By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Courtesy CEYLON TODAY.

Sri Lanka’s rich archaeological heritage is under serious threat, according to a recent research report titled Analytical Report on the Protection and Conservation of the Archaeological Heritage of National Importance of Sri Lanka – Volume I.”
Sponsored by the Bauddhaloka Foundation (Guarantee) Ltd., this extensive report that covers eight districts of the island, was compiled by a team of leading archaeologists and heritage management experts. It was officially handed over to Professor Sirimalee Fernando, Secretary General of the UNESCO Sri Lanka National Commission by Jagath Sumathipala, Chairman of the Bauddhaloka Foundation (Guarantee) Ltd, on 22 October 2024, at the UNESCO SL NAT COM Office.
During the meeting, several key issues concerning the country’s heritage and its management were discussed. Plans to implement heritage management projects in collaboration with the UNESCO Sri Lanka National Commission and the Bauddhaloka Foundation were also explored.
The report will also be presented to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris this month. A copy of the report was also handed over to the United Nations office in Colombo this week.
The report sheds light on a distressing issue: the deliberate destruction of Sri Lanka’s invaluable archaeological heritage, which is happening across the island. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, as the country’s rich history, culture, and identity are being systematically erased.
In its findings, the report calls for international attention, urging global bodies responsible for protecting cultural heritage to intervene and help stop this growing crisis. It also makes a passionate plea for action from Sri Lanka’s Head of State, His Excellency the President, and the subject minister, highlighting the need for an immediate governmental response to this national disaster. One of the most alarming aspects revealed in the report is the inefficiency of the Department of Archaeology, the very institution tasked with safeguarding Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. The department’s failure to act has left countless historical sites vulnerable to destruction.
The Bauddhaloka Foundation has announced plans to publish the report in both English and Sinhala, making its findings accessible to a wider audience. Volume II of the report will be also published in due course, further documenting the widespread scope of this crisis.
This report is not just a detailed account of the destruction — it is a wake-up call. Sri Lanka’s archaeological heritage is more than just stones and ruins; it is the living history of the nation. Without urgent action, the country risks losing a significant part of its identity forever.