PART SEVEN the Eastern Province
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Preliminary Survey of Tsunami-affected Monuments and Sites in the Maritime Region of Sri Lanka PART SEVEN The Eastern Province Prof. S. Maunaguru and The Faculty of Arts and Culture Eastern University of Sri Lanka March 2005 INTRODUCTION The Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, affected by the tsunami of 26 December 2004 lie on the East Coast. If the three affected districts on the East Coast are taken together, they account for more then 50 percent of the total displacement that occurred along the Sri Lankan coastline as a result of the tsunami. According to official figures up to January 2005, the largest number IDPs are from the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts. The Eastern University of Sri Lanka, which is located in Vantharumoolai, Batticaloa, was indirectly affected mostly because the students and staff of the Faculty of Arts and Culture were badly affected by the disaster. One third of the students were severely affected and some of them still live in camps for displaced persons. Of the members of the academic staff, 12 were severely affected and some are still living away from their homes. It took awhile for the staff to be able to get involved in academic work again. Due to this very difficult situation, the survey of damaged cultural property was not possible till March according to the request made by ICOMOS, Sri Lanka. This is also due to difficulties with transport as many roads and bridges are still in a dilapidated condition and the roads towards the coast in some places are still blocked by piles of garbage created by the tsunami. However, we were able to cover the three districts recently but need to emphasize that this is not a comprehensive survey covering all the sites in the three districts since we were unable to travel along the coastline of 267 kilometers, which is more than one third of the total coastline of Sri Lanka within the short time stipulated. The sites, which are covered in Trincomalee District, are those in and around the town. The places north and south of this area have not been listed in this survey. In the Ampara District, the sites, which are situated between Arugam Bay and Panama, have not been listed. Hence, these limitations should be noted by any agencies that would like to use this survey. This survey was carried out with the help of Ms. S. Ponniah and Mr. S. Varnagulasingam of the Department of Geography and Mr. B. Sugumar and Mr. Thayaparan of the Department of Fine Arts. Trincomalee District Kandasamy Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 150m Damage shows a water mark of 1 foot. Pathira Kali Amman Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Town Street Distance from the sea: 500m The temple was not damage much, a water mark of 2 feet remains. It was built in 1898. Kannaki Amman Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: 242A Sally Distance from the sea: 10m Water mark: 4 ft Damage: Though the temple is very close to the sea it seems that the waves did not affect the temple. Verukalambathy Kandasamy Kovil District: Trincomalee DS Division: Echilampattu GS Division: Verukal Distance from the sea: 1 km Old Commissioner Office District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 60 meters Shows a watermark of 2ft. It was built in 1940 and has been derelict for some time. Old Library District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 10 m Address: Trincomalee. Has a watermark of 4ft and the building has suffered some damage. At present it has been functioning as an elders’ home. It was built in 1950. MPCS Ltd Store District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 10 m Address: Trincomalee. The building has a watermark of 4ft and some damage. It was built in 1730 and is now derelict. Museum (D.S Office) District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 20 m It is located on Inner Harbour Road, Trincomalee. There is a watermark of 2ft in the building which was built in 1820. Christian Cemetery District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 750 m Located on Dockyard Road, Trincomalee it was built in 1790. Old G.A Bungalow District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 80 m Built in 1945 Town Hall District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 50 m It is located on Fort Road, Trincomalee. The building suffered some damage and has a watermark of 2 ft. It was first built in 1940. Batticaloa District The Old Lighthouse or Moddai Kori DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Palameen Madu Grama Niladari unit (No: 1) The Moddai Kori is located 350 meters from the sea. The sea is on the north east of the monument. The structure is built of red brick and lime with an iron girder placed on top. The height is about 25 feet. The monument is partly damaged. On the western side, close by, lies Thirai Madu which has been selected as a resettlement area to build permanent shelters for those displaced due to the tsunami. The structure itself is situated on private land. Catholic Church - Kappalanthi Matha Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Amirthakali GN Unit. (27) This monument is located within 800 meters of the sea and 15 meters from the Batticaloa Lagoon. The church was built in 1808 and rebuilt as a larger structure in 1822. It is built of red brick, limestone and various other materials. It was damaged before the tsunami. However the tsunami waves also affected the church and further damage has been caused. Kadalaachi Amman Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Navalady-171 A. The kovil is located 100 meters from the sea and 250 meters from the lagoon. It is situated between the sea and the lagoon on a small strip of land, and faces the sea. The temple was built in 1941. The temple is completely destroyed; the statues, pillars and other parts of the temple have been thrown all over the vicinity. The deity in this temple has been considered as the guardian goddess of the sea. This temple is a “sadangu kovil” which “opens the door” once a year. Batticaloa Fort DS Division: Manmunai North. GN: Puliyanthivu North Unit (12) 1000 meters from the sea and 35 meters from the lagoon, the sea and the lagoon are on the eastern side of the Fort. The water level of the lagoon rose due to the tsunami and came up to the walls, but there was no damaged as the Fort is very well built. The Kachcheri Office of the District Secretary is situated within the Fort. Some parts of the building have already been altered for office use. Koddaimunai Avuliya - (Burial Site of a Muslim Saint) D.S Division: Manmunai North G.N Division: Arasady –177a This mosque is situated about a kilometer from the sea on Lady Manning Drive, Batticaloa. It is 20 meters away from the Batticaloa Lagoon in which the tsunami caused waves and a corresponding rise in the water level. Water came into the compound and outer hall. This monument was built about 200 years ago. According to the oral history, the land had been given by an old woman who was living in the vicinity to bury the saint’s body. Later another Tamil who was living there built the structure. The site lies in a Muslim-Tamil neighbourhood. It is worshipped by both Muslims and Tamils. Unlike in mosques, flowers and oil lamps are used here to worship. Women also enter the outer hall of the mosque. This monument is a rare multicultural site. Extent of Damage: Due to the waves and the rise of the water level in the lagoon, the water came into the building. The paint on the walls has been damaged. Arasady Pillaiyar Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North MN GN Division: Arasady 177a This kovil is situated near the Batticaloa market on the corner of Market Road and Arasady Pillaiyar Kovil Road. It is one kilometer from the sea and 100 meters north-west of the Batticaloa lagoon. The temple was built over ninety years ago. The history of the temple is interwoven with the history of the settlement of people from Jaffna near the market. Damage: water came into the temple. There is a water mark on the outer wall of the temple office. Nagathambiran Kovil DS Division: Manmunai Pattu GN Division: Kirankulam North -24 The kovil is situated on Beach Road, Kirankulam, and 1500 meters away from the sea. The temple is about 60 years old according to local villagers. It is built with red brick, cement and clay. Damage: water came into the temple. It has been partly damaged. Kallup Pillaiyar (Statue) DS Division: Manmunai South Eruvil Pattu GN Division: Kurukkal Madam North –24 This statue is situated on the Kalmunai Road, Kurukkal Madam. It is located about 600 meters from the sea. The statue measuring 3 feet and 9 inches was excavated about 50 years back when the ground was prepared for beetle leaf cultivation. In the same vicinity there were 10 stones measuring 2 feet in height. Three round stones were also found. Despite the distance from the sea, water came into the site.