A Committee of Experts has been appointed upon the order of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate the demolition of the historic Hotel Buwaneka in Kurunegala on July 14, the PM office said. 

Issuing a statement the PM office also said that the five-member committee was appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural and Buddhist Affairs upon the instructions of Prime Minister Rajapaksa, who is also Minister of Cultural and Buddhist Affairs.

The committee members:

1. Dr. Senarath Dissanayake, Director General of Archeology (Chairman)
2. Mr. R.M.R. Rathnayaka , District Secretary, Kurunegala (Member)
3. Prof. T.G.Kulathunga (Member)
4. Prasad Ranasinghe, Deputy Director, Ministry of Cultural and Buddhist Affairs (Member)
5. Archt. Mrs. Sumedha Mathota, Director (Development) Central Cultural Fund (Member).

The statement also said that the destroyed building is belonged to the 13th century, Kurunegala Kingdom and is believed to have been the Royal Hall at that time. Accordingly the building is a monument, which is considered as an Archaeological Reserve under the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940.

The Prime Minister has ordered the expert committee to submit their report by July 23, the statement added.