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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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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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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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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