Biodiversity Unit saves the day

by Asha SENEVIRTHNE

The ancient artefacts from Sri Lanka are smuggled to various parts of the globe by organised gangs of professional smugglers.

A recent attempt at smuggling out of the country valuable artefacts worth over millions of rupees was foiled by the customs and goods were confiscated.

Sri Lanka Customs biodiversity unit which took into its custody a total of 74 artefacts have been later discovered that the goods were to be smuggled out to USA.

The centuries-old artifacts comprised copper, brass, bronze gold plated and ivory Buddha statues, silver, caskets anklets etc.

Two foreign nationals Ariyon Alexander Storn and Almanthraci involved in the smuggling racket have been taken in for questioning.Twenty seven more items were recovered from a Negombo hotel where one of the suspects had taken accommodation earlier.

The racket came to light due to the arrest of a suspect named Almanthraci at Ja-ela last January, senior Customs Superintendent Samantha Gunasekara said.

A Sri Lankan wife of a foreign national named Robert, together with her daughter is alleged to have supplied the artefacts to him according to Almanthraci. Soon after his arrest the other foreign national who had left the country, has since been apprehended by the Customs on his return to Sri Lanka. The Archaeological Department which conducted an inquiry into the incident has already submitted its report to the Customs Authorities. Meanwhile, the Customs Authorities suspect a California based American to be the mastermind behind the racket.

In view of the several loopholes in the Archaeological Act and the Cultural Properties Act, the Customs have to face numerous obstacles in the discharge of their duties, Senior Customs Superintendent Samantha Gunasekera said in implementing the laws related to export of archaeologically valuable antiques and artefacts.

Hats off to the Customs officials who had been vigilant in breaking the smuggling bid.