Archaeologists Find Buddhist Ruins in Kilinochchi
Posted on June 6th, 2014
Sri Lankan Army
Archaeologists in the Northern Province have affirmed that the ruins recovered from Shivanagar, Uriththirapuram in Kilinochchi, containing slates, stacks of ancient bricks, Sri Paada symbols, etc, belong to the historic Polonnaruwa era.
20 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) troops of the 662 Brigade under the Security Force Headquarters – Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) came across the site lying in their area of responsibility by accident and kept the SFHQ-KLN informed of their findings, just a few days ago.
At the request of Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SFHQ-KLN who himself inspected the place, a team of archaeologists arrived at the site and began extensive investigations, through which they succeeded in finding ruins, identical to a Pagoda of 60 ft in diameter and about 12 ft in height, stacks of ancient layers of bricks, slates with Sri Paada symbol, stone posts with prints of Sri Paada in the middle, etc, all the hallmarks that confirm the existence of a Buddhist temple in the Polonnaruwa period.
However, archaeologists soon after preliminary investigations have declared the site a sacred archaeological site, pending further excavations, extensive research and comprehensive evaluations, alerting the security forces as well as government authorities to the new recovery.
Information that had been collected from locals in the area said that a small Pulleyar Kovil existed on the same site in 1940s until the present day Shivam Kovil was built in 1980s in veneration of Lord Pulleyar (1940s) and Lord Shiva and Lord Uma (1980) respectively with offerings (Pooja) being held.
Additional information gathered alleged that in 1965 when the Kurukkal (chief priest) was engaged in clearing the shrub jungles around the Kovil, he came across the ruins of a Pagoda, some Buddha statues, stone carvings as well as a Bo tree in the premises, but LTTE terrorists destroyed the large Buddha statue in the temple and threw its pieces and debris away into the Shivankulam tank which is close to the Shivam Kovil in the same area.
The facts brought to light further confirmed that there had been a Samadhi Buddha statue of about 4-6 ft tall and a statue of a lion plus a moonstone in the past, but the terrorists had however felled the Bo tree and replaced it with a Palmyrah tree later on before the place was called ‘Nagalingam’.
Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SFHQ-KLN, Colonel N.P Akuranthilake, 662 Brigade Commander and several senior officers visited the location soon after its discovery by troops serving there.
June 6th, 2014 at 7:13 am
Sinhala Buddhists will enjoy western lifestyle until tamils and muslims destroy everything they have
DO WE HAVE A SINHALA BUDDHIST PRESIDENT IN SRI LANKA?
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH 70% BUDDHISTS. WERE THEY BRAIN WASHED BY WETERN TYPE OF EDUCATION?
KALO AYANTE
June 7th, 2014 at 11:43 pm
Prince Hussein of Jordan has been appointed new UNHRC chief.
Good it was NOT Darusman but this Americunt bootylicker is supposed to be FAR WORSE.
June 8th, 2014 at 9:01 am
“..but LTTE terrorists destroyed the large Buddha statue in the temple and threw its pieces and debris away into the Shivankulam tank which is close to the Shivam Kovil in the same area.” and “but the terrorists had however felled the Bo tree and replaced it with a Palmyrah tree later on before the place was called ‘Nagalingam’.”
What was not stated was the LTTE not only destroyed Buddhist archaeological sites, they also destroyed existing Buddhist Viharas and built Kovils on top of the ruins. This is not an act of veneration, but an act of conquest where the Temple becomes the weapon.
All LTTE built Temples should be eradicated for if they are left to exist it will only perpetuate them. In the same manner so many Nazi buildings were leveled down to be replaced with pre existing Christian churches or new construction these “Temples of conquest” must also be leveled down and the previous Buddhist Viharas reconstructed.
It is an old method practiced by Christians and Muslims for centuries but seldom questioned for their authenticity. A holy place should be constructed for the sole reason for worship and not the main reason for conquest. that is why so many Churches and Mosques are abhorrent to the faiths they tried to destroy using the holy structure as a weapon first and then as a place of worship second.
Simply put that Palmyrah tree should go and be replaced by a Bo tree. Those LTTE built temples should be destroyed along with anything that is constructed by the LTTE and the holy structors to the holy trees reclaimed.
June 8th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Any chance of finding ancient buildings from the mythical
Tamil Eelam in the north and east? Then we can substantiate eealamists’
claim to the (mala) eelam!
June 8th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Destruction of the remaining structures of this ancient Buddhist temple is one of the MANY instances of RELIGIOUS CLEANSING and REWRITING of Sri Lanka’s History by the LTTE.
June 8th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
BW,
“Temples of Conquest” : An excellent description of what transpired in the 30 years of LTTE domination of the NCP.
If this is how they behave when they are in power, are we supposed to DEVOLVE Land and Police Powers to the NPC, anbd TRUST THEM to treat the HERITAGE of ALL Communities with respect?
If you fall into a pit during the night … that is an ACCIDENT; If you fall into the same pit again during the day, that is STUPIDITY. There is NO CURE for STUPIDITY.
Let us STOP BEING STUPID. REPEAL the 13th Amendment and REPLACE with Districts administered by Government Appointed Government Agents.