Maritime Museum of Sri Lanka opens in Galle

(February 27, 2010) Newly established one and only Marine Archaeological Museum in Galle built under a special grant of Rs. 177 million by the Netherlands Government will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 4, 2009.

The Marine Archeological Museum previously established in Galle was completely destroyed due to Tsunami tidal waves on December 26, 2004. The present museum is being established after renovating a massive old building constructed during the Dutch era situated within the historic Rampart of Galle.

The museum is 40-000 square feet in extent would display marine artifacts discovered in explorations made in the ocean floor around Sri Lanka. Nearly 200 artifacts discovered from the remains of ship sunk in the ocean nearly 800 ago are housed in the museum.

Plans are afoot to open the museum on all seven days of the week and on some days to stay open till 9.00 p.m. to feel surrounding of the Fort.

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Lanka to recover stolen artefacts

by Don Asoka Wijewardena (The Island)

(February 22, 2009) Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka would officially appeal to a number of museums in several countries as well as private collectors to return cultural and religious artefacts and statues spirited away from the country.

He said that the decision had been made after recommendations by a special Cabinet approved committee of scholars who handed over their report last week. Stocks of Lankan artifacts were seized by the Portuguese, British and Dutch during the days of colonialism.

The committee in its study has found that a number of historical and precious Sri Lankan artifacts are on display in museums in some countries and Sri Lankans who are interested in research, studies and viewing them are unable to do so as they belong to those countries legally, he said.

The committee comprised scholars Dr. Nanda Wickremasinghe, Prof. P. L. Premathilaka, Prof. Anura Manatunge, Dr. Roland Silva, Dr. Senerath Dissanayaka, Dr. Saroja Wethasinghe and Prof Sarath Amunugama and the Secretaries of the Ministries of Cultural Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Urban Development.

Minister Gunawardena said that even the Asgiriya and Malwatta Mahanayakas had asked him whether the government would be able to bring back the artifacts kept in foreign museums.

Minister Gunawardena said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had expressed his desire to recover the archeological treasures that belonged to Sri Lanka and diplomatic ties would be used to recover the country’s archaeological wealth.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) would help Sri Lanka bring back the artifacts, the Minister said.

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Sri Lanka to look into ways to get back the historical monuments taken away from the country

(February 20, 2009) Archaeology professor Roland Silva, the chairman of a committee appointed to propose ways to get back the archaeological monuments that have been taken away from Sri Lanka, handed over the report of the committee to the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Land Development Dinesh Gunawardhana on February 19.

The Minister said that the report would be submitted to the cabinet and the President would be consulted for further proceedings.

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