Archaeology Department officers have arrested four young residents of Sigiriya and presented them to courts, under allegations of constructing houses near Sigiriya rock.

Residents of Sigiriya have become agitated by the incident and state that Archaeology Department has done injustice.

Residents stated that although major scale hotels and companies were constructing permanent buildings near the rock, only the descendants of the area get arrested for building houses. They also stated that the arrested have not been given a warning to stop construction.

Central Province Provincial Council member Tissa Bandara visited the area and discussed the matter with residents.

However, officials of Archaeology Department office in Sigiriya said that they had been instructed not to disclose information regarding the matter.

(Kanchan Kumara Ariyadasa)