Robbers vandalize dagaba hunting for treasure

by Ariya Waidyasekera, Ambalantota. -

Treasure hunters have vandalized the dagaba and robbed treasures from an ancient temple at Welangahawela in Angunakolapelessa.

The temple is an ancient sylvan shrine known as Welangahawela Purana Raja Maha Viharaya.

According to chronicles it has been built by King Mahanaga.

A 9-foot-deep hole has been dug in the Vihara Chaitya and the valuables removed leaving four caskets turned out of clay, the Angunakolapelessa police told.

The Viharadhipathi Welangahamula Purana Raja Maha Viharaya had not been at the temple when the incident took place, OIC Angunakolapelessa police W. K. K. Sunil Santha said.

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Significant new sandakadapahana recovered from Anuradhapura

(November 13, 2009) A new sandakadapahana or moonstone has been recovered from the ancient Anuradhapura city. Sandakadapahana is a unique stepping stone with artistic carvings on it and it was widely used at the entrances of the shrines in Anuradhapura era that spans up to 10the century AD.

However, the recovery had been made spontaneously as a base pit was dug to build a shrine near the ancient Sri Maha Bodhiya, the sacred bo tree believed to hail from the tree that provided shade to Lord Buddha..

The sandakadapahana was observed significant in its artistic and archaeological value.

However, the Department of Archaeology has decided to bury this invaluable monument as it was until a systematic archaeological excavation is carried out.

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Sri Lanka Department of Archeology to reserve Jaffna Fort

(October 31, 2009) Sri Lanka Department of Archeology is to launch a project to renovate the Jaffna Dutch Fort located in Jaffna peninsula in the northern tip of the island.

The wall of the Jaffna fortress is now being cleared of the trees grown on it with the help of the Army. However, the Director General of the Archeological Department Dr. Senarath Disanayaka said that although the wall is repairable, the ancient Dutch church building inside the fort is beyond repair.

The cost for the reservation project is estimated at Rs. 400 million. Government of Netherlands provide assistance for the project.

Jaffna Fort was built as a small garrison by the Portuguese in 1618 under Philip De Olivera when the Portuguese invaded Jaffna. Later, on 20th June 1658 the Dutch captured it under Raiclop Van Goins from the Portuguese and expanded its location further. Tamil rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) forced the Sri Lanka Army to withdraw from the fort in 1986 and captured it. Sri Lanka Army in 1996 recaptured the entire Fort surroundings under Riviresa operation and brought it under them.

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Megalithic cemeteries with tombs found in Sri Lanka

(October 30, 2009) Two cemeteries belonged to the megalithic period have been identified in the Horowpothana divisional secretary area of Anuradhapura district in the NorthCentral Province of Sri Lanka. The two cemeteries are situated near Andiyagala village of Gomarankadawala and  close to Sinhalawagahaththikaweva (tank/reservoir).

These cemeteries are believed to belong to the period from 8th to 4th century BC, says the Eastern Province Assistant Director of the Archeological Department M.A.J.R. Madagammana.

The cemetery found from Andigala is spread in around 20 acres with 12 tombs already discovered. The other cemetery found from Sinhalawagahaththika around five acres large and five tombs have been discovered so far.

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