Switzerland has pledged its support in recovering assets that have been moved out of Sri Lanka.

The assurance was given by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, Dr. Siri Walt during a meeting with the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (Jan 24).

During discussions, Ambassador Walt provided guidance on the international measures required for reclaiming such assets and expressed Switzerland’s readiness to extend support whenever necessary by providing essential resources and assistance.

The discussion also focused on utilizing Switzerland’s expertise and technical knowledge to assist Sri Lanka’s ongoing anti-corruption initiatives. The Swiss government reiterated its commitment to providing technical and financial support for Sri Lanka’s priority programs, including the “Clean Sri Lanka” program.

The Ambassador additionally expressed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in addressing social challenges, promoting national reconciliation, and assisting with the development of the Northern region through necessary aid and resources. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have held a discussion focused on the initiation of the process to repatriate the second batch of colonial artefacts that belong to Sri Lanka. 

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera met with Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands Eppo Bruins, at the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science in The Hague on 30 September 2024.

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Netherlands, Ambassador Gunasekera handed over to Minister Bruins the list of colonial artefacts identified by Sri Lanka to be sent back in the second phase of repatriation. 

She referred to the first batch of repatriated artefacts that are now housed at the Colombo National Museum, and informed Minister Bruins that the collection attracts many visitors, including Dutch tourists. The Ambassador expressed her willingness to continue the excellent cooperation between the two countries in facilitating the return of colonial artefacts and stated that this process signifies the goodwill between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, and the commitment to further strengthen cultural diplomacy.

Minister Bruins expressed his commitment to the initiative to return colonial artefacts and stated that these objects should never have been in the Netherlands. The return of identified colonial artefacts to their rightful home is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a quintessence of the Dutch commitment to try and rectify the past and foster a future of understanding and collaboration. The Minister assured that the list would be submitted to the Advisory Committee on the Return of Cultural Objects from Colonial Context for perusal.

The Netherlands returned six colonial artefacts to Sri Lanka including the Lewke Canon, a Golden Royal Kasthane, a Royal Silver Kasthane, a Golden Royal Knife and two Wall Guns in December 2023. (Newswire)

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Six priceless Kandyan artefacts seized during the Dutch colonial occupation of Sri Lanka and returned from the Netherlands will be on public display at the Colombo National Museum from today (05) until further notice.

The exhibits include golden and silver kasthãné (ceremonial swords), two maha thuwakku (wall guns), and Lewke Disave’s cannon, which were originally taken as war booty by the Dutch East India Company in 1765, during the siege of the Palace of Kandy.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), a commemorative postage stamp issued during the event serves as a symbolic marker, celebrating the milestone in international relations and provenance research. 

The event took place at the National Museum today, presided over by the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake, and the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka. 

The event marks a significant step in cultural collaboration between the two nations.

Minister of State for Media, Shantha Bandara, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka, Bonnie Horbach, the Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dewi van de Weerd, Ambassador of Egypt in Sri Lanka Maged Mosleh, the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs, Somaratne Vidanapathirana, the Director General of the National Museum Department, Sajani Kasturiarachchi, and several distinguished officials from both the Netherlands and Sri Lanka participated in the event. (NewsWire)

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The six (06) Sri Lankan artefacts that were in possession of the Netherlands have been physically returned to Sri Lanka after over 200 years abroad.

The artefacts of Sri Lankan origin were accepted by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake today. 

The Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka said the six Sri Lankan artefacts will be on display during a two-day event at the Colombo National Museum on 5 and 6 December. 

The restitution event will be open to the public and will comprise activities to educate young and old on the long-shared history of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, it added. 

The famous Lewke’s canon, two Gold kastanes (ceremonial sword), Singalese knive, Silver kastane and two guns are among the six artefacts that have been returned to Sri Lanka.

The physical handover comes after a high-level state visit in August, during which Dutch State Secretary Gunay Uslu formally signed an ownership transfer of the six Sri Lankan artefacts that were stolen by the Dutch. (NewsWire)

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Six Sri Lankan artefacts will be physically returned to Sri Lanka by the Netherlands during a two-day event at the Colombo National Museum.

Issuing a statement, the Netherlands Embassy in Colombo said 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 Embassy further said that now, after more than 200 years abroad, six Sri Lankan artefacts will be physically returned to Sri Lanka during a two-day event at the Colombo National Museum on 5 and 6 December. 

The restitution event will be open to the public and will comprise activities to educate young and old on the long-shared history of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. 

The museum is also planning to host public lectures by experts, guided tours, and a panel discussion. The area surrounding the museum will have food stalls and there will be fun educational activities for children. 

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

With the restitution, the Netherlands aim to strengthen the bilateral ties with Sri Lanka, while also coming to terms with its colonial past. As a part of this, 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 cultural heritage in the future, it further said. 

The Netherlands Embassy added that through these initiatives, the government of the Netherlands aims to open a new chapter in its relationship with Sri Lanka, a chapter with more focus on justice, reconciliation and equality. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have a shared past and it will help to build together a common future with close cooperation in the fields of museums, collection management, research and exchange of knowledge and expertise, Dutch State Secretary for Culture and Media Gunay Uslu said.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Gunay Uslu made the statement when she called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (Aug. 29). 

The visiting Dutch Minister and Cultural Minister Vidura Wickremanayake yesterday (Aug. 28) signed a Transfer Acknowledge Agreement to transfer valuable artefacts taken from Sri Lanka during the Dutch rule two and a half centuries ago. 

The objects include the famous cannon of freedom fighter Lewke Disawe, two gold kastanes (ceremonial sword), Sinhalese knives, silver kastane, and two guns.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena thanked the visiting Dutch Minister for the transfer of artefacts and said the two countries should undertake collaboration on research on Dutch architecture, canal systems, forts and other monuments for prosperity.

Referring to the cannon of Lewke Disawe, the Prime Minister said that he was happy that Sri Lanka would get back this valuable treasure and told the Dutch delegation that Lewke was a place close to his home town Sithawaka and the entire country pay homage to the National Hero Lewke Disawa.

Minister Gunay Uslu said a grant will be extended by the Netherlands to facilitate the work undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and the Department of National Museums to preserve the artefacts in a newly renovated chamber at the National Museum.

During the meeting, she also presented an ancient map of Ceylon by Baltus Jaquaez Van Lier drawn in 1751 to Prime Minister Gunawardena.

Ambassador of Netherlands Bonnie Horbach, Director General, Culture and Media in the Netherlands Barbera Wolfensberger, Chairperson, Dutch Colonial Collections Committee Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You and Committee Member Dr. Alicia Schrikker, MP Yadamini Gunawardena and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake were also present on this occasion. (NewsWire)

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A Dutch cultural delegation will be visiting Sri Lanka next week to sign a legal document to transfer cultural artefacts that will be returned to Sri Lanka later this year. 

The delegation led by the Netherlands Culture and Media State Secretary Gunay Uslu, will be visiting Sri Lanka from August 27 to 31.

The State Secretary is making a special visit to Sri Lanka to sign the legal document transferring the ownership of the cultural artefacts that will be returned to Sri Lanka. 

The legal transfer of ownership will be signed at the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry on Monday (28).

The famous Lewke’s canon, two Gold kastanes (ceremonial sword), Singalese knive, Silver kastane and two guns are among the artefacts that will be returned to Sri Lanka.

The visiting State Secretary is expected to meet with the senior officials of the Sri Lankan Government to mark this historic moment. The delegation will visit a few places with religious and Dutch historic values in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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