Netherlands returns colonial-era artefacts to Sri Lanka...
November 29, 2023
The Netherlands has returned six Sri Lankan colonial-era artefacts looted by the Dutch to Sri Lanka after more than 200 years. The six historical objects – the Lewke’s cannon, a Golden Kasthane, a Silver Kasthane, a Sinhalese Knife and two Guns – were brought to the island on board SriLankan Airlines flight UL554 from Frankfurt in Germany.
The artefacts were ceremoniously accepted by Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickremanayake at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake at around 5:05 a.m. this morning (Nov.29). Dutch Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Bonnie Horbach and a group of officials attached to the Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs Ministry, the National Museum in Colombo and the Foreign Affairs Ministry were also in attendance.
