Sri Lanka

David -

Typically fascinating message!

This probably won't get to you before you leave but just in case:

I've been trying for some time to find out the present state (and ownership)
of what was once a spectacular 'garden island' off the coast of Sri Lanka
(fairly close to Colombo, I think). It was originally made (house + garden)
between the two world wars by the Count de Morny who called it Taprobane
(after an ancient name for Sri Lanka itself, I believe) and wrote an
interesting book about it, unadventurously called The Gardens of Taprobane.

Morny himself seems to have been a rather doubtful character. Socially,
financially and probably sexually as well, and in several countries, the
general opinion of him seems to have been, 'A definite chancer.' So,
unsurprisingly, after his death in the 40s, there was a tendency to try to
sweep the memory of him and his garden under the carpet. And the garden
itself I gather fell into a decline - more or less returned to jungle.

I think the place *may* now have been restored and be owned by a
London-based Sri Lankan lawyer named Desmond de Silva, but my attempts to
establish whether that's really the case have so far failed.

On the off-chance that you happened to be talking to someone at Perideniya
suitably knowledgeable  about local gardening (and other!) affairs...??!

Best wishes, or should that be bon voyage,
Tim
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