News
DG Archaeology resigns over discord with govt.
Director General of the Department of Archaeology Prof. Anura Manatunga yesterday (12) tendered his resignation letter to Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake.
The resignation took place in the wake of President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing strong displeasure at the conduct of Prof. Manatunga over the acquisition of land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Sources said that there had been a dispute over the allocation of land to a particular archaeological site.
Prof. Manatunga was appointed to the topA post on 01 January, 2021 following Dr. Senarath Dissanayake’s retirement.
Sources said the President had asked Prof. Manatunga whether the latter was trying to teach him history, during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, where a group of MPs representing Tamil political parties were present.
Minister Wickramanayake confirmed that he had received Dr. Manatunga’s resignation letter on Friday.
