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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