Special Committee to develop historic sites

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: A special committee to develop the island's historic Vihara Devalas is to be set up under the directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President's media sources said.

Following a lengthy discussion at President's House in Kandy yesterday with President Rajapaksa presiding, pertaining to the long neglected and deteriorating sacred historical sites in the country, the Committee comprising a representative from the Department of Archives, Physical Planning Department, Urban Development Authority, Public Trustees Department, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner and a representative of the respective regional Devala, is to be appointed. It will be vested with full powers to take decisions on the development work of such sacred sites.

The Basnayaka Nilames of the Vihara Devalas, presented numerous problems encountered by them, including the safety and security of many historical heritage sites within the precincts of these Devalas, which were often vulnerable to pilferage and robbery.

They also pointed out to the President about the problems confronted with the shortage of tame elephants for the Peraheras and the cultural pageants which were coinciding with one another within the same time and season.

They said that out of the 170 odd tame elephants available for the Peraheras in the country, around 70 per cent of them were old.

It was also pointed out that the Gazette notification issued referring to these sacred sites, had eventually become ineffective.

President Rajapaksa said that these sacred historic sites were of immense value in projecting Sri Lanka's identity and image to the world. "It is the onus of all to ensure their protection. We must preserve and hand them over to our future generations", he added.

He opined that the establishment of the Committee would help to resolve the problems encountered. He also directed the IGP to increase the number of Police personnel on night watch, within the regions where such sites were located.

Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, the Basnayaka Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa Nilanga Dela Bandara and many Basnayaka Nilames participated at the discusion.