Over 500 ancient monuments discovered

More than 500 ancient monuments that date back to theAnuradhapura era have been discovered during the ongoing excavations in the Rajagalatenna archaeological site in Uhana in the Ampara district.

The excavation and conservation projects undertaken by the Sri Jayawardenepura University is funded by the Cultural Fund of the US Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Department of Archaeology.

Archaeologist-in-charge of the project said about 80 inscriptions, including the Rajagala inscription that lays bare the facts about the Buddhist monuments, including a Cheithiya built during the Anuradhapura kingdom to enshrine the Sacred Relics of Maharahat Mahinda and Maharahat Itthiya who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It is of significance that the most number of archaeological monuments of the Anuradhapura period that had not been conserved was discovered from Rajagalathenna archaeological site.

Researchers found the archaeological remains of a building, which was unique to the ancient architecture of theAnuradhapura era. The four walls of the building and the roof were built of huge granite slabs and it was similar to that of Deundara Galge (the rock cave of Dondra).

The two ancient rows of steps leading to the summit of the Rajagala rock were among other finds. The lake at the summit of the rock was restored with the fund provided by the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenepura University, Prof. N.L.G.I. Karunaratne.

The conservation project is implemented under the supervision of Director General ofArchaeology Dr. Senerath Paranavithana, Prof. P.B. Mandawala, Prof. Pathmasiri Kannangara, Prof. Karunasena Hettiarachchi and Dr. Alexander Kapukotuwa.