US Grant awarded for Ritigala Conservation work

November 08, 2024

Sports - Cultural - Travel

US Grant awarded for Ritigala Conservation work

May 13, 2014

Expert conservation work at the Rajagala Buddhist monastery archeological site is being performed with a grant of 13 million rupees ($100,000) from the U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. The U.S. Embassy in a press release said that it awarded this grant to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2013 and is working closely with the University and the Department of Archaeology on the project. Work began in late 2013 and will continue through 2017, the release said.

The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison while touring the forest-monastery site with senior officials of the Archaeological Dept. recently has said that the U.S. Embassy is honoured and proud to be a partner of this valuable project which helps to forge a better understanding of Sri Lanka's proud, unique heritage and history.

Ven. Dambara Amila Thero - Senior Lecturer, Sri Jayewardenepura University,Dr. N.L.A. Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor, Sri Jayewardenepura University, Professor P.B. Mandawala, Sri Jayewardenepura University accompanied the U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison.

Rajagala (Rassagala or Rajagalathenna) located in the Ampara District in the Eastern Province is a place which reveals the splendour of Sri Lanka’s prehistoric era to the world. The place consists of more than 500 ruins and artifacts of a Buddhist temple.

The 400-hectare Buddhist monastic complex was constructed between the years 119 and 109 B.C. but abandoned around 993 A.D. and suffered gradual deterioration since that time. It was "re-discovered" in an archaeological survey in 1890.

Since its creation in 2001 by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation has awarded 9 grants to Sri Lanka, totaling $483,352.