History on the wane

The old and neglected Ambalama in Kadugannawa and the enchanting pond situated in the heart of the Kandy town adjacent to the lake which have been tourist attractions for long, are left to ruin and it seems no body’s business to have them restored.

The former saw the light of day way back in December 1875 to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales to this country. The sight of water gushing through the mouth of cherubs feeding the pond which was in pristine times a delight to the eyes is in a dilapidated condition with the statues partly broken.

Meanwhile, the ambalama was the work of the Englishmen who wanted to provide a rest house to horsemen coming from Colombo to Kandy, to take a break or spend the night safely. This structure is of archaeological value and needs to be protected. Its roof is damaged while the walls are cracked. It is a crime by the country’s culture to allow these structures to go to ruin. The archaeological authorities seem to be disinterested in their maintenance though they boast about maintaining structures of archaeological value.