Conservation program to develop Deeghavapi

Priyanka Kurugala

The National Heritage and Cultural Affairs Ministry with the assistance of the Archaeological Department has launched a conservation program to develop the Digamadulla city and the Sacred ancient site in Deegavapi.

National Heritage and Cultural Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said the Bank of Ceylon has come forward to sponsor the conservation program.

A Ministry spokesman said they had found about 300 archaeological monuments in close proximity to the Deeghavapi Sacred site.

The Archaeological Department officers have discovered a lot of evidence of ancient settlements in this area.

Among their discoveries are the courtyard of the Deeghavapi Stupa ruins of a Bodhigara and numerous artefacts in this area.

The project will be carried out in three phases. They are excavating the Stupa, conserving the Stupa and the compound (the Salapathalamaluwa), conserving the artefacts of the area around Deeghavapi.

The authorities have estimated the cost of the first phase at Rs 200 million. The Civil Defence Department has agreed to participate in the conservation program through a shramadana campaign.

The contribution of the shramadana campaign is estimated at Rs 150 million. The Sacred area of the Digamudulla Sacred site is 64 square kilometres in area.