Waulpone Rock Cave
Vandals destroy rock caves
Waulpone, the 'legendary Rock Cave' with the unexpected archaeological
evidence of a civilisation, tens of thousand years old, running back
to the time of the "Balangoda Man" is again, in the
grips of a new menace, the illegal gemming activities.
The ancient rock-caves with vast stretches of wilderness, set in a panoramic
view, is fast losing its tourist - potentials and historical value, with
the pleasing prospects of the environment, under the axe of the wood-cutter,
the tools of gemmers and the dynamites of the treasure-hunters, according
to reports. The stream that flows through the front entrance to the cave
with the cool, silvery water providing a pleasant surprise to the way-weary
visitors, has lost its charm through the indiscriminate mass gemming operations
affecting the immediate environment and the bed of the stream, dug and
overturned.
The 'pencil-columns' of 'stalactite' and 'stalagmite' formed by the
age-old lime stones, over the years, an inch of which according to scientific
calculations, would take hundred years to grow, are indeed a rare gift
of nature peculiar to the cave to be saved from wanton destruction.
The glistening boulders of marble-rocks lying scattered around the back
of the caves, gave it an added value which enhanced both the local and
foreign tourist interest in Waulpone. 'Balangoda Man', unearthed, at the
'Batadomba Lena, at Kuruwita, in 1986 by Dr. Shiran Deraniyagala, estimated
30,000 years old, could, indeed, be traced to Waulpone, as well, a possible
abode of the 'early settler' who derived his historical apalation from
'Balangoda' (or vice-versa), if excavations were undertaken according
to archaeological sources.
The findings of the Batadomba Lena had conclusively proved that 'Micro-thic'
stone implements had existed at Batadomba Lena, where Balangoda Man had
lived, thousands of years ago, debunking the archaeological view that
such implements existed only in European countries. But such evidence
might also be found in Waulpone as well, if excavations were undertaken
the sources held.
Netherlands, in 1986 financed a roadway to facilitate communication
in the neglected village realizing the value of the ancient cave, through
representations of the lovers of nature, from that country visiting the
place. But the local authorities, has failed to follow up the international
support due to the negligence of the forest conservation authorities in
charge of the area, leaving the access road, in bad disrepair.
But now it has become imperative that the authorities call an 'immediate
halt' to the mining menace and put the historical cave in good repair,
to reclaim, the hitherto lost grounds in developing the place, as a tourist
attraction, for saving from complete ruin, a rich heritage for the country,
a fine and rare handiwork of nature, for the connoisseur of 'natural beauty'
and a perennial source of income and foreign exchange for the State.
The services of both archaeologists, geologists, ecologists and environmentalists
back by a research program of development under provincial authorities
with the assistance of the Central Government, alone can save Waulpone
for the posterity. Considering the apparent and real significance of the
cave and its surroundings, 'it is remarkable', that the authorities had
not even put up a decent identification board for the information of the
public.
The only available board, now almost disfigured, set up at the place,
is the one from the 'Parisara Mithuro' children Society of Waulpone, old
and unimpressive.
by P. D. A. S. Gunasekera
SUNDAY OBSERVER - 23 May 2004
Created : March 22, 2009
Updated :
March 22, 2009
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