Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed an Archaeological Advisory Committee to assist with safeguarding the country’s archaeological sites. Letters of appointment were handed over to the committee members at Temple Trees yesterday Wednesday (29). The 20-member advisory committee is tasked with advising the subject minister on matters concerning archaeology in the country, providing advice for special projects, policymaking, archaeological site observation, and assisting with promoting development activities. The committee comprises the following members: 1. Asgiri Chapter Anunayaka Ven. Wedaruwe Dharmakeerthi Sri Rathanapala Thera 2. Dakshina Lanka Chief Sanganayake Ven. Metaramba Hemarathana Thera 3. Ruwanweli Maha Chaithyaramaya Chief Priest Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera 4. Archaeological Chakravarthi Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera 5. Ven. Alikewela Seelananda Thera 6. Ven. Yatigaloluwe Wimalarathana Thera 7. Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera 8. Ven. Prof. Induragare Dhammarathana Thera 9. Ven. Dr. Maduruoye Dhammissara Thera 10. Former Director General of Archaeology Dr. Siran Deraniyagala 11. Archaeologist Prof. T.G. Kulatunga 12. Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya 13. Prof. Nimal De Silva 14. Eng. Gemunu Silva 15. Prof. Anura Manatunga 16. Architect Ashley de Vos 17. Prof. Raj Somadeva 18. W.M.S. Weerasekara 19. Sirinimal Laddusinghe 20. Prof. Munidasa Padmasiri Ranaweera