News
No arrests over last week’s museum break-in
No arrests have been made in connection with the break-in at the Colombo museum last week. This follows the break-in in 2012 that made headlines.
The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and the Cinnamon Gardens Police launched an investigation after it was found that robbers had broken the door lock to enter a room on the upper floor where rare clay items and clothing are on display.
As repairs were being carried out in that part of the museum, it has not been ruled out that the employees had failed to lock the door when leaving after work. Even the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in that room had been switched off due to repairs, Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Times. According to police, on the morning of November 17 museum employees had noticed that the room had been broken into and when the matter was brought to the attention of museum director Thushari Kasturiarchchi she had lodged a complaint at the Cinnamon Gardens Police.
Police had found that the lock of the room door had been broken while finger print experts found three finger prints in the room. “It is possible that the person who entered the room was disappointed to find only clay and clothing items instead of precious gems and gold jewellery and left the room hurriedly, ” police said. Police sniffer dogs had led the policemen from the room on the upper floor to an area where repairmen congregate on the ground floor.
Police said there were no reports of stolen artefacts. The CCD and police have recorded statements from 17 museum employees, on site workmen and security officers. Police believe that since some sections of the museum are under repair the robber may have climbed a ladder to reach the top floor. Coincidentally in 2012 too when robbers broke into the national museum and got away with 8 gold plated ancient swords, a walking stick, six gold rings and a number of gold coins, old notes and a sword used by a king, the CCTV cameras inside the museum had been malfunctioning and been taken for repairs a couple of days prior to the burglary.
During that investigation sniffer dogs had led policemen to the room where security guards gather. The robbers had apparently bundled the stolen items and lowered them to the ground floor using a rope from the second floor. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that carried out the investigation then questioned 45 employees and 11 security officers of the museum. After several months of investigations police arrested a notorious criminal named “kangetta” and his gang and recovered a part of the stolen items.
Better security soon?
Laser technology with a new fire protection is to be introduced as part of the improved security at the museum National Heritage minister Jagath Balasuriya, said.
He said security would be beefed up with the Defence Ministry’s security service which employs retired army officers and those with experience in the forces.. “We are willing to bear the cost as the artefacts are very valuable,” he added.
“People also have a responsibility to protect their culture. We place a lot of trust in humanity when we place such priceless treasures for public viewing, the director Ms Kasturiarchchi said.