Treasure hunting on the increase:

Stringent laws to check artifacts' theft

by Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Artifacts are considered as the precious remaining evidence of a country’s bygone era. They not only hold a monetary value but also the cultural value of a country’s heritage which makes them priceless. Crafted and shaped by a human hand and dated back to pre-historic ages the preservation of these materialistic goods for the future generation is an important task that any responsible authority should perform.

However this has become quite challenging for the Department of Archaeology since recently as a rise on the artifact theft and destruction are quite evident.

A series of incidents related to theft and destruction of items with an archaeological value reported throughout the past few months had alerted the authorities to take prompt action to bring the culprits before the law and also to control this unpleasant trend that could have adverse effects on the country’s cultural heritage.

The latest incident was reported from Medirigiriya on Thursday where the police arrested five persons in connection with illegal excavation in search of artifacts.

The suspects who were reportedly from Wattala, Kadawatha and Medirigiriya were taken into custody along with a vehicle and carrying various tools and religious offerings. They were apprehended whilst digging a remote land in sector two but no artifacts had been found. The suspects were to be produced before Hingurakgoda Magistrate.On Tuesday a similar type of incident was reported from Polonnaruwa where police arrested several persons excavating a ten foot pit under a house floor. The suspects had unearthed a set of items including remains of pots and pans as well as pieces of rocks that belong to the seventh and the eighth centuries of the Anuradhapura era. This was following several other similar incidents reported from North – Central Province during March.

According to the official statistics of the Archaeological Department the highest number of cases were reported in 2012 within the period of March 4, 2008 to April 5, 2013. A total of 370 cases were reported in the areas of artifact theft, destruction, illegal excavation and other offences pertaining to the Archaeological Act. Out of the nine provinces the highest number of cases was reported from North Central which is 82 and respectively 62 from North Western and 56 from Central province.

An increasing trend is visible where 209 cases had been reported in 2008, 235 in 2009 and 294 cases in 2010. It has reduced to 220 cases in 2011. From January this year, 82 cases had been reported so far and 32 of them were from North Central Province where two main archaeological cities Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are situated. All these years North Central Province has the top figures respectively 45, 54, 84, 57, 82, and 32 from 2008 to 2013. However, the least number of cases had been reported from Northern Province which is a maximum of nine cases reported in 2010.

The number of persons taken into custody in connection with these cases top with a staggering figure of 1,062 suspects in 2012, 498 in 2011, 260 in 2010, 119 in 2009 and 141 persons in 2008 which is a clear increase. 207 persons have already been rounded up during the first four months of this year up to the fifth, which is an alarming figure.

Responding to these figures Director General Department of Archaeology Dr. Senarath Bandara Dissanayake told the Sunday Observer that this could be due to two reasons as there is an actual rise in such activities or an increase on the reporting of such cases.

According to Dr. Dissanayake the trend of the excavations in search of ancient treasures or artifacts is on the rise because of the changed mindset of the people. “In ancient times people had a respect for these treasures and artifacts which was considered as sacred and part of the royalty.

The fear of ‘Bahiravaya’ and other evil elements that may befall them was extreme for them to not to try anything unlawful. But today the people have changed and the sort of respect and fear they had for such elements do not exist.

Moreover, the people rely on earning money in an instant and easy manner which leads them to engage in such unlawful activities. Doctor Dissanayake said that preparations are already being carried out to bring amendments to the 1998 No. 24 (Amended) Act by strengthening and tightening the prevailing laws. As a result the maximum fine of Rs.250, 000 will be increased up to five million rupees (Rs.5, 000, 000) whereas the minimum fine would be increased from Rs. 25, 000 to Rs. 500, 000. Also, a prison sentence will be introduced.

In future not only the suspects but those who aid and abet them will also be prosecuted including parties involved in illegal transporting of artifacts.

Machinery and equipment as well as land vehicles used to destruct archaeological reserves will also be confiscated according to the new laws.

He said that these new laws had to be introduced except for the earlier laws stated in Antiquities Ordinance of 1940 No. 9, due to the severe violation of the act nowadays.

He said the department can now keep track of the records since the Special Unit for Prevention of Destruction and Theft of Antiquities was established in 2008.

Pix courtesy: Archaeological Department

[Hotline]

Special Unit for Prevention of Destruction and Theft of Antiquities (SUPDTA) was established under the Department of Archaeology in 2008. The special unit which acts like an immediate response unit maintains a database of all the cases related to the theft and destruction of artifacts reported countrywide and to coordinate with the police.

Backed by a special police unit to investigate into the instances of violation of archaeological act was later transformed into a special police division with more manpower in June 2012. As a result the unit was able to appoint an individual archaeological police unit in each 26 Police Deputy Inspector General areas in all nine provinces.

Head of Special Unit for Prevention of Destruction and Theft of Antiquities Udeni Wickramasinghe told the Sunday Observer the department can act more efficiently and actively after establishing the special unit. She said that whenever an unlawful activity is reported the local police would inform the special unit and produce the suspect before the Magistrate.

Although the suspect is produced in courts the Magistrate cannot grant bail nor deliver a verdict without referring to a special report prepared by the department stating the appropriate amounts of fines to be imposed on that particular instance of violation of the act. The special unit has opened a hotline for the public to inform any unlawful activity regarding treasure hunting or breach of the archaeological act. The telephone lines are working 24 hours.

Special Unit Hotline - 0117-222333
Special Police Unit - 0112-694727
Department of Archaeology - 0112-692840-1