By Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi

Excavations were carried out amid torrential rain on court  order in a location in Expressway road reservation near Wandurawa  Rajamaha Vihara in Veyangoda on information that a treasure had been  buried there, but it was postponed for yesterday after no evidence of a  treasure was found.   

The Attanagalla Magistrate had ordered the excavations in the  wake of the arrest of nine suspects including a man in robes, for digging  up a treasure at this location. The suspects have been on remand.   

The police, the STF, officers of Mirigama Divisional  Secretariat, Archaeological Department officials, Road Development  Authority officials were present during excavations.  OIC Veyangoda Police CI Asanga Rangana read out and  explained the court order and requested the officials to cooperate to  carry out the court order. The STF earmarked the location by using an  earth scanner, and excavations were carried out with backhoes. During the  excavations, RDA officials pointed out that a part of the side wall of  the expressway had to be removed, causing a heavy loss to the authority.     

After carrying out excavations amid torrential rain till  about 4.00pm the officials decided to postpone it for the following day.   

Excavations resumed last morning for the second day they  came by a huge boulder at the depth of about 20ft and all attempts to  dig it up failed. Officials said the boulder will have to be blasted in the pit. They said it would be carried out at night.