Role of Religious Communities
in the Management of World
Heritage Properties
Sri Lankan Experience
Prasanna B. Ratnayake
www.archaeology.gov.lk
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is an Island, South to Indian Sub
continent
Area – 65000 Sq. Km
20 million Population
70% Buddhists
15% Hindus
7.5% Islamic
7.5 Catholics
Archaeological Heritage is Managed by
the Department of Archaeology under the
Antiquities Ordianance
World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka
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Cultural Sites
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Sacred City of Anuradhapura (Inscribed in 1982)
Ancient City of Sigiriya (Inscribed in 1982)
Sacred City of Polonnaruwa (Inscribed in 1982)
Sacred City of Kandy (Inscribed in 1988)
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (Inscribed in 1988)
Golden Temple of Dambulla (Inscribed in 1991)
Natural Sites
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Sinharaja Natural Forest Reserve (Inscribed in 1988)
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (Inscribed in 2010)
Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Ancient City of Sigiriya
Sacred City of Polonnaruwa
Sacred City of Kandy
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Golden Temple of Dambulla
Management of World Heritage
(Cultural)Sites in Sri Lanka
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Legal Authorities–
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Under the Antiquities ordinance- Department of
Archaeology
Management is supported by Central Cultural Fund
Ownerships
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Temple Authorities,
Government
Building owners ( Galle)
Level of involvement in the Management by
the religious community
Property
Institutional
Involvement
Community
Involvement
Religious
Community
Involvement
Anuradhapura
High
High
High
Polonnaruwa
High
Low
Low
Sigiriya
High
Medium
Low
Kandy
High
High
High
Dambulla
High
Low
High
Galle
High
High
Nil
Type of religious Involvement
Property
Type of religious Involvement
Anuradhapura
Ownership
Rituals
Pilgrims’ needs (Local)
Kandy
Ownership
Continuing Traditions
Maintenance needs
Pilgrims’ needs (Local and Foreign)
Political Patronage
Dambulla
Ownership
Rituals
Development Needs
Property Management
Religious Involvement
All three sites are related to
Buddhism
Buddhism in Sri Lanka
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Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in 3rd
Century BC by Arahant Mahinda, son of
Emperor Asoka
Buddhism in
Sri Lanka
The Buddhist traditions
were strengthened after the
visit of Arahant Sangamitta,
daughter of Emperor Asoka,
who brought the sapling of
Sacred Bodhi tree,
together with 18 different
groups of people skilled in
various arts and crafts.
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Buddhism as a philosophy
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Buddha was born in Lumbini in present Nepal and attained
enlightenment and in 6th century BC.
His teachings is Known as Dhamma.
His teachings are continuing by the monks, who are called Sangha.
Buddha, dhamma. Sanga known as
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Triple Gem in Buddhism: Most precious
Tradition of Pilgrimage
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In Maha Parinibbana Sutta ( The story of the Buddha’s demise)
advocates pilgrimages to four places
 The Buddha’s birth place - Lumbini
 Where he attained enlightenment – Bodh-Gaya
 Place he delivered first discourse - Isipathana
 Where the death occurred - Kusinara
Buddhist Heritage
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Buddhist Heritage can be understood in three
categories
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Intellectual – The plethora of writings containing the teachings
of the Buddha
Intangible –The rituals, and other forms of acts of the followers
of the faith
Tangible – the ritual buildings, monasteries, sculptures and
paintings
Three kinds of Shrines in
Buddhism
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The Bodhi Tree (Ficus
religiosa) – The tree which
provided shelter for Buddha in
enlightenment
The Stupa – where keep the
bodily relics of Buddha or the
followers who attained the
highest status ( Arahant)
The Image – Is the symbolic
representation of Buddha
Buddha’s teachings on Monasteries
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The Code of discipline (Vinaya)
– Provides guidelines on Constructing Monastic
Buildings
– It allows Monks to involve in repair works of
monasteries
– It describes that dilapidated buildings are not suitable
for the meditative life of Monks
Manjusri Vastuvidyasasthra ( 6th Century AD)
– Contains twenty seven typical monastic plans
Mayamata( An Indian literature)
– Contains a Chapter on restoration
Traditional Conservation - 6 century AD
A temple (may be) ruined, broken
down, fallen down, aged as to its
materials or decrepit. Those (temples)
whose characteristics are still
perceptible in their principal and
secondary elements (are to be
renovated) with their own materials.
