Wasps vs. ‘Apsaras’

Wasps seem to have taken over from the ‘apsaras’ at Sigiriya. They had always been there, occasionally creating a stir by attacking visitors who are then rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. And then they wasps are forgotten.

Less than a fortnight back it was reported that 40 wasp nets have been noticed along the Sigiriya rock. On two successive days during the past week there had been two episodes – one injuring 40 including four Bangladeshi Buddhist monks and a few Japanese tourists, and the second affecting 23.

Wasps were never an issue at the time we first climbed Sigiriya many decades ago. Warning notices have also been there asking visitors to quietly climb the rock without making noises that disturb the wasps. It has been a ‘let them also live’ attitude. Rarely did we hear of attacks. May be the crowds are much bigger now. There may be a tendency to reach the top quickly and in the process, youngsters in particular, may be forgetting about the wasps and the need to be quiet.

Sigiriya, anyway makes the news at regular intervals. It was not so long ago that it was reported that an inquiry was being held about using Sellotape over some frescoes causing damage when they were being removed. Earlier damages to some frescoes had been noticed and there was talk about foreign experts being invited to have a look and advise. 

Neglected

Then there were adverse reports in the media recently that the whole place is neglected and not looked after although the gate collections are much more than earlier. Particularly, foreigners are charged a handful and with high exchange rates, the revenue should be substantial. And Sigiriya is one of the most talked about places in the publicity campaigns abroad. If the word gets round that it’s in a filthy state, the damage is done.

“Would you like to visit a place in the sky where a living king was worshipped as a god?” was how Sigiriya was advertised in the Tourist Board campaign ‘Refreshingly Sri Lanka – Wonder of Asia’ a couple of years back. Whether the place is in the sky or otherwise, should not it be kept in topping condition?

The majestic Lion – the solitary gatehouse to the palace on the summit – has been described by the first Archaeological Commissioner, H.C.P. Bell thus: “The monstrous Simha – suggestive of the legendary founder of the Sinhalese race – towering majestically against the granite cliff, bright-coloured, and gazing northwards over a vista that stretches almost hill-less to the horizon, must have presented an awe-inspiring sight for miles around.”

Unique place

It is such a unique place that is not being taken care of, if media reports are correct (there is no reason why they should not be). A place incomparable to any other in the world, a national treasure, and one of Asia’s major archaeological sites, Senake Bandaranayake describes Sigiriya as “a unique concentration of fifth century urban planning, architecture, gardening, engineering, hydraulic technology and art.” We boast that it is a World Heritage Site and one among the few places that forms the UNESCO-sponsored Cultural Triangle. 

With all that, why are the authorities not taking enough interest to look after it? Are they not having enough financial and human resources? Shouldn’t the earnings be used first to maintain the place, make it a worthy place for tourists – both local and foreign – to visit and appreciate the country’s rich cultural and heritage, and above all, preserve such a treasure for posterity?