The antiquities of historic importance at the Kebellelena cave temple at Dagama in the Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat division are fast perishing and will be lost forever unless swift action is taken to preserve them.
It is believed that the temple was built during the reign of King Devanampiyathissa.
According to the Chief Incumbent of the temple, Ven.Rawaela Sudhamma Thera, this is the only temple in Sri Lanka where a Devale, a Dhamma hall and a shrine room are housed in a cave.
He said most of the frescoes in the temple are perishing with the plaster peeling off. The main Buddha statue has been disfigured. The dagaba too has been damaged by treasure hunters.
Ven. Sudhamma Thera said that although the site was declared as a conservation site by the Department of Archaeology in 1965, no conservation work has been carried out.
The Chief Incumbent and the Dayaka Sabha call upon the Ministry of Buddhasasana and the Department of Archaeology to take action to preserve the antiquities for the benefit of the future generation.
