A new fossil museum in the Aruwakkalu area!
Construction work has begun in Puttalam, at an archaeological site rich in valuable plant and animal remains dating back to the Miocene epoch, millions of years ago. A venue dedicated to education and research, but also an opportunity for economic development in Sri Lanka’s North-Western Province.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – With the aim of enhancing educational provision for school and university students and boosting research activities, construction began on Saturday 11 July – in the Aruwakkalu area of Puttalam, in the North-Western Province – on a specialised museum dedicated to the study of fossils and research activities, under the patronage of the Minister for Public Administration and Local Government, Chandana Abayaratne.
The Aruwakkalu area is a unique region, rich in valuable plant and animal fossils dating back millions of years to the Miocene epoch. Owing to the area’s archaeological significance, the government has taken steps to designate several sites in Aruwakkalu as protected archaeological zones, and the Department of Archaeology has now designated a 6-hectare area as a special archaeological reserve.
The new fossil museum project is being carried out jointly by the Department of Archaeology and the cement company INSEE, which has funded the project with 25 million rupees (over 65,000 euros – ed.). Once the museum has been built, its maintenance will also be a joint responsibility of the two institutions.
Taking into account the Miocene fossil deposits found throughout the country, this museum and this protected fossil area are being established with a focus on village areas of high archaeological value, including Aruwakkalu, Serakkuliya and Aliwala.
Speaking at the event, the minister said he expected the new facility to help fulfil the social responsibility of preserving the environmental and historical heritage of this limestone-quarrying region. “I will ensure that the fossils discovered during the excavations are systematically preserved and displayed so that future generations and researchers can study them,” he commented.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Hiruni Lakshika, a young human rights activist from Chilaw in the Puttalam district, said: “I am very happy to learn that the Aruwakkalu region in Puttalam is an area of such great archaeological value, rich in plant and animal fossils. I am truly delighted. The new museum is a very important and timely step for those interested in this subject and wishing to study it”.
She also stated that the opening of a museum of this kind not only enhances the country’s prestige but also brings economic benefits: “Local and international tourists will flock here, because it is a real treasure”.
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