Name boards of archaeological sites illegally removed: Dept. of Archaeology

By Wasantha Chandrapala and Saman Disanayaka 

The name boards in several archaeological sites in the Batticaloa District have been illegally removed. 

A senior official of the Department of Archaeology said the name boards of four archaeological sites have been removed by now. 

He said it is understood that the name boards of Kudumbamalai archaeological site have been removed by Chenkalady Pradeshiya Sabha and those of the Pattipola archaeological site by Kaluwanchikudy Pradeshiya Sabha. 

Meanwhile, the scenes of removing the name boards and loading them into the tractors of Kaluwanchikudy Pradeshiya Sabha have been shared on social media. 

The official said these archaeological sites had been identified about five years ago, and steps had been taken to put up name boards. He said the Department had informed Batticaloa District Secretary, the SP and the Divisional Secretaries before installing name boards of the archaeological sites. 

Archaeological Department has lodged complaints in this regard with Valaichchenai and Kaluwanchikudy Police.