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A signboard referring to the “Kandarodai Vihara” has been removed following a resolution adopted by the Jaffna–Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha to officially identify the area as the “Kandarodai Archaeological Research Centre.”
The decision follows the Pradeshiya Sabha’s identification of the areas in Kandarodai where viharas are claimed to exist as an archaeological research zone, rather than a Buddhist religious site. The resolution emphasised that the location should be recognised for its historical and archaeological significance.
Along the Jaffna–Kankesanthurai Road, near Chunnakam market, a private insurance company had previously installed a directional signboard indicating “Kandarodai Vihara.” Following the Pradeshiya Sabha’s decision, steps were taken to remove all roadside signage using that designation.
Accordingly, the signboard erected in the Chunnakam area has now been taken down.
The site supposedly dates back to the Dutch colonial period. A trilingual inscription outlining its historical importance has been displayed at the site, highlighting its recognised heritage value.
The move comes amid broader concerns raised in recent years over the reclassification of Tamil archaeological and heritage sites in the North-East, particularly through the imposition of Sinhala Buddhist identifiers, and reflects continuing efforts by local authorities to assert historically grounded designations for such locations.
