Friends of the Arboretum - FOTA

Friends of the Arboretum - FOTA Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA) was established with the main intention of continuing the conservation work done by Mr.Popham.

Formerly the group was known as Sam Popham Arboretum Conservation Trust, established in 2001. Sam Popham Arboretum Conservation Trust (SPACT), was established in December 2001 by Jayantha Amarasinghe and few nature lovers with the main intention of continuing the conservation work done by Mr.Popham. This initiative helped to raise much-needed funds and establish a network nature enthusiast who had

the common goal of conserving nature. Founder members:
Jayantha Amarasinghe (Curator), Kanil Gunawardene (Aeronautical Engineer), J.M.U.M.L. Jayakody (Charted Engineer), M.P.W. Wickramasinge (Charted Architect), S.A.Jayawardane (Personal Assistant), Dr.N.D.R. Weerawardhana (Chief Research officer – Forest Dept), Dr.H.B.Basnayake

Sam Popham Arboretum Conservation Trust was made a society in 2017 and registered under the legal name of Sam Popham Arboretum Conservation Society of Sri Lanaka.

Sam’s classic book about the arboretum, "Dambulla – a Sanctuary of Tropical Trees," has long been out of print. Now the ...
26/01/2026

Sam’s classic book about the arboretum, "Dambulla – a Sanctuary of Tropical Trees," has long been out of print. Now the Friends of the Arboretum have issued a splendid new edition with dozens of beautiful photographs.
The relaunch of the book will take place in Kandy on the 29th and in Colombo on the 31st of January 2026.
The book will be available for sale at Barefoot Bookshop, Colombo and Rohan’s Bookshop, Liberty Plaza.

Address

Kandalama Road
Dambulla

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00
Thursday 08:30 - 17:00
Friday 08:30 - 17:00

Telephone

+94777267951

Website

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Sam Popham Arboretum Conservation Trust (SPACT), was established in December 2001 by Jayantha Amarasinghe and few nature lovers with the main intention of continuing the conservation work done by Mr.Popham. This initiative helped to raise much-needed funds and establish a network nature enthusiast who had the common goal of conserving nature. Founder members: Jayantha Amarasinghe (Curator), Kanil Gunawardene (Aeronautical Engineer), J.M.U.M.L. Jayakody (Charted Engineer), M.P.W. Wickramasinge (Charted Architect), S.A.Jayawardane (Personal Assistant), Dr.N.D.R. Weerawardhana (Chief Research officer – Forest Dept), Dr.H.B.Basnayake The group name has been changed to “Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA)” to enable us to take the conservation message to a wider audience.