Archaeological Protected Monuments in Sri Lanka
The archaeological heritage of Sri Lanka can be divided into three ages; Prehistoric (Stone-age), Protohistoric (Iron Age), and historical period. The presence of man activities in Sri Lanka probably dates from 75,000 years ago (late Pleistocene period). Prehistoric sites which are presently identified in the country are distributed from the maritime belt and the lowland plains of the wet and dry zones to the high plateaus and rain forests in the central and southwestern mountain regions of the island. The protohistoric period expands from about 1000 BC to the historical period at about 500 BC. The main indicators of the distribution of protohistoric and early settlements on the island are the megalithic burials and pottery sites.
The beginning of the historical period of Sri Lanka is traditionally assigned to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (307–267 BC) when the Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by the missionaries sent by the Indian emperor Ashoka. However, the first clear information about the establishment of buildings and structures are dated back to the time of king Pandukabhaya (437–367 BC).
Sri Lanka's political and religious history is mainly set out by the ancient chronicles as well as over 4,000 stone inscriptions from the 3rd century BC onward. Which gives the history in considerable detail from the 3rd century and less reliably back to the 6th century BC.
Sri Lanka has more than 250,000 identified archaeological sites throughout the country{{cite web|title=History of the Department of Archeology|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=54&lang=en|publisher=Sri Lanka archaeological department|access-date=19 August 2017|archive-date=2 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202033222/http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=54&lang=en|url-status=dead}} and some of them have been declared as archaeological reserves and protected monuments by the Sri Lanka archaeological department. Archaeological reserves are sites that consist of archaeological remains which are under the direct control of the archaeological department. Protected monuments are privately owned but scheduled under section 18 of the Antiquities Ordinance No.09 of 1940.
{{TOC right}}
Declaration of monuments
According to sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Antiquities Ordinance No.09 of 1940, the minister who is in charge of the subject may declare the ancient monuments by notification published in the government Gazette.{{cite web|title=Exploration and Documentation Division#Declaring of Ancient Monuments|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=82&lang=en|publisher=Sri Lanka archaeological department|access-date=19 August 2017}}
Also under sections 16, 17, and 19, ancient buildings and trees on state or private lands, may be declared as ancient monuments to provide safety and protection for them.
Ancient construction with a historical and archaeological value which are over 100 years of age can also be declared as ancient monuments in terms of the provisions of the Antiquities (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 1988.
Central Province
=Kandy District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Kandy District}}
=Matale District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Matale District}}
=Nuwara Eliya District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Nuwara Eliya District}}
Eastern Province
=Ampara District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Ampara District}}
=Batticaloa District=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:left;" | |||||||
| Monument
! Image ! Location ! Divisional ! Registered ! scope=col width=250px|Description ! Refs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batticaloa fort | 100px | Batticaloa Town | Batticaloa | align=center| | The Hansard report | ||
| Pulukunawa Raja Maha Vihara | Eruwilporativu | Manmunai Pattu | The Drip-ledged caves, Dagobas, pillared structures, Asanagharas, ponds and a torso of a Buddha image | {{cite web|title=Pulukunava|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106%3Apulukunava&catid=51%3Asites&Itemid=99&lang=en|access-date=18 July 2016|publisher=Department of Archaeology}} |
{{Incomplete list|date=February 2016}}
=Trincomalee District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Trincomalee District}}
North Central Province
=Anuradhapura District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Anuradhapura District}}
=Polonnaruwa District=
{{Incomplete list|date=February 2016}}
North Western Province
=Kurunegala District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Kurunegala District}}
=Puttlam District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Puttalam District}}
Northern Province
=Jaffna District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Jaffna District}}
=Kilinochchi District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Kilinochchi District}}
=Mannar District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Mannar District}}
=Mullaitivu District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Mullaitivu District}}
=Vavuniya District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Vavuniya District}}
Sabaragamuwa
=Kegalle District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Kegalle District}}
=Ratnapura District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Ratnapura District}}
Southern Province
=Galle District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Galle District}}
=Hambantota District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Hambantota District}}
=Matara District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Matara District}}
Uva
=Badulla District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Badulla District}}
=Monaragala District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Monaragala District}}
Western Province
=Colombo District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Colombo District}}
=Gampaha District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Gampaha District}}
=Kalutara District=
{{main|List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Kalutara District}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Notes
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/gz/2007/2/2007-02-23(I-I)E.pdf|date=23 February 2007|title=PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications|journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka|volume=1486 |ref={{sfnref|Gazette 1486|23 February 2007}}}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- [http://www.archaeology.gov.lk Department of Archaeology – Sri Lanka]
- [http://www.cultural.gov.lk/ Ministry of Culture and the Arts]
{{Archaeological Protected Monuments in Sri Lanka}}