Identification and Scientific Documentation of movable and immovable archaeological heritage in Sri Lanka.It is very much essential to identification and documentation of sites and monuments to continue the archaeological process,such as carrying out scientific excavations, conserving the sites and monuments found by explorations and excavations,maintained them and protecting them by gaze ting.

Conducting Archaeological Assessment surveys and preparation of reports on private and Government sponsored development projects. In term of section 43A(i) of the Antiquities Ordinance and Regulations made there under and published in the gazette extraordinary No. 1152/14 dated 04.10.2000 before implementing and development project by the state or non government institutions or a person, the Director General of Archaeology shall prepare a report on assessment of impact on antiquities.

Conduct explorations on selected areas to collect data on monuments and / or sites with a view to declare as protected monuments or reserves which of those as archaeologically important.Conducting special and urgent explorations under notification or requests of public, state department and non government institutions.

Declaration of monuments and / or sites which have archaeological importance.
Maintain the Archaeological Protected Monuments (pdf) list and Archaeological Reserves (pdf) list.

    It has been roughly estimated that there are more than million of archaeological sites which belongs to historical period of 5 BC to 19 AD. Except this amount there can be thousands of prehistoric sites. 111 no. of archaeological reserves and 624 monuments have been gazetted for year 2002.

 Handle legal activities in the implementation of the Archaeological Acts such as Antiquities Ordinance of 1940 (Revised in 1956 & 1998) and Cultural Property Act 1988.

On Going Projects