No. 62. — 1909.] ANNUAL REPORT. 



285 



supported by struts jumped into the Rock), has been strongly- 

 fixed at some height above the Gallery at the point where water 

 fell on it.* 



What remains of the Gallery at Sigiri ds now fully protected 

 overhead along its entire stretch. 



Menikdena. 



The Sinhalese gang was detached for a while to clear ruins at 

 " Menikdena-nuwara" (so called) near Embulambe, about seven 

 miles from Dambulla in the Matale District. An extensive 

 Buddhist monastery (styled Budgam Vehera on an inscribed slab 

 discovered on the spot) flourished at this site in the tenth or 

 eleventh centuries. Remains of a massively pillared vihare, a 

 substantial dagaba, and other buildings exist. 



Epigraphical Work. 



No new part of the Epigraphia Zeylanica has appeared since 

 the issue of Parts II. and III. early last year. Responsibility 

 for the issue of his Publication has, since 1908, been transferred 

 to authorities in England, who have undertaken to supervise 

 Mr. Wickremesinghe's work. Mr. Wickremesinghe has* ample 

 materials in his hands — some sixty inscriptions and upwards — 

 for several more Parts of the Epigraphia Zeylanica. 



The copying of further inscriptions within the Island, both as 



eye-copies and " estampages," has been steadily carried on during 



the past year by the Archaeological Survey Department. All 



known lithic records of the Central Province were copied by the 



end of 1908. The stock of inscription " squeezes " thus collected 



is being gradually photographed, before the paper copies become 



damaged or mislaid. _. 



Council. 



Under Rule 16 Messrs. C. M. Fernando and A. M. Gunasekara, 

 Mudaliyar, had to retire by seniority, and Dr. A. J. Chalmers and 

 the Hon. Mr. G. M. Fowler, C.M.G., by least attendance, but two 

 of these gentlemen being eligible for re-election, Messrs. C. M. 

 Fernando and A. M. Gunasekara were re-elected, and the vacancies 

 in the Council were filled by the appointment of Messrs. J. 

 Parsons, B.Sc, and H. W. Codrington, B.A., CCS. 



Mr. P. Arunachalam having been elected a Vice-President, his 

 place in the Council was filled by the appointment of Mr. E. R. 

 Goonaratna, Gate Mudaliyar. 



The vacancy caused by the death of Dr. W. H. de Silva was 

 filled by the appointment of Mr. R. C. Kailasapillai, Mudaliyar. 



The Veddas. 



The trained Anthropologist, Dr. Seligmann, who, on the represen- 

 tation of the Council of this Society and the exertions of Mr. John 

 Ferguson, President, and Dr. A. Willey, F.R.S., Vice-President, 



* For the erection of this substantial fender, involving ever-present 

 risk to life during its construction, great credit is due to the Sinhalese 

 village blacksmith who carried through, with perfect success, an 

 extremely difficult and dangerous piece of work. 



