Sakura (Japanese Cherry) plants having planted on testing ground at Uva Wellassa University started blooming. These Sakura plants were imported from Japan under a Special Tourism Development Project in collaboration with Uva Wellassa University, Meijo University of Japan and District Secretariat, Badulla. Under the project 10 Sakura plants were brought from Japan and were planted at 7 different climatic and topographical conditions at Uva Province as a pilot research project. Two of the plants were ceremonially planted at Uva Wellassa University on the 3rd of January 2018. Blooming Sakura at Uva Wellassa University has indicated that climatic conditions of Badulla area are conducive with the requirements of Sakura tress. Professor Ananda Kumara of Meijo University of Japan and Dr. P. H. T. Kumara of Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka were the Coordinators of the project from Japan and Sri Lanka and Dr. Evon Kaliyadasa, of Uva Wellassa University administered the research work of two plants at Uva Wellassa University. Since, the research work was successfully carried out, the project will be upscaled with 1000 Sakura tress planting at Badulla area and developing a new tourism development avenue with a “Sakura Path”.
