Kurunegala Mayor and four others face arrest over damaging of historical building

By Ifham Nizam

The Attorney General (AG) has directed the Acting Inspector General of Police to obtain warrants to arrest five persons including the Mayor of Kurunegala and the Municipal Commissioner for the destruction of a building of archaeological value in the Kurunegala city.

The AG’s Department has ordered the arrest of the Kurunegala Mayor, Thushara Sanjeewa, the Municipal Commissioner, an Engineer and two others for violating the Antiquities Ordinance and Public Property Act.

On July 14, the Kurunegala Urban Council demolished a site, adjoining a historical building believed to go back to King Buvanekabahu II. In the process they also caused damage to the historical building, said to be an ancient royal pavilion.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed a committee to investigate the incident and instructed the committee to submit its report before July 23. The committee comprised Director General of Archaeology, Prof. Senarath Dissanayake, Kurunegala District Secretary R.M.R. Ratnayake, archaeologist T.G Kulatunga, Director General of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs archaeologist Prasad Ranasinghe and Central Cultural Fund Director (Development) architect Sumedha Mathota.

However the report has not been issued so far.