The Heritage Monuments of Jaffna Peninsula and their Preservation

Abstract

The Jaffna peninsula includes the Zone of Vadamaradchy, Thenmaradchy, Valikamam and Island groups. Jaffna peninsula has been marked as a region having not less than 3000 years of unique heritage history and has been classically identified in the Sri Lankan historic source from ancient times. Before this region was named as ‘Yalppanam’ in 15th century, it has been marked as a unique region under the name of ‘Nagativu’ and ‘Nakanatu’ in historic manuscripts. It is also ensured by the inscriptions in the Pragkrit and Tamil Language of the later period. The archaeological explorations and excavatrions which were undertaken after the 1970s seem to enlighten the history of Jaffna peninsula. In accordance with the Archaeological Act of Sri Lanka, hundreds of visible and tangible monuments found in the northern part of Sri Lanka have been gazette by the Department of Archaeology, most of those important heritage monuments of Sri Lanka are being maintained and preserved presently. However it can be that the heritage monuments of Jaffna peninsula have not yet been entirely identified or included the whole management plan. The objective of this research is to document the tangible heritage monuments of Jaffna peninsula including the ancient settlement sites, ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples, Dynasty heritage monuments (Jaffna kingdom), traditional houses, Choultry (madam-T), resting stones (Sumaithanki kal-T), avuranchchikatkal (T) etc. together with European forts, churches, administrative centers and to make their important known and as well to reveal the importance of their preservation to the public large. The policy of managing the heritage monuments includes the maintenance, preservation, consolidation, rehabilitation, restoration, reproduction and reconstruction. The main objective is their preservation to increase their life span. In their preservation, local social bodies, universities, the protectors those who protect the heritage assets conventionally, state volunteer organizations and the private sector bodies could be engaged and those monuments should be preserved and hands over to the future generation. It could be observed that these heritage monuments have been destroyed from time to time by factors like ethnic conflicts, natural impacts and the fact that the importance of the archaeological heritage monuments was not realized. Anyhow by preserving these existing heritage monuments, these, invaluable and rare treasures of heritage monuments could be prevented from being lost. As a master of fact, these heritage monuments and sites could be made as excellent place of tourist attraction.