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Archaelogical head stops renovation work on old Kandy Municipal Council building
View(s):Renovation work in a part of the Kandy Municipal Council was halted this week by the Regional Archaeological Commissioner L. W. Gunatilleke as it is protected under the Archaeological Ordinance.
The building that was being renovated has connections with the family of Mollie Dunuwille, wife to the first Prime Minister of Ceylon, D. S. Senanayake, and is of historic value, the Sunday Times was told.
Regional Commissioner Gunatilleke said the building operations were temporarily stopped till further investigations regarding it were carried out. He said that any building or part of a building which is covered by the Archaeological Ordinance cannot be demolished or altered.
Meanwhile a letter protesting against the renovation of the building was also given to the Kandy Mayor and Municipal Council Commissioner by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Kandy Municipal Council headed by former Kandy Mayor Chandra Ranaraja.
A resident who wished to remain anonymous said that the Kandy Municipal Council is setting a bad example by altering the old building, while they talk highly of Kandy being a Heritage City.
Ironically the building bears a plaque ‘Heritage City’. It is not clear whether a Council Resolution had been passed before the alterations to the building were authorised. The renovation work had been tendered and the tenderer was ordered to commence work.
If a building which is over 100 years old is reconstructed or broken up the Director General of Archaeology must grant approval.