Several project proposals from a number of bidders are currently being evaluated to restore the demolished, historical building site in Kurunegala, Deputy Mayor of Kurunegala Sumith Udawasala said. He added that it was too early to say which proposal will be favoured and given approval.
The Kurunegala Municipal Council recently passed a resolution to set aside over Rs. 2,000,000 of public funds as legal expenses of the Kurunegala Mayor, Thushara Sanjeewa to support the case against him. A case was filed against five others including the mayor accusing them of demolishing the historical building.
The site, believed to have housed the royal court of King Bhuvenakabahu II who ruled over the Kurunegala Kingdom during the period 1293-1302, was demolished for road development.on July 16 under the Mayor’s directive. At the time the building which is in the heart of the town was occupied by a private business – Buvaneka Hotel.
This prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a five-member committee headed by the Director-General of Archaeology, Prof. Senarath Dissanayake to investigate the incident which caused public uproar and hand over a report.
The five-member committee recommended to make use of funds from the persons and institutions involved in the demolition of the site for its reconstruction purposes. The committee also said that those responsible for the incident must be penalised. It was found that the building can be rebuilt to its historical, pristine condition. According to the interim report which has been submitted a section of the roof and the windows of the front building have been damaged and it can be rebuilt according to its former pristine glory and preserved.. The rear building has been fully damaged and yet the rafters, bricks and other building materials remain there.
The report stated that the building should be taken over by the Department of Archaeology and proposed that the Road Development Authority modifies the place. On July 23, Attorney General Dappula de Livera with an order from the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court prevented access to the site. This was followed by an order by the Kurunegala Magistrate to hand over documents relating to the demolished building.
A Fundamental Rights petition was filed by former JVP parliamentarian Namal Karunaratne on July 28 seeking an order directing the police to arrest the Kurunegala Mayor. The petition which was filed through counsel Sunil Watagala, named Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, OIC of Headquarters Police Station in Kurunegala Kapila Adikari, Director General of Archaeology Prof. Senarath Dissanayake, the Mayor of Kurunegala, Thushara Sanjeewa, the Kurunegala Municipal Council and the Attorney General as respondents.
A silent protest was held in Kurunegala on August 10 to prevent an order given by the AG to arrest Kurunegala Mayor and four others. Two days later the Court of Appeal issued an order preventing the arrest of the individuals till August 24.