Police have launched investigations into the alleged blasting of the boulder covering the cave which is believed to have housed the remains thought to be of a local princess, Sugala Devi dating back to the 12th century A.D. and the stealing of the jewelry encased with the remains.
It had been previously uncovered that the cave located in the village of Meewathpura in Mahaweli C zone was the final resting place of the remains of Sugala Devi, who lived during the time of King Parakramabahu of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
Residents in the area have complained to the police that a group of individuals searching for Sugala Devi’s remains, under the guise of operating a rock quarry, had discovered the remains which they had taken to a wooded area and burned, after extracting the jewelry.
They also claim that the Department of Archaeology had issued a permit for the individuals in question to operate the rock quarry.
