Stop building car park and a toilet complex in Deepa Udyana, Polonnaruwa

(October 12, 2010) Lanka Jathika Sangha Sabhawa, an organization of Buddhist monks urge the Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa to reconsider the construction of a car park and a toilet facility on historical land in Sri Lanka’s ancient city Polonnaruwa.

The place demarcated for the development is identified as ‘Deepa Udyana’, an ancient park. The monks say that a part of the ruined park was destroyed in road development and the remainder is the only memorandum of the historical monument.

They point out that this place was restored by two ancient kings of Polonnaruwa at the beginning of the second millennium. They also argue that the land is rich with bio diversity and a wetland belonged to the catchment areas of reservoir Parakrama Samudraya.

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Sri Lanka's highest level pre-historic burial ground in Haldummulla

(August 28, 2010) Sri Lankan archeologists have discovered a pre-historic burial ground from Haldummulla in Badulla district.

Prof. Raj Somadewa of Archeological Post Graduate Institute of Kelaniya University that led the research team for excavating the burial ground says that it is over 3200 years old.

The ancient cemetery found 4000 feet above the sea level is the pre-historical burial ground so far found from the highest ground of the country, he said.

The archeologists have excavated very ancient stone tools from the corpse chests found in the burial ground.

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Illegal constructions in Sigiriya halted

(May 24, 2010) The Director General of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka Dr. Senarath Disanayaka has instructed the Central Cultural Fund officials to suspend the controversial constructions in world heritage site Sigiriya.

Media and activists criticized the construction of a system of sewage with toilets and latrines near the ancient lion’s mouth entrance to the rock fortress. The Director General of Archeology suspended the construction until a re-evaluation is carried out regarding the construction plan. He said that the construction was approved following a series of consultation of relevant authorities and experts.

The construction of Central Cultural Fund cafeteria was permanently halted by the Director General, Department sources said.

These decisions were taken when the Director General visited Sigiriya yesterday with his officials.
Sigiriya is a rock fortress with beautiful paintings and graffiti belonged to a time as far as 5th century AD and it is one of the major tourist attractions of the island.

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Archelogical excavations near Jethawana dagoba of Sri Lanka lead to a society before the dagoba was built

(May 24, 2010) Sri Lanka Department of Archeology has unearthed ruins of an ancient society that believed belong to first and second centuries AD from Jethawana temple area in Anuradhapura.

A 42-milligram blue sapphire and many ancient artifacts have been recovered in excavations near ancient Jethawana Stupa.

A waterway build before the construction of the dagoba, a workshop and raw material were also explored in the excavations carried out near the almsgiving hall in Jethawanarama temple, Archeological Department sources say.

Beads of various shapes, locally made glass and clay beads, raw materials for production of beads, eight Roman coins, animal bones, graphite, transparent polished quartz, raw iron, a furnace copper was melted and parts of furnaces are also among archeological findings.

The excavations were commenced in February this year and the blue sapphire was recovered on May 17.
Archeologists guess the ruins belong to first and second centuries AD. They are to be subjected to carbon testing, said the Chief Research Officer of the Jethawana Project Thusitha Mendis.

The excavations are carried out under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Piyathissa Senanayaka, the Director of Archeology of Jethawana Project. "A series of research excavations were carried out in the area under the Jethawana Project that commenced in 1981. Our aim was to find more historical facts about the Pre-Jethawana period. We commenced excavations in the east of the Chethiya this year. We found the archaeological remains of a workshop and a water supply system of a period prior the reign of King Mahasen who built the Jethawana Cheithya. The blue sapphire was among the artifacts discovered in the site of the workshop. Judging from the structure of the bricks and other building material used by the builders of the workshop we have decided that it dates to the 1st century AD. However, these artifacts are to be subjected to carbon dating," he said.

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Frescoes in Sri Lanka's Sigiriya threatened

(May 09, 2010) A controversy has erupted in Sri Lanka due to a insect menace in Sigiriya ancient rock fortress. While the archaeological authorities are busy in wiping out these insects that harm the world famous frescoes, media and environmentalists charge that the environmental imbalance caused by the removal of wasps from Sigirya may cause increase of the insects harmful to frescoes.

However, the allegation of the environmentalists is yet to be proven. Few months back the archaeological authorities used chemicals and fire to wipe out the wasps from Sigiriya. Environmntalists criticized this action as a violent move.

Wasps lived in Sigiriya for eons of years and when they were disturbed by the visitors, the wasps attacked causing panic and injury to visitors.

The new attack of insects was immediately followed by the removal of wasps from Sigiriya. The officials of Archeological Department are using chemicals to wipe out these insect.

The Director General of Archeological Department Dr. Senerath Disanayaka said that the chemical used is the same that was used around 100 years ago when the same insect was spread and it was not harmful to frescoes.

