No. 51.— 1903.] 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
7 
The object, as stated last year, is to effectually afford permanent 
protection to the unique paintings of Sigiriya against the ravages of 
birds and flying insects. Suitable wire netting, when fixed in position, 
whilst warding off these destructive pests, will not mar the view of the 
paintings. 
Belated agitation for similar protection to the better-known paintings 
of the Ajanta Caves in India has only recently begun. 
Folonnaruwa, 
Operations were resumed at Polonnaruwa for the third season in 
May last. 
Weeding the area already excavated in 1900 and 1901, mainly the 
ruins (Audience Hall, &c.) situated within the promontory, occupied 
a fortnight or three weeks. 
Subsequently attention was given to continuing excavations around 
the Siva devale near the 25th milepost on the road from Minneriya. 
This devale was exposed last year. Forest trees and scrub jungle are 
so thick at Polonnaruwa that much felling and clearing was necessary, 
and proved slow work. By the end of September, however, the entire 
group of ruins had been excavated and opened out to view from the 
high road. 
This group consists of (a) Siva devale ; (b) a Vishnu devale ; (c) a 
kovil sacred to the goddess Kali. In plan and architectural details 
these shrines display little to differentiate the one from the other. 
All alike have a vestibule and sanctum ; the Siva devale alone possesses 
an intermediate room. They were brick-built, with stone pillars to 
support the roof where required. Stone figures of Vishnu^ Kali^ and the 
bull Nandi were found near their respective shrines. 
Besides these three fanes, this Hindu temple claimed at least three 
other buildings : {cl) a plain narrow structure crowning the summit of 
the rock hummock, on the west slope of which occurs the long 
inscription of King Nissa^ka Malla ; (e) a pillared building, oblong, 
within its own enclosed premises ; (/) a bold terraced building, on 
massive pillars, immediately adjoining the bund of the old Topa-vewa 
tank. 
This last ruin was perhaps once the principal residence of the eccle- 
siastics — first Buddhist monks, subsequently alien priests — after the 
conversion of the monastery into an extensive temple devoted to 
Hinduism. At the foot of the entrance stairs were exhumed two 
handsomely carved moonstones adorned with hansas and other orna- 
mentation. 
As in 1901, a large number of Moor villagers from the " Marakkala 
Pattuwa" of Tamankacluwa were engaged for a week in continuing to 
free the ancient city of the jungle in which it lies buried. The area 
dealt with in the past year extends for a width of two hundred to 
three hundred yards from the Rankot Yehera as far northwards as the 
Kiri Vehera. 
Council. 
Two Members of the Council of 1901, viz., Mr. A. Haly and the 
Hon. Mr. H. H. Cameron, are deemed to have retired in accordance 
with Rale 16. The vacancies in the Council have been filled by the 
appointments of Mr. J. C. Willis and Mr. H. White ; Mr. M. K. 
Bamber was elected in place of Mr. J. Ferguson, who was appointed 
a Vice-President. 
