Sagama Seya – The Bulldozed Archaeological Site – ඌරක්කායේ නටඹුන් සාගම සෑය පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය

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How the larHow the largest Stupa of Gamini Tissa Monastery known as the Sagama Seya has been bulldozed by the Muslims gest Stupa of Gamini Tissa Monastery has been bulldozed by the Muslims

How the largest Stupa of Gamini Tissa Monastery known as the Sagama Seya has been bulldozed by the Muslims
Image source : damithah.wordpress.com

Sagama Seya is believed to be part of the Gamini Tissa Monastery which is a large Buddhist monastery complex which has existed from the per-christian times in the Ampara District. This stupa is much larger than the stupa which was completely bulldozed at Mottagala. This massive stupa was bulldozed through the center across its relic chambers by unscrupulous elements in 2012. The 2000 year old stupa was destroyed beyond restoration and the relics of the relic chambers were stolen. The bulldozing of Sagama stupa as well as bulldozing of the Mottagala stupa caused a uprising of the buddhist clergy who exposed a much larger systematic destruction of the Buddhist heritage in the east.

This stupa lies in middle of Muslim owned paddy fields in the area known as Urakkai. All the relics have been stolen but due to the intervention of the small Buddhist community in Akkaraipattu, the total destruction of the stupa has been avoided. By the time police apprehended 7 suspects along with a bulldozer, they have been digging through the stupa for 3 continuous days.

Subsequently, the police recovered a golden casket, a marble casket, 8 rings and 31 beads which has been stolen from the relic chambers of the stupa.

The ruins of the Sagama Stupa was finally designated as a protected archaeological site by the Government with the Gazette issued on 10th October 2014, and describes the location as follows;

“Sagama Chaitya belonging to Urakawattei village situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 11/C, Sagama of Thirukkovil Divisional Secretariat in Ampara District in Eastern Province. (latitude 07º 08′ 24” N and longitude 081º 49′ 24” E).”

Photos of the bulldozed Sagama Seya site

Photos from the second destroyed stupa site of Gamini Tissa Monastic Complex
Image source : mahawansa.wordpress.com

Stolen treasures discovered by the police from the second bulldozed stupa of Gamini Tissa Monastic Complex

Stolen treasures discovered by the police from the bulldozed Sagama stupa of Gamini Tissa Monastic Complex
Image source : mahawansa.wordpress.com

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