Police is seeking the assistance of the public to identify the suspects involved in the burglary of precious artifacts in Daliwela Kotawehera Shrine in Rambukkana.
The Police Headquarters requested that any information regarding this be reported to the Rambukkana Police Station or the Rambukkana OIC.
The stolen items are eight ancient caskets made by King Devanampiyatissa’s gold craftsmen , including a very rare golden replica of stupa made by King Devanampiyatissa under the instructions of Arhat Mahinda Thera.
Kotawehera Dagoba is considered to be the only dagoba in the history of Sri Lanka that has not been renovated and the only dagoba that has not been noticed by any archaeologist. Accordingly, after King Devanapathisa, treasured the archaeological casket in this stupa, no one had placed any treasure after the king.
The Sangha generation who had the entitlement of this temple have not allowed to take out and securely preserve these great universal antiquities for the world.
The present chief incumbent of the temple has never agreed to take these antiquities and provide protection to the people of the world with national security and has also planned to involve politicians in the province in the agitation.
It has been revealed that the Thera did not have a specific plan to provide proper protection for these antiquities and did not have the responsibility to repair the CCTV system which had been inactive for months.
It is reported that there is a serious opposition from within regarding the archaeological authorities who are not responsible for the protection of such national treasures.
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