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Golden bed inquiry: CCF director fails to turn up for inquiries for the third time
View(s):The Central Cultural Fund’s (CCF) Sigiriya Project Director has failed to turn up on three occasions for a hearing conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) regarding an alleged theft of valuable artefacts.
The HRCSL began an inquiry in September after activist Deemon Ananda lodged a complaint, alleging that a team engaged in an archaeological excavation in Sigiriya had removed, among other items, a priceless golden bed. The Commission issued summons to the Archaeology Director General, the CCF’s Sigiriya Project Director .
While the Archaeology DG was represented at the inquiry by Assistant Archaeological Director at the hearings, the CCF Director failed to turn up or send a representative despite being issued summons on three occasions. At the last hearing on Thursday, the HRCSL’s legal officer directed the case file to the Commissioner seeking advice on further action regarding the project director’s absence.
The HRCSL has pointed out to the parties to the case that failure to present themselves before the Commission without a valid reason could result in them being punished by the Supreme Court under Article 21 of the Human Rights Commission Act.