|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 25 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Treasure hunting a lucrative gamble by Jayampathy Jayasinghe Despite stiff penalties for illegal treasure hunting, several Buddhist shrines and archaeological sites in rural areas have been vandalised by organised gangs for priceless treasures and artefacts which are being sold to antique collectors and foreigners for huge prices. It has now become a lucrative business to excavate ancient ruins and temples by treasure hunters with support from villagers. The most recent case of treasure hunting was reported from Pothuvil in the Eastern province where police arrested two suspects from Babaragasthalawa, Panama village for their involvement in treasure hunting. They had excavated an ancient Buddhist shrine in Gara-wewa along with six other suspects. The OIC, Pothuvil, Inspector Karunaratne on hearing that a group of treasure hunters were excavating the Panama chaitiya, despatched a police party to apprehend the treasure hunters. The ancient temple is located about 25 miles away, from Pothuvil town in the thick leopard infested Kumana jungle. As the jeep approached the temple site, the police party saw eight men engaged in excavating the earth, presumably looking for some priceless treasure. On seeing the police jeep approaching the site, the treasure hunters vanished to the jungle leaving their implements. However, policemen gave chase and arrested two of them while the rest managed to flee into the jungle. From the two suspects, the police learnt that they were natives from Babaragastalawa village. Of the six suspects, two were from Colombo. The suspects had confessed to police that they had come to know that there was treasure in the temple premises from gossip and from folklore in the village. The treasure hunters had also dug up a big hole six feet deep. Police also found 10 yards of explosive wire, 7 detonators and 12 sticks of dynamite in the temple premises. The explosives had been brought there ostensibly to blast hard rock, police said. Meanwhile, Senior Supdt. of Police (Ampara Division) Ananda Levangama, had directed OIC Pothuvil, Inspector C. Karunaratne, to nab those treasure hunters who managed to escape. Treasure hunters usually dream of the pot of gold despite the risks involved. They stick to certain rituals like performing a Bahirawa pooja before excavation begins. Nine treasure hunters were arrested last year by the Anuradhapura police while excavating a Buddhist shrine at Halmillewa. Other suspects, however, managed to flee the area in two vehicles. Welikanda Police arrested five treasure hunters at Kaduwath Maduwa in Menikdeniya area digging for treasure. It was also reported the Sri Bodimalu Purana Viharaya at Dodamdeniya was burgled, and two marble statues removed. Treasure hunters also caused severe damage to a 26-foot Buddha statute at Dangiriviharaya while looking for treasure. Meanwhile, Ratnapura police arrested a woman last April with five stolen Buddha statutes. Last year, customs officers seized a consignment of priceless artefacts before being shipped to Australia. It was learnt that a foreigner had purchased these items while in Sri Lanka. According to the Archaeology Department, anyone found guilty of destroying or stealing antiquities face a jail term of 2-5 years or a fine of Rs 50.000 or both. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
