Another Presidential Task Force for ‘Archaeological Heritage Management in Eastern Province' appointed

A Presidential Task Force for ‘Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province has been established following a gazette notification issued by the Secretary to the President.

‘Sri Lanka has inherited a great and proud history.  The archaeological heritage of a country reflects its unique identity and historical evolution. These invaluable heritages had been continuously threatened and vandalized by both natural and man-made causes. Sri Lanka has entered into both local and international conventions which dictate preserving these heritages’, the gazette notification has stated.

Archaeological Chakravarthi Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thero has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Task Force. The Chief Prelate for the Northern and Eastern provinces, Chief Sanganayake of Thamankaduwa Direction, and Chief Incumbent of Arisimalai Aranya Ven. Panamure Thilakawansha Thero, Major General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Senarath Bandara Dissanayake, Director-General of Archaeology, Ms. Chandra Herath, Land Commissioner General, Ms. A.L.S.C. Perera, Surveyor General, Prof. Raj Kumar Somadeva, Senior Lecturer, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Kapila Gunawardena, Medical Faculty, University of Peradeniya, Deshabandu Thennakoon, Senior DIG, Western Province, H.E.M.W.G. Dissanayake, Provincial Land Commissioner, Eastern Province, Dilith Jayaweera, Chairman of Derana Media Network have been appointed as other members.
The Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province has been tasked to:

• Identify sites with archaeological importance in the Eastern province.
• Identify and implement and appropriate program for the management of archaeological heritage by conserving and restoring such identified sites and antiquities.
• Identify the extent of the land that should be allocated for such archeological sites and take necessary measures to allocate them properly and legally.
• Preserve the culture value of sites of archaeological importance and promote the uniqueness of Sri Lanka, both locally and internationally, and make recommendations for the promotion of such heritages.