Dambulla Rock Temple rocks antiquity-buffs
Caves likely to be left without frescoes:
A A L Dias Matale Dist Group corr
History buffs and antiquity lovers both in Sri Lanka and abroad
acclaim in unison, Dambulla Rock Temple as being one of the world's most
unique Buddhist cultural heritage sites.
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Buddha statues in want of care |
Time and again concerned voices were raised to urge for its
preservation with due care and attention, which has not been heeded so
far, archaeology enthusiasts told the Daily News.
"If this absolutely lamentable condition persists, only the caves
will be left without any antiquities. It is high time the authorities
paid their attention to the pathetic state of the Buddha statues and the
frescoes on the walls and restore them to a good condition," they said.
The frescoes cover a surface area of about 20,000 square feet in the
caves with about 780 Buddha statues built alongside them.
The government has an ambitious program to enhance tourist arrivals
to Sri Lanka, therefore the Cultural Department must immediately
intervene and do their bit, they said. |
