Moonstone to be auctioned in London :

Archaeology Dept seeks correct details from Lankan mission

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Archaeology Department requested the Sri Lankan High Commission in England through the National Heritage Ministry to send correct details about the moonstone, believed to have belonged to the Anuradhapura era, to be auctioned in London, the department’s Director General Senerath Dissanayake said.

The Director General said even though it is said the moonstone belonged to the Anuradhapura era, there is no evidence to prove that moonstones were taken from Sri Lanka in the 1950s.

The Archaeology Department was set up in 1890. Department records do not show any moonstones being taken out of the country since then, he said.

Deputy Director Dr Nimal Perera said if it is proved that the moonstone belonged to Sri Lanka, action will be taken to return it to the country. A report in the Daily Mail in London said a Sri Lankan antique which was of archaeological value, belonging to the Anuradhapura period, was to be auctioned in London on April 23.

The report said it was found that a British planter had taken the moonstone from Sri Lanka in the 1950s.

It was also revealed the moonstone weighing about a ton, was about 1,300 years. It was placed at the back door of the planter’s residence, situated in the county of Sussex.

It is said that after the planter’s death, his daughter owned the property which she sold later. The new owners, aware of the moonstone’s archaeological value, had sold it. An auctioning company named Bonham, had valued it at 50,000 sterling pounds ( Rs 10 million).

The previous owner had told that her father brought the moonstone in the 1950’s and she was not aware it is from Sri Lanka.