The artefacts of historically important Hunupola Kande Cave Temple at the foot of the Dolukanda Herbarium in the Ganewatta Divisional Secretariat division are fast decaying and will be lost for ever unless the Department of Archaeology takes early steps to preserve them.
Legend has it that the temple had been the abode of Prince Pandukabhaya and King Walagamba.
The temple has been in existence since the Anuradhapura period and the artefacts belong to the Anuradhapura era.
Dr. Senarath Paranavithana who had read the Brahmi letters found in a drip ledged cave said that they belong to the third century. According to him, these Brahmi letters say that a son of a person named Balisi had built the cave temple.
The wall paintings of the temple have been drawn by the Nilagama artistes who had also drawn wall paintings at the Dambulla Cave Temple.
Five Buddha statues and most of the frescoes in three caves in the temple are being attacked by termites.
A large portion of the frescoes has been destroyed and now the plaster is peeling off. The recumbent 18 feet Buddha statue too has been eaten into disfiguring the statue.
The small Dagoba which is near the main cave has been vandalised by the treasure hunters.
Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Peddawa Devananda Thera said that although several requests had been made, the Archaeological authorities had not taken action to preserve these artefacts. “They say that funds allocated to the Department are not sufficient to carry out renovations on all the temples.
I request the Ministry of Buddha Sasana to take action to renovate these artefacts for the benefit of the future generation,” the Thera said.
