The cabinet had decided yesterday to appoint Prof. P.B. Mandawala as the acting Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Said the Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. The Minister had extended these sentiments during a press briefing held at the Ministry premises this morning (31).
This appointment was made to fill the vacancy created after removal of the former Director General Prof. Senarath Disanayaka due to an ongoing inquiry. The inquiry commenced against the former Director General in the year 2014.
A journalist attended the briefing questioned the Minister whether a proposed Hotel Project in Sigiriya had provided essence to the removal of the Director General, in response the Minister said that he had never aided or abetted any activity regarding any Archaeological sensitive property. Further he said that all baseless allegations raised by several parties regarding the removal of the Director general has no validity.
The former Director General of Department of Archaeology Prof. Senarath Disanayaka had been transferred to the Ministry pool of officials pending further inquiry.
