In 2012, the then SL Government Agent of Trincomalee, Major General (retired) Ranjith de Silva, who was a former SL military commander, stopped the Trincomalee Town and Gravets Piratheasa Chapai (Divisional Council) from maintaining the hot wells stating that the site belonged to the Sri Lankan Department of Archaeology. Ranjith de Silva directed his men to remove the name board that had been put up by the civic body. The name board at the site was removed in the presence of the then GA. Furthermore, Ranjith de Silva instructed the Trincomalee Town and Gravets PS to stop collecting money from the public for maintaining the hot wells and the surrounding area.