A councilor of local government Pradeshiya Sabha of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka recently focused attention of the authorities to provide security and protection to world famous frescoes in Sigiriya that are threatened by weather and other causes.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Councillor Saman Bandara Moremada pointed out at the monthly meeting of the council that the frescoes in a cave in Sigiriya have been damaged by insects. He also said that the curtain that covered the frescoes from sun had also worn out exposing the frescoes to weather.

The main gate of the cave is also broken and the monkeys that enter into the cave in the night might damage the frescoes, the councilor also pointed out. He criticized the authorities for not taking timely action to protect the site.

Sigiriya was declared the 202th World Heritage site at the summit of UNESCO held in 1982.

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Historic ruins excavated

24 APRIL 2010
By Hirtan Priyankara jayasinghe (Daily Mirror)

The ruins of an ancient building were found on Thursday during the ongoing excavations in Pallama Sri Nandimitra Navavangu Rajamaha Vihara to lay the foundation for a new building. The Chief Incumbent of the temple the Ven. Pothuthukkulame Deerananada Thera believes that the row of granite steps and the moonstone discovered beneath the temple grounds belong to the Anuradhapura period.

The moonstone was about 6ft long and the row of steps was 8ft wide. A granite vessel which had probably been used to grind medicinal herbs was among the artefacts found at the site.

According to tradition, Nandimitra Rajamaha Vihara is said to have been built during the reign of King Dutugemunu (137-161BC) .The Ven. Thera said the Archaeological Department would be requested to carry out further excavations.

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Sri Lanka uses ground penetrating radar mechanism in archeology

Ibbankatuwa

(April 22, 2010) Sri Lanka Department of Archeology says it has successfully finalized a pilot project of using ground penetrating radar mechanism to explore the underground archaeological monuments.

The technology was used in Sigiriya, Ibbankatuwa and Digampathaha archaeological sites to trace the historic monuments, constructions and artifacts that are hidden in soil. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress believed constructed in the first millennium AD. It is famous for frescoes and is also one of major tourist attractions of Sri Lanka. Ibbankatuwa and Digampathaha are believed cemeteries of pre-historic age.

The Chairman of the National Geological and Mines Bureau Dr. A. Wijayananda says that the use of ground penetrating radar mechanism will be a major breakthrough of Sri Lanka’s archaeology.

Japan has provided aids for the project to use ground penetrating radar mechanism in archaeology.

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Ancient city wall of Polonnaruwa damaged by earth removing machines

(April 20, 2010) The ancient city wall of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka has been damaged by certain elements in a development activity in the heritage city.

Reports from Polonnaruwa said that the damage to the city wall has been done by construction machinery that was deployed in laying water supply tubes.

The foundation and the brick layers of the ancient city wall have been damaged by the earth removing machines, said Dr. Senarath Disanayaka, the Director General of the Archaeological Department.

The wall which was said to have been built by King Parakramabahu the Great to protect the city was destroyed by an organized group using backhoes. More than 200 metres of the wall was destroyed during the last two days.

Due permission of the Archaeological Department has not been obtained for this construction, said the Director General adding that the Department will conduct an investigation regarding the incident.

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A programme to trace all archaeological sites of Sri Lanka

(March 09, 2010) A programme is underway in Sri Lanka to trace the archaeological sites island wide.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Wimal Rubasinghe said that 250,000 such sites have already been identified. Investigations are ongoing to identify further sites.

The identified archaeological sites have been listed officially.

Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Wimal Rubasinghe appealed the public to support the efforts to safeguard these places since the Ministry alone cannot do it.

Treasure hunters often vandalize these places in search of hidden treasure. 

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Maritime Museum of Sri Lanka opens in Galle

(February 27, 2010) Newly established one and only Marine Archaeological Museum in Galle built under a special grant of Rs. 177 million by the Netherlands Government will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 4, 2009.

The Marine Archeological Museum previously established in Galle was completely destroyed due to Tsunami tidal waves on December 26, 2004. The present museum is being established after renovating a massive old building constructed during the Dutch era situated within the historic Rampart of Galle.

The museum is 40-000 square feet in extent would display marine artifacts discovered in explorations made in the ocean floor around Sri Lanka. Nearly 200 artifacts discovered from the remains of ship sunk in the ocean nearly 800 ago are housed in the museum.

Plans are afoot to open the museum on all seven days of the week and on some days to stay open till 9.00 p.m. to feel surrounding of the Fort.

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Lanka to recover stolen artefacts

by Don Asoka Wijewardena (The Island)

(February 22, 2009) Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka would officially appeal to a number of museums in several countries as well as private collectors to return cultural and religious artefacts and statues spirited away from the country.

He said that the decision had been made after recommendations by a special Cabinet approved committee of scholars who handed over their report last week. Stocks of Lankan artifacts were seized by the Portuguese, British and Dutch during the days of colonialism.

