The Department of Archaeology is moving forward with plans to preserve an ancient tunnel located near Ananda Sastralaya in Kotte, despite opposition from the school’s Past Pupil’s Association. The department intends to fell eight trees around the site to protect the tunnel and prevent rainwater accumulation, which could pose a health hazard by creating a breeding ground for dengue.
Professor Tusitha Mendis, Director General of the Department of Archaeology, explained to the Daily Mirror that the department plans to construct a canopy over the tunnel to prevent water buildup. “The collection of water can lead to a health hazard as it could become a breeding ground for dengue,” he said.
However, members of the Past Pupils Association strongly oppose the decision. Dilipa Mahesh, a senior member of the association, argued, “These trees are over 100 years old, and cutting them down is a crime.” He also expressed confusion, stating, “We were assured that only some branches of the trees would be felled, not the whole trees. We wonder why the Department has changed its stance.”
The tunnel itself has historical significance, believed to have possibly extended towards Fort Harbour. According to the Department of Archaeology, such tunnels were used as escape routes during periods of war and unrest, particularly by families and women of the kingdom. Some theories suggest that Princess Suriya Devi, wife of Prince Veediya Bandara and daughter of King Mayadunne of Sitawaka, may have built the tunnel to free her husband from the dungeons of the Portuguese in Colombo Fort. Excavations at Bristol Street in Fort suggest that parts of this tunnel complex might still exist.
In 2014, excavations at Ananda Sastralaya uncovered a unique chamber carved into kabook rock, complete with a stupa. This structure, with a circumference of 11 feet, is notable for its construction method—carved entirely from the top down. The chamber, measuring 18×35 feet, also contains a set of 12 steps leading down to the floor of the stupa, which is about 11 feet below the natural ground level. The entire site is of considerable archaeological and historical importance.
