Historical Raja Sabha Mandapaya in Kurunegala Officer charged with damaging historical site appointed to Buddhist Affairs Ministry

• Kurunegala Magistrate has issued warrants against this officer

By Yohan Perera   

A new episode on the story of the destruction of the historical Raja  Saba Mandapa in Kurunegala has emerged with an officer attached to  Kurunegala Municipal Council charged with the crime reportedly appointed  as an Additional Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs and the Ministry of  Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs denying knowledge of it.     

Minister of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs  Vidura Wickramanayake when contacted by the Daily Mirror denied  knowledge of the appointment. “ I have looked into the matter but no one  has been appointed even by my secretary,” he said.   

 Secretary to the Ministry Somaratne Vidanapathirana said  he had not appointed anyone to the post. “We have not appointed any new  commissioner. We will inquire from the Ministry of Public Administration  whether they made any appointment,” Mr. Vidanapathirana said.   

It was reported that this officer attached to Kurunegala  Municipal Council has been identified as a key suspect in connection  with the destruction of the Raja Sabha Mandapa. Kurunegala Magistrate has issued warrants against this officer.   

The Supreme Court in September issued an Interim Order  suspending the operation of an Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal  which stayed the arrest warrants issued against Kurunegala former Mayor  Thushara Sanjeewa and four others in connection with the demolition of  the Rajya Sabha Mandapaya (Royal Assembly Hall) of King Buwanekabahu in  Kurunegala. This Interim Order will be effective until the final  determination of the appeal applications.   

Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Preethi  Padman Surasena, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Justice Shiran  Goonaratne made this order pursuant to appeal applications filed by the  Attorney General challenging the legality of Court of Appeal order dated  August 25, 2020.   
 Meanwhile, the Supreme Court further suspended the Court  of Appeal proceedings pertaining to the writ petitions filed by five  individuals, including Kurunegala former Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa.   

On August 7, 2020, warrants had been issued by Kurunegala  Magistrate on Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana, Kurunegala  Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Nishantha Thilakaratne, Municipal  Engineer Chaminda Bandara Adikari, Superintendent of Works Ilaludeen  Sulfiya, and backhoe machine operator Lakshman Priyantha regarding the  demolition of a building with archaeological value in Kurunegala.