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Declining values
View(s):Pix and text by K.G. Karunarathne
Since the defacing of the historic archaeological site at Sigiriya, more cases of defacing sites of archaeological interests are being reported -the Lion’s Paw at the Sigiriya was recently defaced by a group of students. The latest desecrations are reported from Polonnaruwa Watadage where the Palace of Parakramabahu the Great built in 12 AD still stands proud.
The palace also known as Wyjayantha Prasadhaya, is said to have been seven stories tall and consisted of 1,000 rooms. Unfortunately, not all who visit the site understand its value and significance.
A lack of security and the failure of the employees to prevent such damage have contributed towards the defacing of the sites. To add insult to injury foreigners too are seen behaving with little respect towards religious artifacts despite sign boards being displayed at the sites.
Our pictures reveal how ignorant tourists have defaced the walls by scratching in initials and words. Director General of the Archaeological Department, Dr. Senarath Dissanayake, commenting on these incidents said: “We are trying our best to stop the vandalising of these sites but we can’t provide guards to all of them. We have 25,000 chaityas and only 69 guards attached to the department -we only provide security to the most important archaeological sites,” he said.
He added the department would conduct more awareness programmes to educate the people on the archaeological value of these sites.
A tourist poses with her back to a statute of the Buddha
A young tourist girl poses in front of an ancient monument
A sign at the site clearly defines the manner in which photographs may be taken
A section of the wall on the famous Wyjayantha Prasadhaya which has been defaced by students
Can we blame foreigners for paying scant respect to places of cultural and religious significance when our own students treat them with disdain?
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