{ 156 ) 
Tcgret of the Goanoil that other more argent cUima 
on pnblie moneys have prevented ihe provision of 
fvLU&B for the extecaion of the Mnsenm." The Conncil 
hope that the extension of the Mnsenm will efaortly be 
vbdertaken and by thia means the necessary relief 
•will be afforded. Want of room for shelf accommoda- 
tion is proving a serions hindrance to the development 
and extensian of the Library. 
ARCHiEOLOGICAL. 
The Conncil has, as usual, been f avonred with a brief 
■ammary of the work done by the Arcbseological 
Survey in 1903. Operations were steadily prosecuted 
daring the past year at Anuradhapura. Sigitija, and 
Polonnarnva. 
Anuradhapura. — Mirisavetiya area — Excavations in 
the Mirisavetiya area were Bystematically continued. 
The unearthing of the ruins (Vihares, Firivenas, etc.) 
elnstered round the dagaba is a comparatively easy 
task, from the similarity and simple character of the 
baildings, Bnt the excavation of the porticos and 
walls of the inner and outer quadrangle is proving 
Tery heavy digging, owing to the masses of debris 
thoughtlessly piled outside the mahcva of the dsgaba 
when it was cleared in 1886. Consequently, progress 
towards the completion of the area has been slower 
thnn was anticipated, and is likely to be- retarded 
VBtil the enclosing walls and four mandapas of the 
dagaba are laid bare. The excavation of the banf- 
aotue north mandopa, or portico, and of the north 
walls, inter and outer, of the dagaba quadrangle, were 
finished last year ; and have repaid the time spent upon 
them. The stone-built portico is in excellent preserva- 
tion. It is connected to a stone-revetted basement wall 
which served as a wide gangway outside the regular 
slab wall of the paved maluva. The gangway and 
npper encircling wall have been carefully 
reset, as far as practicable, along the entire North 
face of the quadrangle. When the other three sides 
are eimilarly treated the approaches to the dagaba, 
and its general appearance, will be greatly improved. 
Vihare in Hutanveli- 7'huparama Area. — One of 
the finest of the ancient Yihares of Anuradhapura 
lies a little South of the Thuparama Dagaba. It 
stands out pre-eminent from the generality of the 
znins of this area, in the massiveness of its moulded 
basement slabs, and specially, for the fine moonstone 
and quaintly ornamented balustrades of the entrance 
stairs. The chaos of its slabs testified to the mighty 
convulsive power of the forest trees which formerly 
covered the site. In 1891 this Vihare was taken in 
band for restoration, gutted to its foundations, and 
all slabs and broken pillars laid outside ready to be 
replaced. Last year the ruin was partially rebuilt on 
the old lines ; and the restoration will be completed 
gradually. 
Clearing Jungle. — The share of the vote of R4,000 
for clearing jungle in and. around Anuradhapnrai 
allotted to the Archaeological Commissioner, was 
expended in clearing undergrowth at Vessagiriya, in 
the Abhayagiriya Area, and at a few other points. 
But the main expenditure of 1903 was incurred in 
the roofing-out of jungle on the Arippu Boad, near 
llirisaveti Dagaba. It ia in this direction that 
official residences will most advantageously be built 
as the town grows in importance. 
Sigiriya The citadel on the summit of the rock, the 
terraces at its base, and the oaves and islands within 
the ancient city, were weeded and cleaned, as in 
previous years. Undergrowth not cleared for two 
seasons was cut and burnt over most of the city 
area, and on the Mapagala Bocks to the South. The 
restoration of the ancient gallery has now reached 
the foot of the limestone steps of the head of the 
gallery staircase leading to the highest terrace on 
the North front of the rock. The wide gap in 
the gallery between the iron bridge and these steps 
had to be bnilt up and stepped almost from the 
Jiottom. The steps at this point, owing to the rock 
conformation are awkwardly cramped and tortuous, 
bat terminate in a wide straight staircase above 
The !|work on the remainiog portion of the stair'- 
case and flanking wall will be finished this season. 
Attention can then be given to the " Lion-stair- 
case-house " at the foot of the ladders and 
rail to the summit, which needs strengthening 
in places. All difficulties have, at length, been over-- 
come in the case of the larger of the two united 
fresco pockets. At the edge of the cave a concrete 
bed has been laid with a handrail, iron standard let 
into the rock floor and roof, and suitable wire- 
netting stretched across. The smaller pocket is less 
acceEsible. It will be somewhat similarly protected, 
but the fixing of the iron frame-v/ork and netting 
involves even greater difficulty and danger than already 
experienced. By the end of the present season it 
is hoped that the unique paintings of Sigiriya will 
have been for ever guarded against the invasion of 
swallowi!, bamharu, and mason bees. 
Folonnaruva. — The ArcfaKological Commissioner an- 
nually takes personal charge of the operations at 
Polonnsruva during the dry months, whilst hie 
Assistant carries on work at Anuradhapura. From 
May till September of last year — the fourth season 
— good work was done at one of the more important 
groups of ruins. This cluster is situated east of 
Topavewa lake, and directly north of the citadel 
and miscalled " Dalada Maligava " ruin. All 
the buildings stand upon a highly raised quadrangle 
entered through porches on the west and east sides. 
This group of ruins was thoroughly excavated in 1903. 
Thuparama — Large masses of hard brick and 
mortar debris had to be removed from the front of the 
building and within its vestibule and sanctum. This 
magnificent building — the sole known example in the 
Island with arched roof still nearly intact — though- 
now quite accessible, is in a critical condition, roof 
and walls exhibiting gaping cracks ominous of 
imminent collapse.^ The Vihare once contained a- 
large sedeut image of Buddha (brick bnilt), besides 
many smaller figures. 
PF atorfo^e— Thill circular structure is unrivalled in 
Ceylon. The central dagaba surrounded by rows 
of slender stone pillars (recalling Lankarama 
Dagaba at Anuradhapura) and a high brick 
and an ornamental slab wall, standing on a 
moulded basement, figured with lions and dwarfs, 
above a spacious lower platform. Much of this ruin 
was buried under earth and debris. Excavation round 
the dagaba revealed many broken pillars and remains 
of four AsaTM placed at its cardinal points, besides 
portions of the images which once rested npon them. 
The whole ruin has been freed of debris, its slab 
wall partially reset and one of the four broken images 
laboriously pieced together and replaced in situ. A- 
colossal standing image of Buddha unearthed at 
Vihare No 2 was also set np on its pedestal ; and a 
statue of a King (perhaps NissanJca Malta), found near 
the west porch, erected in the central building of 
the group. 
No Moor villagers were employed in 1903 to cut 
jungle. The Sinhalese gang cleared the undergrowth 
over the western half of the walled city besides trac- 
ing ancient roads, etc. 
It is proposed to commence a detailed topographical 
survey of the ruins of Pulasiipura" (Polonnarnva 
this year. 
i5pj()'m;B^.V— The first number (Vol I, Parti) of the 
"Epigrapbia Zeylanica" has been issued, in a neat and 
scholarly form, by Mr D M De Z Wickremeainghe. 
Finances. — The receipts during the past year 
amounted to B2,316'68, compared with Bl,562'25 in 
1902. The year began with an overdraft of B359'42, 
but Bl.OOO was on fixed deposit. The nett amount 
to the credit of the Society was thus Bl,140-68. The 
closing balance is B931'77. 
A special report for the preservation of the 
building, with full drawings, has been submitted to ■ 
the Government by Mr L M Aclaud, Provincial 
Engineer of the N C P, 
