EXCAVATIONS IN SIGIRIYA SHOWS RICH CULTURAL HISTORY

Director General of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) Prof. Prishantha Gunawardene said that findings in the recent excavations in Sigiriya lays bare the evidence of a part of Sri Lankan history yet to be discovered.

He told the media during an inspection of the excavation sites that the discovery of an image of a lion made of Terracotta, foreign coins, foreign and local earthenware, porcelain ware, beads, tools made of iron and the ruins of a large building near the moat in the north of the Sigiriya Rock points to a rich cultural past and dealings with other countries during the reign of King Kashyapa.

The images made of terracotta might have been used as mementos to be presented to foreign tourists who visited Sigiriya

Prof. Gunawardene said the images made of terracotta might have been used as mementos to be presented to foreign tourists who visited Sigiriya. He said the king might have promoted bi-lateral relations with several countries in the Central Asian region and even Rome in Italy. “We are at present carrying out excavations in the area surrounding the moat located north of the Sigiriya Rock. The image of the lion found during excavations in Sigiriya is unique and have not turned up in any archaeological site in the past.

It too may have been used to turn out mementos that would be presented to foreigners visiting Sigiriya to symbolize the sovereignty of the kingdom. We have evidence that bi-lateral trade took place with other countries during King Kashyapa’s reign and the historic Mathota port had been the nucleus of international trade via the Silk Route,” he said.