Twelve years after the theft of 221 valuable artefacts from the Colombo National Museum, the case remains unresolved, as the Attorney General’s Department has 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 robbery on March 16, 2012, no legal conclusion had been reached by the end of 2024. The stolen items were estimated to be worth Rs. 4.4 million.
Following the theft, the Ministry Secretary appointed a committee to act under Section 104(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, but the recovered artefacts remain sealed under court orders and cannot be accessed until the legal proceedings are complete.
The Auditor General’s report urged authorities to expedite the case through better coordination among relevant agencies and regular follow-ups. When contacted, museum officials stated that they cannot access the recovered artefacts until the case concludes.
The 2012 heist included Kandyan-era swords, rings, and ancient coins, highlighting major security lapses at the National Museum. At the time, several CCTV cameras were out of order for maintenance, and security guards were reportedly asleep.
Investigations suggested insider involvement, leading to the arrest of several suspects. The main suspect, Lansage Priyantha Mendis alias “Kangatta”, was arrested in Negombo in October 2012 by a special CID team. Earlier, two women and a three-wheeler driver had also been taken into custody, with some artefacts recovered.
“Kangatta” spent five years in remand, was later released on bail, and has since disappeared, further delaying the case.
The audit also revealed that eight museums across the country remain without CCTV systems, leaving valuable artefacts vulnerable. Only the Colombo, Kandy, and Polonnaruwa museums currently have surveillance systems.
The Accounting Officer noted that CCTV installations are prioritized based on the level of threat and available funds, but plans are in place to expand coverage to other museums in the future, considering the significance of their collections and potential threats.
The audit recommended that the Department of National Museums take full responsibility for safeguarding artefacts and implement comprehensive security measures across all museums.
