Rise of ruins from ravages of war

They are remains of dilapidated edifices with bullet-riddled walls, overgrown with trees, abandoned and neglected- some centuries old. Many are the monuments and sites of archaeological importance in Jaffna that still stand, though battered and broken, mute testimony to the impact of the country’s three decades-long bitter war.

However, as a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka begins with the dawn of peace, efforts are being made to return the war-torn areas to normalcy and it is in this back- drop that archaeological and historical sites in the north have been identified to undergo a face lift.

Officer in charge -Immediate and Special Explorations—Exploration and Documentation Division of the Department of Archaeology, T. M.C. Bandara said after the conclusion of the war, Archaeological Department teams visited the North on two occasions, mainly to identify the historically important sites before the launch of development activities under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme. He also said that these sites will play a vital role as tourist attractions after these areas have been developed. Read more ...