Nugawaela Adikaram’s priceless ceremonial sword among stolen articles

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Among the stolen artefacts from the Colombo Museum, are a priceless ceremonial sword with gold and silver inlayed cover, two gem studded walking stick handles and a belt with gold and silver work that belonged to Nugawela Adikaram, the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate.

The CID made this revelation before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court by filing a report on the burglary that took place on 16 March night at the Colombo Museum.

The CID by the report stated that they initiated investigations into the robbery on the instructions of the IGP. It had revealed that the robbery had taken place during the period between 6p.m. on 16 March to 8a.m. 17 March.

The sentry-in-charge of the Museum Sunil Rajapaks had lodged a complaint with the Cinnamon Gardens Police on 17 March complaining that security guard Asanka Jayasinghe informed him about the robbery over the phone on 17 March. The guard had told Rajapaksa that there had been a burglary in the Museum at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Colombo 7 on the previous night.

The CID said following the handing over to the investigations to the CID from Cinnamon Garden Police by the IGP, they recorded the statements from the Superintendent of the Museum Susav Hewage Ranjith who had functioned as the Superintendent of the Museum for the last 15 years.

He had stated that 12 security personals headed by Sunil Rajapaksha had been assigned for guard duties and another 27 persons were  in charge of the section in the artefacts were for display.  

He stated that CCTV were installed cameras in the Museum and functioned till the first week of February. Thereafter the cameras were switched off due to bad weather. However power supply was re-installed to the CCTV Cameras and to the CPU, all that was done with the knowledge of the Director Nanda Wickramasinghe.

Rajapaksa had stated that only he and the security in charge were allowed to enter those areas. He said that he came to know about the burglary only on 17 March following the telephone call of Jayasinghe.

The CID filed lists that were robbed from the Museum. There were 10 gold plated ceremonial swords, one gem studded cornelian gold ring, 93 gold coins, 18 silver rings, 50  silver coins, nine lead coins, 34 currency notes, one gold and silver  sword, two gem studded walking stick handles, and one silver and gold worked belt.

The case was postponed for 28 March.