Dutch State Secretary visits Sri Lanka to sign ownership transfer

Friday, 25 August 2023 03:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

State Secretary for Culture and Media of the Netherlands Gunay Uslu

A Dutch cultural delegation led by State Secretary for Culture and Media in the Netherlands Gunay Uslu will be visiting Sri Lanka from 27 to 31 August.

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 later this year. The objects include the famous Lewke’s canon, two gold kastanes (ceremonial sword), Sinhalese knives, silver kastane, and two guns.

The visiting State Secretary is expected to meet with the senior officials of the Sri Lankan Government to mark this historic moment. Legal transfer of ownership will be signed at the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka on Monday 28 August. The delegation will visit a few places with religious and Dutch historic value in Sri Lanka.

There will also be a public lecture conducted by the State Secretary on 29 August at 4 p.m. at the auditorium of the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka. (Attendance on pre-registration only!)