President Rajapaksa inspects the dis-coloured Sigiriya frescoes.
Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Sigiriya, the Eighth Wonder of the world, to examine the white coloured stains that have occurred on the Sigiriya frescoes. Last week it was revealed that the white coloured stains had occurred after a certain chemical was applied on the frescoes by the Archaeological Department.
After the revelation of the current state of the frescoes, President Mahinda Rajapaksa engaged in an inspection tour in Sigiriya heritage site to see himself the frescoes this morning on 23rd August. He was accompanied by Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs, Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, Wimal Rupasinghe, Secretary to the Cultural Ministry along with several other officials of the Department of Archeology.
The officials were advised by the President to look into the matter seriously which is facing a new threat, a risk of being dis-coloured. He further appealed the assistance of veteran artists and other professionals be sought to preserve the world famous Sigiriya frescoes. The Sigiriya rock of fortress was built during the reign of King Kassapa I in 477- 495 AD.
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damsals may surely shy to see royals in full suits………………..
There are experts in the West and even in the Vatican who are able to restore and preserve murals in their countries. Perhaps the gradual discolouration of the murals over many centuries is a natural occurance that needs to be solved by experts in the field from the West. We need to harness their expertise through UNESCO perhaps, as a World Heritage sight for future generations. We need also to cover the whole murals/frescos with crystal clear polycarbonate which is 200 times stronger than glass which does not get discoloured through strong sunlight, once the murals have been restored of discolouration by treatment by Western experts.