The committee in its study has found that a number of historical and precious Sri Lankan artifacts are on display in museums in some countries and Sri Lankans who are interested in research, studies and viewing them are unable to do so as they belong to those countries legally, he said.

The committee comprised scholars Dr. Nanda Wickremasinghe, Prof. P. L. Premathilaka, Prof. Anura Manatunge, Dr. Roland Silva, Dr. Senerath Dissanayaka, Dr. Saroja Wethasinghe and Prof Sarath Amunugama and the Secretaries of the Ministries of Cultural Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Urban Development.

Minister Gunawardena said that even the Asgiriya and Malwatta Mahanayakas had asked him whether the government would be able to bring back the artifacts kept in foreign museums.

Minister Gunawardena said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had expressed his desire to recover the archeological treasures that belonged to Sri Lanka and diplomatic ties would be used to recover the country’s archaeological wealth.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) would help Sri Lanka bring back the artifacts, the Minister said.

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Sri Lanka to look into ways to get back the historical monuments taken away from the country

(February 20, 2009) Archaeology professor Roland Silva, the chairman of a committee appointed to propose ways to get back the archaeological monuments that have been taken away from Sri Lanka, handed over the report of the committee to the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Land Development Dinesh Gunawardhana on February 19.

The Minister said that the report would be submitted to the cabinet and the President would be consulted for further proceedings.

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Buddha was in Gujarat, says Lankan scholar

(January 16, 2009) While M S University's department of archaeology and ancient history may have grabbed global attention with its possession of Lord Buddha's relics, but few might know that in his lifetime Lord Buddha had visited Gujarat.This startling piece of information was given by professor Anura Manatunga from Sri Lanka, who presented his paper "Buddhism in Gujarat: Some supplementary evidences from Sri Lanka".

"There are two references in Sri Lankan sources about Lord Buddha's visit to the state during his lifetime. As per first reference in Mahavamsa, which is a revered chronicle of Sri Lanka, Buddha visited Sunnapparantaka Janapad (part of Gujarat) along with 500 monks on the invitation of great monk Sunnapparantaka in his ninth year after he became Buddha. It is further stated that he preached Buddha dharma at Chandanshala of Muhalu Ashram, also in Gujarat," said Manatunga, who is the director of Centre for Asian Studies in University of Kelaniya.

He added, "The text adds that from Sunnapparantaka, he left for Narmada River on an invitation of a Nag King of Narmada and set up sacred footprints of Buddha at the mouth of Narmada River. The second source says that public society of traders of Sunnapparantaka Janapad is one of the 24 societies which had been preached by Lord Buddha during his lifetime. One can infer that these places refer to Gujarat as apparantaka' which means west-end of the country. In Indian context, it only points towards the state," added Manatunga.

Quoting more evidences from Mahavamsa, Manatunga explains that their country was colonised by a prince Vijaya along with 700 followers hailing from Lata country that was a part of Gujarat. "It is mentioned that prince Vijaya came to Sri Lanka on the same day when Buddha died. His successor king S L Panduvasadeva too came from Lata. It can be inferred that Sri Lanka has a strong Gujarat connection and influence," said professor Manatunga.

The Sri Lankan researcher also said that Buddhism too finds a strong presence in state with ancient Sri Lankan inscriptions revealing that a chief named Mala had gone from Bharuch to Sri Lanka where he constructed and donated a cave to Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. "There is another inscription from Junagadh that refers to a construction of two-cell cave by two Sri Lankan brothers Buddha Mitra and Buddha Rakshita. They were described as sons of horse traders who lived in Bharuch having migrated from Sri Lanka," he said.

"Sources also enumerate instances of presence of many viharas and monasteries in Saurashtra Janapad, which was described as a wealthiest of all Janapad's of the country," said Manatunga.

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Sri Lanka's world heritage cities threatened to be removed from UNESCO list

(January 14, 2010) Communication Promotions Officer of Sri Lanka Ministry of Tourism Lesley Uduwavidana says that in a discussion between Executive Director of the UNESCO and the Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Marketing Promotion Bureau, he understood that Sri Lanka's World Heritage cities are at risk of being removed from the UNESCO list.

The reasons for the danger of being removed are the high environmental pollution and illegal constructions etc., he cited.

The World Heritage Cities that are facing the risk of being removed from the UNESCO list are Galle, Kandy and Sigiriya.

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Struggle for gender equality of Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka

(January 14, 2009) A leading Buddhist priest of Sri Lanka, Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero lodged a complaint against the state Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs regarding non-safeguarding quality of the female Buddhist monks.

The Thero complained to the Human Rights Commission that the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs had rejected registering the monasteries of the female monks.

There are 147 monasteries of the female Buddhist monks in which 500 senior and 2000 novice monks reside, says Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero.

The Buddhist term 'Sangha' includes both male and female monks, the Thero points out.

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