Int'l ring in vandalism?

Amidst a marked increase in cases relating to vandalism of historic sites by treasure hunters, there is speculation that the trend is linked to an international ring of smuggling artefacts, officials said yesterday.

Sri Lanka Customs Deputy

In recent years, there were a number of such smuggling attempts thwarted by his officials

Director Samantha Gunasekara told the Daily Mirror yesterday that,

in recent years, there were a number of such smuggling attempts thwarted by his officials.

From time to time, he said, there were cases in which some influential persons tried to smuggle items of archeological value, such as ancient Buddha idols, pots and coins. Mr. Gunasekara said once an American national who tried to smuggle out ancient statues to be sold in the international black market.

"Once we arrested two foreign nationals in separate cases a few years ago. They had been married to two local women who assisted them in their smuggling attempts. One person used a website to advertise the artefacts to be sold internationally. We know an international racket is in place. Therefore, we should be vigilant to protect the country's heritage," Mr. Gunasekara said.

Besides, there was another foreigner who worked as a southern province project consultant who was taken into custody for a similar case.

"Once we seized a pot that dates

Once we arrested two foreign nationals in separate cases a few years ago. They had been married to two local women who assisted them in their smuggling attempts

back to the Anuradhapura era," he said.

"We have a lot of artefacts seized here. We have handed over some items to the National Museum. In recent months, there was a drop in such cases. But, we have to be on the alert. Shortly after the disappearance of some swords from the Museum, I informed customs officials attached to the Airport to be extra vigilant," he said. Also, he stressed the need to impose new regulations under the Cultural Property Act to take action against those trying to destroy artefacts.

"The Antiquities Ordinance mainly provides for dealing with vandalizing. Yet, we must be able to take stern action against smuggling attempts by strengthening the Cultural Property Act," he said.