Corruption Hindering Preservation
“A professionalist is the better part of the perfectionist. He does not wait for results, he does not really care about criticism, but above all, he acts and does not rest on his laurels.”
-Pawel Cislo
On 7 July we celebrated the National Archaeology Day and the 130th anniversary of the Department of Archaeology which is the leading institute for the preservation of archaeological heritage of Sri Lanka. The journey of the Department of Archaeology is indeed outstanding. Yet, the devastating news of the destruction of an ancient monument at Kurunegala shocked the nation as well as the honour and the integrity of the Department and its high standards as the leading institute for the heritage management of the country were severely questioned. Accusations were thrown here and there, arguments were made everywhere, and responsible parties were blaming each other.
The building which is considered to be a part of the Royal Pavilion of King Buvanekabahu II was bulldozed on 19 July. Instantly, cover up stories were spread by groups who were responsible for the damage, twisting the truth.
What does the law say?
The building that was bulldozed was considered as a monument and the destruction of the said monument is an offence. To quote the Antiquities (Amendment) Act, No. 24, of 1998,
(1) in subsection (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words “which dates or is believed to date from a period prior to the 1st day of January, 1850, shall”, of the words “which has existed or is believed to have existed for a period of not less than hundred years, shall,”
(2) in the marginal note to that section, by the substitution for the words and figures “dating to period prior to 1850”, of the words “in existence not less than hundred years.”
And therefore, the antiquity of the destroyed monument is evident.
According to the Antiquities (Amendment) Act, No. 24 of 1998, the convicted if found guilty would be liable for a maximum fine of Rs 250,000 and/or a maximum jail sentence of five years. The Antiquities (Amendment) Act, No.24 of 1998 further states that it is a non-bailable offence if it falls under the ordinance.
To know further regarding this, Ceylon Today spoke to some of the country’s leading senior archaeologists and they were of the point of view that the delay lies in the hands of the Police, as now it is their duty to take necessary measures against those who destroyed the architectural monument. The delay is disappointing and it was further devastating to realise what the driving force behind the delays was – politics!
The major accusation was that the Department which is the leading institute that is responsible for the heritage management of Sri Lanka is at fault. However, the Department had taken attempts to preserve the site and had even fixed a notification about a proposed excavation. Therefore it is clear that the location was identified and named as a site to be excavated. Despite this, the destruction was carried on. Accordingly, what should be done now is that necessary measures should be taken to investigate the matter and arrest the perpetrators without any delay.
Now the nation awaits the trial and the verdict. Those who destroyed the monument should be punished according to the law of the country. If not, it will prove that Sri Lanka is a backward country where law and order does not prevail and a nation that do not respect, honour, and preserve its cultural heritage.
Why it is necessary to take legal action against the perpetrators?
Certain groups stated that there are more severe cases of heritage being vandalised happening all over the country and questioned the necessity of the huge fuss the Kurunegala incident attracted. These groups even went on to express dubious statements such as the monument in question was an illegal construction and also dragged religion into the mix. These baseless statements are a clear demonstration of the distressing state of country’s dirty politics.
As the cultural heritage is fragile, once it is destroyed it is impossible to restore it to the former state and if this case goes unnoticed and ignored, the danger and gravity lies in the fact that the whole incident setting a bad example. Encouraged by the lack of legal action, perpetrators will continue to do more damage of similar nature, and vandalism of archaeological heritage will be accepted and generalised.
Instead of making fun out of the situation it would have been highly appreciated if the responsible parties had taken measures to accept their fault, admit it and take necessary steps to amend the mistake. It is also amusing and at the same time devastating to see the irresponsible statements by politicians saying that the archaeological heritage was vandalised by the opposing parties, in order to justify this unforgivable act. They are making a mockery out of the country’s cultural heritage and it is a matter that should not be taken lightly. It is disheartening to see how ignorant and arrogant the culprits are in not even willing to acknowledge their wrongdoings. The damage is irreversible but this arrogance leads the investigations nowhere halting further procedures and damage control measures.
