WHILE TAMIL IDPs LOST HOMES!!!LANGUISHING IN CAMPS!!! SINHALA BUDDHIST MONKS AND GOVT PLANNING SINHALISATION WITH SECRET PLANS ON FALSE CLAIMS!!!

PM to appoint expert panel:

Facelift for Northern archaeological sites
Chamikara WEERASINGHE

A committee comprising leading archaeologists in the country, representatives of ministries and directors of Cultural and Archeology Departments, will be appointed by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, to protect and rehabilitate archaeological sites in the North.

The Prime Minister has agreed to initiate, implement and monitor projects for the management of archaeological sites and historic monuments in the North consequent to a request by veteran archaeologist and leading lithic expert Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera at his office last Monday.

Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayaka and Director General Archaeology Department Dr.Senarath Dissanayaka were present at the meeting.

Ven. Medhananda Thera said Prime Minister Wickremanayaka promised that he will extend his support to conserve and survey archaeological sites throughout the country.

Wickremanayaka also directed his secretaries to prepare a Cabinet paper requesting the Government to increase funds for Archaeology Department to conduct necessary archaeological surveys and excavations to conserve the sites.

Ven. Medhananda Thera said there are many archaeological sites and objects to be found in the Vanni district although some politicians went on to describe it as a " dense thicket."

"There are ruins of more than 1583 Buddhist temples to be located in Vanni, which means that there should be 1583 canals in the vicinity of these temples and their villages," he explained.

"There will be thousands of stone tablets with inscriptions, which can provide us with historic information about the country's Rajarata civilization", the Thera pointed out.

DAILYNEWS.LK