Customs Museum displays collection of rare masterpieces
by Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana
A rare collection of ancient masterpieces, valuable goods and
handicrafts made out of precious material and animal parts are among the
exhibits that the new Customs Museum has to display to the public.
 |
|
Samantha Gunasekara |
A one-of-a-kind museum to display the recoveries and contraband
seized by the Sri Lanka Customs Department during the past 200 years
will be opened in parallel to the opening of the new Customs
Headquarters building to be ceremonially unveiled by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa tomorrow (14).
The museum which was the brainchild of Customs Director in charge of
Bio Diversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division (BCNP)
Samantha Gunasekara will showcase the collection of goods seized by the
Customs throughout the years.
Apart from the 200-year-old history since the establishment of Sri
Lanka Customs Department in June 1806, the role of customs operations as
a country runs back to 1,000 years in King Maha Parakramabahu's era
where foreign goods were imported to the country through the ancient
trading channels such as the "Silk Route."
By that era Sri Lanka or then 'Serendib' or 'Taprobane' was a
dominant country situated in the maritime trading routes where customs
was an essential duty to be carried out. Proof for this operation has
been found written on ancient stone inscriptions. The Godawaya
inscription in Hambantota is the oldest proof that reveals collecting
duty from the foreign importers who arrived in the country.
|
New headquarters |
Director Customs BCNP Samantha Gunasekara told the Sunday Observer
that the museum will exhibit items that had been recovered from various
detections throughout the country. Contraband related to wildlife as
well as antiques and artifacts that were seized whilst being attempted
to smuggled out of the country will be exhibited in the museum. Also
precious items such as jewellery and gems will also be displayed.
The museum has a rare collection of seashells and conch shells, a
range of insects and butterflies, various items made out of ivory, snake
and python skin, a large leopard skin, a rare coin collection of Ceylon,
ancient daggers and swords, precious statues, items made out of precious
wood such as Sandalwood, Red Sanders, Ebony and Rosewood, exotic
alcoholic beverages like snake wine and replicas and paintings to depict
the ancient story of the Customs.
They are all stored in sealed glass compartments in a fine interior
decorated premises with state of the art lighting system and informative
panels to educate the viewers. Expertise knowledge of the Colombo
National Museum has been sought to design the museum.
|
