Historic Kala Wewa at Risk: Unauthorized Digging Sparks Major Probe

COLOMBO (News 1st); Anuradhapura Assistant Director of Archaeology, R.G. Jayathilaka, has stated that the investigation report related to the recent excavation incident near the main bund of the Kala Wewa will be handed over to the Director General of Archaeology, Professor Thushitha Mendis, today.

Kala Wewa, constructed by King Dhatusena in the 5th century AD, is a significant symbol of ancient Sri Lankan irrigation technology.

The reservoir, with a capacity of 123 million cubic meters and spanning 100,000 acre-feet, features a stone spillway and three main sluices.

Water from the central sluice flows through a 40-foot-wide canal over a distance of 54 miles, supplying water to Nuwara Wewa in Anuradhapura and irrigating thousands of acres of paddy fields.

The recent unauthorized excavation near the spillway of the main dam posed a severe threat to the reservoir. Assistant Director Jayathilaka said that an archaeological officer was assigned to investigate the incident.

The Director General of Archaeology is expected to provide the investigation report to the police. Meanwhile, the police have also initiated their own investigation into the incident.

The Ipalogama Police stated that they will report the matter to the Kekirawa Court tomorrow.