The vital role of Sri Lankan archaeologists
The incident directs us to focus our attention on the vital role of archaeologists of the country and the present situation of the discipline of archaeology in Sri Lanka. It is evident that Sri Lankan archaeologists in general have failed to recognise the value of their role as a unit and also failed to uphold the professionalism which should be sustained. This is the result of certain incidents took place within the discipline during the past few decades as well as the increasing corruption of the political system of the country.
The role of an archaeologist in a country like Sri Lanka is important and critical and at the same time, they are exposed to conflict since the country inherits a vast cultural heritage. On the other hand as a country that suffered a brutal war which was fuelled by ethnic conflicts that still continue to exist, the role of archaeologists and their contribution to the country’s political stability, social and cultural development, and the economy are highly crucial. Archaeologists play an important role in the exploration and reconstruction of tangible and intangible heritage, which in turn contribute to the processes of reconciliation and economic reconstruction. Unfortunately, it appears as if our archaeologists have either failed to understand their worth or they are deprived of acting to their full potential.
Archaeology and politics
Archaeology is a discipline that is often drawn towards conflict, politics and nationalism. This is because archaeology and culture is all about identity and heritance of land and its people. In particular, archaeological research is extensively drawn upon in describing, defining, and legitimising national identities, and drawn upon in the territorial and ethnic disputes that fuel contemporary conflicts. Therefore, it is important that archaeologists should not be representing any race, religion or a political party. As long as our archaeologists are representing political parties and their views, our heritage will have to pay the price for it. Also, it is important to view the heritage of the country as the heritage of ‘Sri Lankans’, and to not restrict its inheritance only to one race or religion. As long as we do so, we are once again exposing the heritage to risks.
The other danger is that culture and heritage is being used for political propaganda in recent times, as it has never been before. This may also result in disputation between ethnic groups living in the country. It is the responsibly and duty of archaeologists to address these matters as well.
When the cultural heritage of the country is under threat, it is the duty and responsibility of archaeologists to stand up for them. They are the voice of the country’s cultural heritage. Unfortunately, we do not see this happening in Sri Lanka except for few instances. This could be for the fear of many things. In a county where everything is politicised the passive behaviour of Sri Lankan archaeologists are understandable, yet not justifiable.
Downfall of the ‘Glory that is Lanka’
It is unfortunate to see that the two highest positions held by Sri Lankan archaeologists are under the heavy influence of politicians and it is a well-known secret that ones who filled these positions in recent times are just puppets in the hands of politicians who put them there. The downfall of the other leading institution for the heritage management of Sri Lanka (apart from the Department) which was established in the 1980s is also a result of political influence. Moreover, the system of Sri Lanka is such that jobs and promotions are decided by politicians. Therefore, archaeologists do not speak on behalf of the heritage out of fear of losing career opportunities and financial favours. This is devastating since the pride and the high reputation that was once enjoyed by professionals of this discipline is now nowhere to be seen. The unity we lack within the discipline is a major factor too.
It is high time that Sri Lankan archaeologists unite and take measures to sustain professionalism, and understand their role, duties and responsibilities, and restore their lost glory and reputation without being mere puppets or pawns anymore.
(Special thanks to Archaeologist Shayamal Iroshana (SLCA 0135) and to Archaeologist Harendralal Namalgamuwa for sharing their views with us.)
“I will tell you a little secret about archaeologists, dear reader. They all pretend to be very high-minded. They claim that their sole aim in excavation is to uncover the mysteries of the past and add to the store of human knowledge. They lie. What they really want is a spectacular discovery, so they can get their names in the newspapers and inspire envy and hatred in the hearts of their rivals.”
– Elizabeth Peters, The Deeds of the Disturber
Uncategorized, Ama H.Vanniarachchy, SRI LANKAN HISTORY, Sri Lankan Politics