SIDEWALL AT TEMPLE OF TOOTH TO BE REPAIRED

COLOMBO (News 1st): Steps will be taken to immediately repair the side-wall at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which collapsed due to heavy rains in Kandy on Wednesday (Jan. 06), the Department of Archaeology said on Friday (Jan. 08). The renovation activities will begin soon after discussions with the Mahanayake Thero and the Diyawadana Nilame, Prof. Anura Manatunga, the Director-General of Archaeology said. According to Prof. Manatunga, the side-wall was constructed in the 1980s by the Central Cultural Fund. Based on reports received so far, a portion of the wall extending close to 250 feet had collapsed, Prof. Manatunga added. "Since the part of the wall that collapsed is not an ancient ruin, there is no archaeological damage," the Director-General of Archaeology noted.