National Museum to house all important artifacts

Priyanka KURUGALA

Valuable artifacts and national treasures stored in museums countrywide will henceforth be housed in the National Museum which is to undergo an upgrading of security following the recent theft at the country’s premier museum.

National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya said important artifacts in countrywide museums coming under the purview of the National Museum and the Archaeological Department will be shifted to the National Museum once the security of the latter is upgraded.

The minister told the Daily News there are about 10 provincial museums under the National Museum countrywide.

“There are also other museums that come under the Archaeological Department,” he said.

“It is difficult to provide maximum security to all these places.

Plans are being made to transfer important artifacts housed in these mini museums as well as the Awalokitheshwara Bodhisathwa statue to the National Museum after providing it with the maximum security,” the minster said.

He said the National Heritage Ministry put in place special measures to provide security to the National Museum following last month’s theft.

Balasuriya explained that special security hubs or sub-divisions are to be set up inside the museum with the support of the Police and Civil Security Forces or the Army.

The ministry will also appoint chief security officers for all institutions such as the Archaeological Department, National Archives Department, Galle Heritage and Janakala Kendraya that come under the National Heritage Ministry. The ministry has drawn up plans to install a new state-of-the-art alarm and CCTV system at the museum, he said.

The ministry will recruit retired defence officers to implement the suggestions to protect the National Museum.

Introducing a new state-of-the-art alarm and CCTV system in the National Museum and increasing the staff under the National Museum Department are other steps proposed by the National Heritage Ministry, Balasooriya said.

The state-of-the-art alarm will ring two hours during 24 hours. It will alert the security officers of the museum. Workers’ shifts will be changed every eight hours, he said.

The National Heritage Ministry will also introduce a night patrol service by Kurunduwaththa Police in the area of the National Museum, he said.

The ministry also plans to obtain recommendations from a special committee to strengthen security at the National Museum.

According to their advice, the National Museum Department will collect personal details such as the national identity card number and address of every visitor entering the museum, the minister said.

Five armed police officers have been deployed at the National Museum.

Security officers in civvies will also keep an eye on each individual visitor, he said.

The minister hopes the new improved system will help keep the artifacts at the museum under close surveillance.

The upper storey of the museum has been closed following the theft.

The Criminal Investigation Department is continuing investigations. No arrest have been made yet, Balasooriya said.