No New Buildings Constructed at Kanniya Hot Springs Archaeological Site in Trincomalee

24-Sep-2026

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The Director General of Archaeology has assured the Trincomalee High Court that no new buildings have been constructed at the archaeological site identified near the Kanniya Hot Springs in Trincomalee.

He further assured the court that, in accordance with an earlier agreement, the Archaeology Department was taking only the necessary measures to preserve and protect the archaeological site where excavations had been conducted.

Approximately five years ago, the area near the Kanniya Hot Springs where a Pillaiyar temple had stood was identified by the Archaeology Department as an archaeological site.

Subsequently, with the agreement of the Government, land near the area was identified and surveyed for the purpose of rebuilding the Pillaiyar temple.

The court had accordingly ordered that the Archaeology Department should be authorised only to undertake preservation and conservation activities in the area identified as an archaeological site.

However, bricks and construction materials had recently been brought into the area.

Consequently, Prashanthini Wijekumar filed a motion before the Trincomalee High Court alleging that officials of the Archaeology Department were acting in violation of the agreement previously reached.

The motion was taken up for consideration yesterday.

Accordingly, the Director General of Archaeology, who had been named as a respondent, and an official representing the Trincomalee District Secretary appeared before the court pursuant to the court order.

Lawyers appearing for the respondents submitted that, in accordance with the agreement previously reached concerning the archaeological site, only preservation and conservation measures were being carried out and that no new building had been constructed in the area.

They further explained that excavations had been carried out at the site identified as an archaeological location. Therefore, the materials brought to the site were intended to refill excavated areas and repair damaged sections.

The Director General of Archaeology also submitted an undertaking to the court confirming that only preservation and conservation measures were being carried out.

Meanwhile, President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran and the team of lawyers appearing for the petitioner informed the court that, since the Director of the Archaeology Department concerned had undertaken to act in accordance with the agreement reached, there was no need to proceed further with the case.