An agreement to bring back our heritages in the Netherlands

September 4th, 2023

agreements in regard of returning the 06 artifacts with historical value that were taken by the Dutch East India Trading Company (VOC) when the Royal Palace of Kandy was besieged by the Dutch in 1765 back to Sri Lanka were signed today (28) at the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Hon. Vidura Wickremanayake, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Sanuja Kasthuriarachchi, Director General to the Department of National Museums and Mrs. Gunay Uslu, State Secretary for the Cultural Affairs of Netherlands on behalf of the government of Netherlands got together to sign these agreements

The six artifacts currently exhibited at the Rijks Museum, namely a Kasthana with a scabbard made of gold, a Kasthana with a scabbard made of silver, a knife made of gold, two big guns and a cannon that believed as had been belonged to Lewke Disawa are to be handed over to this country

Hon. Vidura Wickremanayake, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs forwarded a diplomatic level request to the Ministry of Education, Cultural and Scientific Affairs of the Netherlands to return these artifacts to Sri Lanka. After considering the request, the Dutch government appointed an independent advisory committee for this purpose and decided to return the artifacts according to the recommendations of the committee.

Hon. Vidura Wickremanayake, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs mentioned the following here.

Heritages or artifacts of our country have been  migrated to various countries. It has happened not with our will, but by force. Today we officially started the work to get these heritages back to our country.

These artifacts will be brought to Sri Lanka by the month of December. Also, a special program has already been prepared to deposit these artifacts. Also, the minister further mentioned that the actions will be taken on including it in the school syllabus to give school children awareness and understanding about such heritages.

Mr. Somarathna Vidanapathirana, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Nishanthi Jayasingha, Additional Secretary (Development) of the National Heritage Division of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr.Thilak Hettiarachchi, Additional Secretary, and a group of officials of the Dutch government and officials of the ministry joined this event.