Historic Little Sigiriya Rajamaha Vihara Several wall paintings, inscriptions left unattended

By Kumara Liyanarachchi   

Several wall paintings, inscriptions and cave paintings in the historic Little Sigiriya Rajamaha Vihara in the Kotmale colony in Uhana in the Ampara district have been left to the mercy of the elements without any attention much to the anxiety of the residents of the area and Chief Incumbent of the temple.  

Chief Incumbent of the temple Bambarawane Saddhatissa Thera said the history of the temple that runs as far back as the second century (BC) and that the 21 cave paintings belonged to the pre-historic age. He said the temple had been built during the Anuradhapura period and that the wall paintings were akin to Sigiriya and Ajantha frescoes.  Ven. Thera pointed out that the Department of Archeology had several years ago provided protection to the the paintings with a cement cover but it was now leaking. He said the conservation project commenced in 2016 had been abandoned in a short time.  

However, Director of Chemistry in the Department of Archaeology Geethan Kuruppuarachchi said a conservation project had already been planned and that it would be implemented soon.