They are presently marking out the inductance zone in the Sirigirya archaeological area on the instructions of their chief Dr. Senarath Dissanayake.

The areas to be included under the hotels’ expansion are located within that zone.

A 400-yard area from the outer water fountain of the rock fortress is denoted as the inductance zone, and the border is being marked by boundary stones.

Within that zone, nearly 200 illegal constructions have so far been identified, said one officer involved in the work.

Those illegal constructions, including tourist hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments and houses, had come up within the past two decades.

As residents have resisted archaeology officials involved in marking out the inductance zone, police protection has now been given to them.

UNESCO has declared Sigiriya as a world heritage site and a green city, but it is in danger of being dropped from the list of heritage sites due to its urbanization and development as a tourism destination.

Last March, archaeology officials took legal measures against four of the 38 persons responsible for these illegal constructions.

At a Matale district development committee meeting, the political authority has told them not to press ahead with the other cases.

Sri Lanka Mirror’s attempts to reach archaeology chief Dr. Dissanayake for details were unsuccessful, as a junior official said he was busy with meetings today.

A call to the Sigiriya archaeology office too, proved futile, as its head too, had gone to the Kandy office, and other officials were not available, according to a female staffer there who answered the phone.