AG orders Act. IGP to arrest Kurunegala Mayor and 4 others

The Attorney General (AG) has directed the Acing IGP to obtain a court warrant, and arrest & produce Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa, Municipal Commissioner, Engineer & 2 others over the demolition of the 13th Century building believed to be the King’s Court of King Buwanekabahu II in Kurunegala.

The AG has ordered the Acting IGP to make the arrests on charges under Antiquities Ordinance & Public Property Act.

Sanjeewa came under public and media scrutiny for allegedly ordering the demolition of the building.

The Department of Archaeology had recognized the building as an archaeological site and had scheduled excavation and preservation work to commence on 16 July.

However, it was reported that on 15 July that the Road Development Authority (RDA) without seeking approval from the Department of Archaeology had demolished the building using a bulldozer.