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It is important to have identified archaeological sites for undertaking conservation exhibition, research , excavations or whatever other work.
Archaeological sites and monuments will be recorded in detail and reports on such stations will be prepared and in urgent cases reports will be prepared very early.

All Exploration Officers including Mr. T.M.C. Bandara perform this task.
For enquiries contact telephone Number 011-2692840/41-Extension 211.

Reserved Archaeological Areas

Action in taken under the provision of the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9. of 1940. Details are given in sections 33, 34 and 35.

Section 33 of the Ordinance deals with the reserved archaeological areas. Commissioner of Archaeology shall, by a notice to be published in the gazette declare a specified area as a reserved archaeological area for archeological purposes with the approval of the Commissioner of Lands and if the Commissioner of Lands denies approval with the approval of the Minister in charge of the subject of Lands. Further any area of a state land reserved for archaeological purposes by a notice published in the gazette or otherwise prior to the effective date of this Ordinance shall also be considered as a reserved archaeological area. Every person other than the Archaeological Commissioner or a person acting under and in accordance with his direction, who clears or breaks up for cultivation or cultivates any part of an archaeological reserve or erects any building or structure upon any such reserve, fells or otherwise destroys any tree standing an any such reserve or otherwise encroaches on an any such reserve declared under Section 33 of the Antiquities Ordinance shall be liable to conviction after trial. Such action can be taken in respect of lands in which settlement work has been done or lands which have been acquired by the state.

Where no appeal has been preferred against the conviction of any person of an offence under Section 34 or where an appeal has been preferred and the Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction action may be taken to eject the person convicted from the archaeological reserve and to deliver the possession there of to the Archaeological Commissioner or his representative. The Fiscal or the Peace Officer shall make a report to the Magistrate’s Court, the manner as to how action is taken.

The Fiscal or Pease Officer or any officer authorized by either of them may use such force as may be necessary t eject the person convicted and to deliver possession of the archaeological reserve to the Archaeological Commissioner or his representative.

Thus action to be taken in relation to acquisition of lands is given in sections 33, 34 and 35 of the Antiquities Ordinance No. 09 of 1940.