Security strengthened at archaeological sites:

Special police unit to deal with artefact thefts

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Security at archaeological sites has been strengthened and a special security force has been deployed, said National Heritage Minister Dr. Jagath Balasuriya.

The police had gathered vital information leading to the recent museum robbery. The suspects will be arrested soon, the minister said.

The Sunday Observer interviewed the minister on the incidence of rising artefact robberies and damage to archaeological monuments.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Customs Deputy Director Samantha Gunasekera in a statesment to the press said that he suspected an international ring active on the smuggling of artefacts from Sri Lanka, what have you got to say about this?

A: Smuggling artefacts from museums and specially from countries of the archaeological heritage cannot be undermined. The world famous museums such as those in Copenhagen,

The Hegue and Cambridge too had been robbed in the past and valuable treasures were taken away.

Sri Lanka had entered with some agreements with international organisations such as UNESCO to curb artefacts smuggling which we have to make use now.

Q: The valuable artefacts were ransacked by the colonial rulers, what action will be taken to bring them back to Sri Lanka?

A: Different eras of history from 1505-1798, the Portuguese, Dutch and English colonial rulers had smuggled our artefacts to museums in Lisbon, Amsterdam, The Hague and London. A list of such artefacts has been prepared by the Archaeological Director. A diplomatic initiative will be launched with the assistance of UNESCO soon to bring them back to Sri Lanka.

Q: The Colombo National Museum within the high Security Zone and close to the Police Intelligence Headquarters was robbed in April. No clue has been traced so far leading to the arrest of any suspect. What is the progress of the police investigation?

A: The police has found certain clues which will help apprehend the culprits soon.

Q: The Security arrangements had been reported to be very weak on the day the robbery occurred. It had come to light that only three unarmed watchers were on duty.

A: The museum authorities had negotiated with a public - security firm in 2010 for a new security network after it was found that a sword was missing.

But it could not proceed due to the rates quoted by the company and were too high to be proceed with in addition to the tight financial situation in the museum department.

Q: While the Director of the National Museum said that Cameras were functioned you have contradicted it to the extent that they had been damaged? What is the position. What action has been taken against the museum staff who were on duty that day?

A: Inquiries are continuing. Staff members who were on duty that night have been interdicted.

Q: The Archaeological Ordinance should be amended to meet the present day challenges. The punishment for destroying archaeological sties or monuments including treasure hunting should be revised. What steps have you taken to meet this situation?

A: Offenders will be severely dealt with by law with the amendments to existing laws. We have recommended to increase fines from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 million and imprisonment from 2 years to 5 years for those guilty of causing damage to archaeological sites or monuments.

Q: The incidence of robbing artefacts and treasure hunting during the past 5 months have increased substantially. Your comments. Are there any special arrangements to ensure the safety of these places.

A: A special unit headed by a SSP had been set up at the Police headquarters to deal with all cases of artefact robbery and destruction of archaeological monuments. Further five units under DIGs Kandy, Trincomalee, Ampara, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura where these incidents are rampant have been set up to work round the clock.