The Central Cultural Fund (CCF) is currently engaged in the primary stages of seeking the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) “World Heritage Site” status for the historical Ritigala Archeological Site, located in the Anuradhapura District.
“The governing body of the CCF has appointed a committee of experts to collect the primary data to apply Ritigala for ‘World Heritage’ status. We believe that there are many factors, including natural and archeological factors, that makes it suitable to be deemed a World Heritage site. By the end of 2021, we hope to conclude this primary data collection, although the entire process of determining a World Heritage Site may take up to even two years,” CCF Director General Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe told The Morning yesterday (26).
Prof. Ranasinghe added that the Ritigala mountain range is unique as it is a richly biodiverse and wet area in the dry zone of the country.
The Ritigala mountain, home to an ancient Buddhist monastery, chronicled back to the 1st Century BCE, is believed to also host a number of rare medicinal herbs. Legend says that this is due to Lord Hanuman, who accidentally dropped a piece of the Himalayan mountain range over Ritigala, known for its medical herbs, when he travelled over it. An ancient man-made reservoir is part of the monastery and is regarded as a feat of engineering.
Source: https://www.themorning.lk/unesco-world-heritage-status-being-sought-for-ritigala/
