Buvaneka’s assembly hall turns political circus ring
It should have been a simple open and shut case. A 13th century historical site, considered an archaeological reserve and protected under the Antiquities Ordinance of 1940, had been violated, bulldozed and reduced to rubble by an unknown gang of vandalisers in Kurunegala, with suspicion cast on the town’s mayor as the chief culprit. The Police should have investigated the matter, interrogated the suspects and, if satisfied as to their guilt, filed criminal charges in court for wanton destruction. Case closed.
But the authorities had not opted to walk the straight and narrow. Instead a circuitous route that meanders along streams and meadows, that winds its way up hills and descends through the dales, that ambles casually through corridors of power and loiters near urban town halls, reminiscent of the manner the Portuguese went to Kotte, had been followed for no explicable reason. The resultant ruckus, which has still not led to the arrest of a single suspect, makes one wonder what the ensuing fuss is all about.
Now for a brief recap of history. After the fall of Polonnaruwa as the capital of Lanka in 1214, Sinhala kings were forced to flee further south. From thenceforth, the Sinhala kings were made nomads in their own land, moving their kingdoms in their caravans and pitching camp for a few years at strategic bases. The descent had begun.
First, the capital was established in Dambadeniya. Then came Yapahuwa, the rock fortress. Then it was moved to nearby Kurunegala, where it remained for fifty years before moving on again.
Its first ruler was Buvenekbahu the II who reigned for only 9 years; and it is the assembly hall he had built that is at the very heart of the present furore.
This assembly hall had been demolished in the faceless secrecy of the night on July 14. When morning dawned and the town was agog over the destruction caused, the police had been duly informed but no action had been taken. Three days later, the Prime Minister appoints a five- member committee. They are given a week to submit their report on the incident.
Director- General of Archaeology Professor Senarath Dissanayake says his Department had filed a complaint with the Kurunegala Police immediately after part of the building was bulldozed on July 14. On Wednesday the Attorney General instructs the Acting IGP to launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
In the week that follows the destruction, political parties, too, get into the act. The UNP’s Ranil calls for the arrest of those responsible, Sajith’s SJB stage a protest at Colombo’s Lipton Circus over police inaction. Monks, too, join the fray and even those whose loyalties generally have been towards the ruling party, hold the Government accountable. BBS leader Gnanasara Thera criticises the Government and flays Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s reference to King
Buvanekabahu as a man of many wives, the last one being a Muslim. He asks what is the relevance of that to the demolition of the building?
And the saga becomes curiouser and curiouser and is in danger of turning into a farce. To cap it all, the Kurune gala Mayor, Thushara
Sanjeeva, admits on television to demolishing but denies any wrongdoing. “It is not from King Buvaneka’s time,” he says. “What we destroyed is a part of Hotel Buvaneka which had been illegally constructed.”
He says he has a letter from the RDA requesting him to demolish this part of the building to make for the RDA’s road expansion plans. “Buvaneka,” he says, “is the son of Chandrasiri, who occupied the premises on a 30- year lease from then UNP Minister Gamini Jayawickreme in1993.”
Meanwhile, the Mahinda- appointed committee gives its interim report on Thursday. It recommends: legal action against those responsible for the destruction.
What a pity that this controversy did not erupt during the COVID curfew days. It would have kept the entertainment- starved masses enthralled. And what a tragedy the relatively obscure audience hall of a relatively unknown king had to surface now, two weeks before an all- important election to drown all debate and discussion on the real economic problems of present existence facing the masses.
So, is it King Buvaneka’s audience hall that was destroyed or Chandrasiri’s son Buvaneka’s hotel bar that was demolished? Not to worry. With the Prime Minister playing the referee and wielding the magic wand, no doubt, he will wave it at the opportune time and settle the issue in a masterly manner, so that those who criticise him now for inaction will be forced to eat humble pie, with everyone else living happy ever after the August fifth polls day.