favourable ecological setting, Siyambalapitiya has become what may best be described as a custodian of a living collection—a fruit grove that now contains around 554 fruit trees and vines, many of them rare or seldom seen in contemporary agriculture.
'A sexual predator': Bengali actor reacts after Ranjith's arrest in ...
A Bengali actor reacts strongly after Malayalam director Ranjith's arrest in a sexual assault case, recalling her own allegations.
