Stolen artefacts return home after 200 years

Six artefacts taken away from the Kandy palace of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe during the Dutch invasion in 1756, were physically brought to the country today (29). 

Among the artefacts is the royal blue cannon belonged to Lewke Disave decorated with gold, silver and gems embedded. Others include ceremonial swords(gold and silver kastane) and wall guns. These objects were on display in Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. 

The artefacts arrived in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Frankfurt. Minister of Buddha Sasanka and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake, Dutch Ambassador Bonnie Horbach, Director General of National Museums Sanuja Kasthuriarachchi and a number of state officials were present at the airport to accept the artefacts. 

Until the artefacts get used to the tropical climate here, they are to be stored in air conditioned storages. The items were moved to the Colombo National Museum with tight security provided by the state. 

The Dutch Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation Dewi van de Weerd led a mission overseeing the handover on behalf of the Netherlands. 

During a high level state visit in August, Dutch State Secretary Gunay Uslu formally signed an ownership transfer of six Sri Lankan artefacts that were stolen by the Dutch. 

The artefacts will be displayed on December 5 and 6 at the National Museum to educate young and old on the long shared history of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands with a series of public lectures, guided tours and a panel discussion to be held. 

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka said ambassador Van de Weerd hopes to discuss possibilities for further strengthening the cultural cooperation between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. 

“Governments, museums, universities and advisory committees in both countries are already working together to return more Sri Lankan heritage in the future,” the Embassy said. 

Netherlands earlier announced that it plans to repatriate 478 colonial artefacts looted from former colonies Indonesia and Sri Lanka. 

Pix by: T.K.G. Kapila (airport correspondent)