Prehistoric Sri Lankans consumed rice 48 000 years ago

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Excavations at Pahiyangala cave and the surrounding areas revealed that the prehistoric man who inhabited Sri Lanka 48,000 years ago consumed rice. Director of Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya, Dr T.R Premathilake noted this was revealed as a result of a wide excavation program which was carried out for over 10 years with the collaboration of the University of Pondicherry in India and the University of Liverpool in the UK. He added that the discovery is a vital fact in comprehending Sri Lanka's expertise in agriculture since ancient times and human settlement.