No. 43.— 1892.] PROCEEDINGS. 159 



of sacred buildings which prevailed in ancient Anuradha- 

 pura. In this view particular attention has been paid during 

 the past year to a fine monastery known as Vijayardma, buried 

 in forest, one mile and a half north of the Jetawanardma ruins, 

 the furthest bound of continuous clearing. The whole of the 

 monastery has been thoroughly excavated from end to end, and 

 much valuable information thus gained of the construction, 

 relative position, and inter-connection of the several shrines, 

 &c, within the monastery walls. The ancient road between 

 these ruins and Jetawanardma has been traced and surveyed, 

 as well as the still more important road which, according 

 to the Mahdwansa, connected Mihintale with the capital. 

 This latter discovery alone is of very great interest, and 

 shows that exploration is being pushed on steadily far afield. 

 Attention is also being devoted to other portions of the 

 ancient city and its environs, the Abhayagiri neighbourhood, 

 the recently cleared block of ruins at Pankuliya on the 

 banks of the Malwatu-oya, and a very extensive monastery 

 (quite the largest yet discovered outside Anuradhapura) two 

 miles away on the Jaffna road. 



In short, the expansion of the archaeological survey is alone 

 kept back by the comparatively small sum which can be 

 legitimately spared for such an object by the Ceylon Govern- 

 ment, having due regard to other more pressing Island needs. 

 An undertaking so vast as the complete excavation of Anu- 

 radhapura demands the expenditure of a large sum annually. 

 It would be well if some Antiquarian Society in Europe 

 willing and pecuniarily able to carry on the work would take 

 a practical interest therein, so that it might be conducted on 

 a far more extensive scale than is at present possible. 



Finances, 



The following is a statement of the income and expendi- 

 ture of the Society during the past year.* 



The Hon. Mr. Abdul Rahiman proposed the adoption of 

 the Report. 



Mr. Roles, in seconding it, inquired when they might ex- 

 pect to have a Catalogue of the Books. 



Mr. Senathi Raja, the Honorary Secretary, replied that 

 no steps had yet been taken to prepare a Catalogue, but they 

 hoped to be able to do so soon. 



Mr. Fernando next moved that the following gentlemen 

 be elected Office-Bearers for the current year : — 



* See page 204. 



