Improved facilities for visitors:

Sigiriya given facelift

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

Two specially designed rehabilitation projects at Sigiriya assigned to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau are nearing completion.

The Japanese Bank for International Co-operation funded, (Rs. 50 million) projects are the new stainless steel platform at the Sigiri frescoes pocket and the reinforcement of the rock wall around the fortress.

Chairman of the G.S.M.B. Dr. N.P. Wijayananda said that once the new platform is established visitors could view the full range of frescoes safely. He said that owing to decaying one portion of the old platform had been closed for the tourists in the past.

"The fixing of the platform structure is a risky and sophisticated operation to be handled without allowing vibration.

We hope to finish the project within three months," Dr. Wijayananda said. Under the rock wall restoration project the loose rock and stone found within the structure are being revived by either binding them to the mother rock with wire ropes or fixing them following "anchoring" methodology, the GMSB Chairman said.

"When these loose rock or stone pieces within the premises of the fortress are beyond refixing or strengthening, such insecure objects are removed.

In this process we recently removed a piece above the "mirror wall" to ensure public safety Dr. Wijayananda said.