If they are lacking in anything or have
some similar type of flaw, the sage
wishing to restore them, (must
proceed in such a way that) they
regain their integrity and that they
are pleasantly arranged (anew); this
(is to be done) with the dimensions height and width – which were theirs,
with decorations consisting of corner,
elongated and other aedicule, without
anything being added (to what
originally existed) and always in
conformity with the advice of the
knowledgeable
Traditional Conservation- 9TH century INSCRIPTION
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[There shall be] clever stone-cutters and
skilful carpenters in the village devoted to
the work of [temple] renewal.
They all… shall be experts in their
[respective] work.
….shall be granted to the officer who
superintends work.
…his respective duties, shall be recorded in
the register.
…….they alone shall be answerable for its
correctness.
The limit [of time] for the completion of
work is two months and five days.
Blame [shall be attributed to] … who do
not perform it according to arrangement.
The local experience
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The Mahavamsa (Great
Chronicle) says about more
than 100 incidents of repairing,
restoration and renewal of
monastic buildings
The first stupa in Sri Lanka (The
Thuparama ) Built in 3rd century
BC, has renovated more than 16
times.
It was a foremost duty of a
newly crowned king to repair or
renew a monastic building
It is a meritorious act
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The Buddhists consider constructing
monastic buildings and attending to
repairs as meritorious acts.
– The restoration of religious
buildings was regarded as being so
meritorious that, according to an
inscription, monk sacrified his
ration of food for the restoration
of Jethawana stupa
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Epigraphia Zelanica – 3. 132 1956
Restoration was a Responsibility
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King Parakramabahu ( 1153-1186 AD) sent a minister in
charge of restoration to Anuradhapura
King Nissankamalla ( 1187-1196 AD)appointed officer in
charge of restoration
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The post “Loke Arrakmena” in the inscription has been
translated ias “ chief conservator of Monuments”
King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1780 AD)sent a
mission to repair the ruined temples in Anuradhapura
A King who had neglected the Thuparama Stupa was
threatened in a dream that, if the repairs were not
attended the relics would be removed from.
Maintenance
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The properties were granted to the monasteries for its regular
maintenance.
These were protected by law
People had to pay taxes for occupying in those lands by
contributing the regular maintenance, both in tangible and
intangible aspects.
This is practiced even today .
Maintenance
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An inscription describes how to protect these lands
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To the villages, royal officers and irrigation officers
shall not enter. Those of the archery department, the
tax officers, headmen in charge of districts and of
provinces shall not enter. The employees of two
offices, deruwana, perelaki, archers, guards, and those
of the paid services shall not enter. Carts, oxen,
laborers, imposts of cooked and raw rice, and
periodical gifts of milk and oil should not be
taken….having forbidden the entry of the aforesaid
persons, we, two of us ( the two officers who planted
the pillar) have given to these villages the immunities
(sanctioned by) the council
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Epigraphia Zeylanica – VOL 3, 105
Present Management issues
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Anuradhapura
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Properties are owned by the monks
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There are various rituals and festivals
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Occasional facilities have to be provided
Pilgrims’ needs have to be fulfilled
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There are different requirements
There are more than 2 million pilgrims visit on th efull
moon day of June
Traditional maintenance systems are weak in practice
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The area was abandoned for five centuries (12-17)
Main festival in June (Poson)
It is reported that more
than 2 million pilgrims
come to worship
Anuradhapura in full
moon of June every
year to commemorate
the visit of Arhant
Mahinda
Restoration Needs
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As per the Buddhist ritualistic practices there is a strong
request to restore the Buddhist monuments from the
community
Ruwanweliseya – Before Restoration
Ruwanweliseya – After Restoration
The spiritual feeling
There is a clear difference in rituals in these two
places
Ruwanweliseya
Jethawana Stupa – The World’s
Highest
Present Management issues
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Dambulla
– Property is owned by the priests
– There are different modern needs from
the management
– Conservation of Mural paintings is less
attended
Present Management issues
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Kandy
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Ownership and Management is with the Priests and the temple
Authorities
Visited by thousands of Pilgrims daily, both Local and foreign
Being a major tourist attraction there are several requirements
to cater them.
The annual cultural pageant (Perahera) attracts thousands of
people, throughout the month of August, and there are
various facilities to be provided for them
Still surviving traditional maintenance system, Both Tangible
and Intangible contradicts with the legal frameworks
Political Interference and influence is High
Present Management issues
Kandy: pilgrimage is an issue
Management issues
at present
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Kandy: religious needs are part
of the heritage
Management issues
at present
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Kandy: Highest political patronage due to
religious significance
Conclusions
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Religious community has played an important role in
managing heritage
We need to understand traditional management
systems
We need a greater dialogue with the religious
community
We need to account for the needs of the religious
community
We need to evolve new joint management systems
together with the religious communities for sustaining
heritage
•References
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Past is in the present…. G. Wijesuriya - to be distributed
The End
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Thank you for your attention