Nothing lost at Lankapatuna Dagoba - Archaeology Dept.

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The Archaeology Department yesterday affirmed that no material of archaeological value has been lost at the historical Lanka Patuna Dagoba site, despite claims by various parties including Ven. Lunugamwehera Kalyanaransi Thera of the Jathika Sampath Surakeeme Centre that JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera had taken away certain items from the Dagoba during his recent visit to the East.

Meanwhile, Ven. Kalyanaransi Thera had called for an impartial inquiry in a letter addressed to the Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry into the alleged theft.

He has charged Ven. Rathana Thera of destroying a priceless archaeological monument.

Meanwhile, contacted by the Daily News, Archaeology Department officers at the Lanka Patuna Heritage Site said, “A team of Jathika Hela Urumaya MPs, including its leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera and MP Ven. Rathana Thera and several others visited the site, but there had not been any such incident where any archaeological item of value had been taken away by anyone.”

Ven. Kalyanaransi Thera had said in his letter that the alleged act of Ven. Rathana Thera had upset the Archaeological officers who accompanied him to the site.

Archaeological Department’s Additional Director General, W.D.Gunatilleke said he had not received any information or complaint regarding the matter so far, but if there is any basis for an investigation they would carry out the due process.