Sri Lanka, April 21 -- 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 wal...