Sinhala- ised Kanniya Hot springs Area– its history also distorted

The photograph you see above is the ticket for entering the Kanniya Hot Springs area in Trincomalee. The history of Kanniya hot springs had been distorted and it had been printed on this ticket that the Kanniya hot springs were in use during the Anuradhapura period, and as proved by Archaeological evidences, these hot springs are located in a Buddhist premises. It is notable that this ticket and others like it are being issued by the Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

As per Tamil traditions, Ten-headed Ravana had drawn his sword thrusted it in seven places to get water for the last rites of his dead mother and the hot springs formed in those places.

Post war periods have seen this hot springs transform into a tourist spot attracting tourists. In last few day activities to transform this area into a Sinhala had been put into top gear.

The sign board which also contained information also in Tamil had been removed and new boards with information in English and Sinhala only had been planted. Several Buddha statues had been placed in this area and several Bo trees also being planted.