The conservation work in the historic Kanniya site has been stopped following orders by Trincomalee Government Agent (GA) and District Secretary N.A.A. Pushpakumara following protests.
He said:
“We have informed the Director General of Archaeology. He should take immediate steps to discuss with both sides, explain facts to them and take a final decision. For the time being I have given orders to halt the work by the Department as the clash this week almost came to serious violence and it looked as if it was going to escalate into a racial clash. So I had to stop it, but the land is gazetted under the Department of Archaeology and so the final decision is theirs.”