No legal action yet in 12-year-old National Museum artefact theft

Colombo, Oct. 18 (Daily Mirror) - Twelve years after the theft of 221 valuable artefacts from the Colombo National Museum, the case remains unresolved, with the Attorney General’s Department yet to file charges against the accused, according to the latest audit report of the Department of National Museums.

The audit, covering financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, revealed that, despite the theft occurring on March 16, 2012, no legal conclusion had been reached as of the end of 2024. The stolen artefacts were estimated to be worth Rs. 4.4 million (Rs.4,440,140).

It was revealed that following the theft, the Ministry Secretary had appointed a committee to take action under Section 104(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. However, the Department informed auditors that the stolen artefacts, later recovered and sealed under court orders, cannot be accessed until court proceedings are completed.

The Auditor General’s report recommended that authorities expedite legal proceedings through better coordination among the relevant agencies and by conducting regular follow-ups.

When the Daily Mirror contacted the Department and inquired about the latest progress of the case, including what artefacts are missing, an official stated that they have no access to the recovered items since the case is not yet completed.

The infamous 2012 heist involved the theft of artefacts dating back to the Kandyan era including swords, rings, and ancient coins, exposing major security lapses at the National Museum. At the time of the robbery, several CCTV cameras were out of operation for maintenance, and security guards were reportedly asleep.

Investigations later revealed insider involvement, leading to the arrest of several suspects. The main suspect, Lansage Priyantha Mendis alias “Kangatta”, was arrested by a special CID team in Negombo in October 2012. Two women and a three-wheeler driver were also taken into custody earlier that year, with several artefacts recovered.

After spending five years in remand, “Kangatta” was reportedly released on bail but has since disappeared, further stalling the case.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the development, the latest audit of the Department of National Museums has revealed that eight museums across the country remain without CCTV camera systems, leaving valuable artefacts unprotected. Only the Colombo, Kandy, and Polonnaruwa museums were equipped with surveillance systems.

The Accounting Officer explained in the report that CCTV installations are prioritised based on the level of threat faced by each museum and that limited funds make it difficult to cover all locations at once.

He informed that plans are reportedly in place to install cameras in other museums in the future, taking into account the significance of their collections and the threats they face.

The audit recommended that the department take full responsibility for ensuring the safety of its artefacts and consider more comprehensive security measures across all museums.