Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today (24) that complaints have been received regarding the removal of signboards marking access routes to identified archaeological sites within the Valachchenai and Kokkaddicholai police divisions. He said investigations are under way and that the findings will be reported to court.
The Minister stressed that the law applies equally to all citizens and noted that certain groups appear to be attempting to create ethnic tensions by removing signboards maintained by the Department of Archaeology. Necessary instructions have already been issued to the police, he added, and suspects and relevant items will be taken into custody and produced before court in line with judicial directives.
Speaking during the Oral Questions Session, the Minister said several signboards installed by the Department of Archaeology to identify access routes to archaeological sites in the Eastern Province had been removed. According to the complaints lodged with the Valachchenai and Kokkaddicholai police stations, the signboards were installed to help locate sites identified by the Department.
A complaint made to the Valachchenai Police on 25 November states that six signboards indicating the route to the Devi Malei archaeological site—located near Thikkativetti Junction, Pallachchenai, and Kodukkachchenai—were removed on 25 November 2022 by a group of individuals. The complaint was lodged by Sivaloga Kanan Silojani, a Development Officer attached to the Kiran Archaeology Office.
The complaint further alleges that Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sudhakaran, Secretary Pathmaneethan, Councillor Ananda Sivarasa and residents of Sellavanagar and Pulipakkal Kirana were responsible for removing the signboards. Police have already briefed court on the matter through the Valachchenai Magistrate’s Court on 25 November 2024, and an investigation led by the Assistant Superintendent of Police has commenced.
In the Kokkaddicholai division, two signboards displaying directions to the Saanthammalai Kovil archaeological site—located near Hathalihawatta Junction and the turnoff to the kovil—were removed on 25 November 2020. A complaint was lodged on 25 November 2023 by Sundara Chandrakandan, an archaeology officer attached to the Pattipola Divisional Secretariat. Police have since reported the matter to the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court and initiated an investigation led by the Kaluwanchikudy Superintendent of Police.
“The law is the same in the North, South, East and West,” the Minister said. “Some believe they can act as though they have their own provincial authority, but no one has such a right. Archaeological signboards maintained by the Department have long been installed legally, and attempts to remove them to stir ethnic issues cannot be tolerated.”
Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senavi also issued a statement yesterday (23), confirming that an investigation is underway regarding the removal of the signboards.
The Department of Archaeology installs direction boards to assist visitors and tourists accessing archaeological sites. The installation of new signboards in the Batticaloa District began on the 3rd of this month. However, the Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha has reportedly removed some of the newly installed boards, claiming they were erected without the council’s approval.
