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KING’S COURT DEMOLITION: Committee report by Thursday

18 Jul 2020

A five-member committee was appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs on Friday (17) to investigate the unpermitted demolition of the 13th Century building believed to be the King’s Court of King Buwanekabahu II in Kurunegala. The committee is to be led by Director General of Archaeology Prof. Senarath Dissanayake along with District Secretary of Kurunegala R.M.J. Ratnayake, Archaeologist T.G. Kulatunga, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Archaeologist Deputy Director of Archaeology Prasad Ranasinghe, and Central Cultural Fund Director and Architect Sumedha Matota. Earlier in the week, media reports indicated that the building in question was recognised as an archaeological site and that the Department of Archaeology 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. The Kurunegala Mayor told the media that the RDA had permitted the demolition of the building to widen a road running through the area. The Mayor however, had not obtained approval from the Archaeology Department. RDA demolishing the potential archaeological site is seen as a violation of the Antiquities Ordinance. It was also reported that the Mayor of Kurunegala, along with the officials from the RDA, is charged with bulldozing the entire building for a road development project. Prof. Dissanayake said the Department of Archaeology had filed a complaint with the Kurunegala Police regarding the demolition of a part of the Court on 6 July. “The Department of Archaeology officials noted that they complained to the Kurunegala Police after the building was bulldozed on 14 July. However, the Kurunegala Police had disregarded both complaints, which prompted the Department of Archaeology to inform the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) both in writing and verbally on the incident.” The statement from the Government Information Department went on to note, the building which was torn down dates back to the 13th Century Kurunegala Era and is believed to be an ancient “kings assembly hall”. It is protected as per the provisions of the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940. The Committee is expected to produce its report to the Prime Minister before 23 July. – Sarah Hannan

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