President Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeks to amend the Antiquities Ordinance to strengthen the preservation of historical national heritage.
This decision was taken by the President during the fourth meeting with the Buddhist Advisory Council members at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday.
The President decided to appoint a committee comprising the Maha Sangha and experts in the field to study requisite amendments, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
The proposed amendment seeks to stop the destruction of antiquities and to pass on the heritage to the future generation while resolving practical issues.
Archaeological conservation and development were discussed during the meeting. The possibility of obtaining the services of the Civil Defence Force to implement a program of conserving archaeological sites and antiquities was also explored.
President Rajapaksa said that no room will be left for anyone to damage the historical heritage or archaeological value of any sacred place and all such places will be considered as national heritage and will be protected. Proposals by the Maha Sangha on antiquities and archaeological sites will be forwarded to the Presidential Task Force, he said.
The President said measures will be taken to increase funds to the Department of Archaeology and to address the shortage of employees. President Rajapaksa also drew attention to the request by the Maha Sangha to transfer the cases relating to the artefacts and historical places in the Northern and Eastern Province to courts in Colombo. The President instructed the Department of Archaeology to make quick responses to the requests by the Maha Sangha to protect the archaeological and historical sites.
The Maha Sangha said that artefacts and historical places had been damaged during the past five years. Various groups of people forcibly occupy lands belonging to temples.
The Maha Sangha said that the artefacts taken away during the colonial period were later found deposited at the British Museum and the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. They suggested the President to initiate a process to get the artefacts back to the country following consultations with UNESCO.
Director General of the Department of Archaeology Senarath Disanayake said there is no Director at the Department of Archaeology although the approved number of director positions is 11. Only one Assistant Director has been appointed out of 38 positions, he said. The Director General said that he finds it difficult to perform the duties and the responsibilities of the Department under the circumstances.
Around 80 Special Degree holders in Archaeology pass out from universities annually. President Rajapaksa instructed officials to take immediate steps to recruit persons who possess theoretical and practical knowledge in Archaeology. During the previous administration, graduates in archaeology were recruited and assigned work at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The President stressed the importance of deploying persons with expertise in the subject.
Puravidya Chakrawarthy Ven Ellawala Medhananda Thera highlighted the damage caused to the antiquities by treasure hunters. “During my 65-year explorations, I did not find valuables, such as gold, silver or gems inside antiquities. It is vital to give the right knowledge to the people to protect them. Compilation of report on antiquities exploration and mapping is a priority. Legal action should be taken against those who distort history and express opinions without proper investigation,” Ven. Medhananda Thera said.
Ven. Rekawa Jinaratana Thera, the Chief Adikarana Sanganayaka of the North Western Province, said that the propaganda carried out stating that the Buwanekaba Rajasabha Mandapa in Kurunegala had been demolished, is a politically-motivated fabrication. The pavilion made of wood had been used as a hotel called Buwanekaba.There is no truth in the propaganda that it was built by King Buwanekaba.