A book titled Henannegala Bithu Sithuwam,
written by Aruna Shantha,
has been published by Godage Publishers and is now available for sale at leading bookshops.
The book is about the paintings (frescoes) found at the archaeological site referred to as Henannegala. The Henannegala site is situated in the Maha Oya area in the Ampara District. The site is unique in that it contains frescoes belonging to a number of periods dating from the prehistoric period through several cultural periods. Frescoes drawn in a primitive style and hand prints-all considered as having been executed by people living in the prehistoric period can be seen here.The site, which later formed a part of a temple complex, also contains frescoes from the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods.
Paintings by Veddas are also found, since it had become a Vedda dwelling when, after the fall of the Rajarata dynasties, the site fell into decay.
The book is an attempt to group these frescoes according to the period they belong to and to discuss briefly, in context, the depiction, theme, style and aesthetic aspects. Many of these frescoes are virtually unknown outside archaeological circles and inquiries do not reveal any attempts at methodical documentation. This study attempts to fill this void.
This book by Aruna Shantha, who holds a special degree in Archaeology, will sit alongside a similar work by him titled, Kotiyagala Bithu Sithuwam about the paintings found at the Kotiyagala Maillakanda Viharaya in the Moneragala District, published in September 2016 also by Godage Publishers which, according to the publisher, is set to go into its second printing.