Nearly 400 Important Archeological Sites Identified

by Pabodha Hettige, The Island, Colombo, September 23, 2011

See "Archeology Sparks New Conflict"

The Department of Archeology says that nearly 400 places of archeological importance have been identified in the Northern Province. "A recent study carried out by the department has revealed this," the Commissioner General of the Department, Dr. Senerath Dissanayaka said.

He said that the department has identified 87 such places in Mulativu, 110 places in Vavuniya, 40 in Mannar and nearly 50 in Jaffna district. Research teams are in the process of identifying the rest of the places in the province, he said. A wealth of archeological information could be obtained from these identified locations.

The research is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and so far the research has cost nearly Rs. 2.5 million.

Responding to a query Dissanayaka said that there were no plans for immediate excavations. "What the department wants to do is to mark the boundaries of these lands before the lands are used for resettlement programmes," he said.

Resettlement has already taken place in some areas of archeological value and the department is trying to preserve the sites in those areas.