Anuradhapura era stone inscription found from Mullaitivu jungle

A stone inscription (sellipi) thought to belong to the reign of King Udaya in the final part of the Anuradhapura period has been uncovered from a forest reserve in Mullaitivu, the Department of Archaeology's Vavuniya office states. 

The stone inscription was uncovered during excavations conducted over a 78 acre archaelogical site in the Nagacholai Forest Reserve. It was uncovered during a joint operation conducted by the Department of Archaeology and the Surveyor General's Department. 

The inscription was among a host of other archaeological artefacts uncovered during the excavations at the ruins of a temple. Among the artefacts that were uncovered are the remains of a stupa made from kabok stone, stone walls, stone pillars with inscriptions and moonstones. 

The ruins were uncovered during excavations conducted in the area after 87 years. Archaeology Department officials stated that the site had suffered extensive damage due to the war and the work of treasure hunters. 

About 100 lines in the stone inscription have so far been painstakingly uncovered by archaeologists and further excavations at the site are ongoing. 

By Romesh Madusanka