President visits Sigiriya to observe damage to frescoes :

Ladies blemished?

Ishara Jayawardane

Fountains of Paradise, by Sir Arthur C. CLarke alludes to the great rock fortress, bringing back to life the great king in his heyday. What would have Kashyapa thought if his beautiful ‘ladies’ were mottled with white stains. It seems like nature is acting against the architectural marvel.

Weathering for over two millennia, unfavourable geological anomalies and sinister vandalism has taken its toll on the Sigiri frescoes. The alarming news that the Sigiri frescoes have been blemished has resulted in a presidential visit to the rock fortress. Cultural Affairs Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, other ministry officials accompanied the President in the inspection tour, along with Director General, Department of Archeology Prof. Senerath Dissanayake and other archeologists.

The president called for an immediate investigation into the incident, following the complete report on the current situation at the Sigiriya rock fortress, handed over for further evaluation last Friday.

The Director General of the Archaeological Department Prof. Senerath Dissanayake said the 22 frescoes at Sigiriya need a complete facelift as the original colours had been fading gradually since 1930 and that the protective coating on three or four frescoes had come out with the passage of time.

False allegations

Sigiri frescoes that have inspired the Sigiri graffiti is now on the verge of loosing it’s splendour and the archaeologists are are trying their best to stall time. The dream that Sigiriya, could well be, the eighth wonder of the world may never be realised if it isn’t maintained well.

The allegations that the Sigiri frescoes are being damaged due to some chemical used in the restoration process has been flatly denied by the Department of Archeology. They assure that only least invasive methods of conservation are used. Apparently no chemicals have ever been used in the whole restoration process.

Solutions

The government hopes to bring down a Italian expert as in the vandalism case of 1967, when the frescoes were badly defaced by a man who sprayed paint on them. Lucian Maranzi an Italian expert was called upon to restore the damage, which caused such commotion among the public.