Human bones and cultural artifacts of indigenous people returned from Switzerland

Colombo, June 12 (Daily Mirror)- A significant repatriation took place recently as twelve bodies, thirty skulls, and numerous cultural artifacts weighing four hundred kilograms belonging to the indigenous people of Sri Lanka were brought back to Sri Lanka from museums in Switzerland.

Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake said that following the successful return of cultural treasures from the Netherlands last year, the focus shifted to repatriating these human remains and artifacts of great archaeological and cultural value from Switzerland.

The exposure to the media of indigenous human bones and cultural items brought to Sri Lanka from the Basel Museum in Switzerland was held yesterday (12) at the Nelum Pokuna Lotus Lounge Hall premises in Colombo, where indigenous leader Uruvarige Vannila Aththo also attended.

Senior Lecturer Oshan Wedage from Sri Jayewardenepura University, who provided insights on the bone fragments and cultural items, highlighted that these repatriations were made possible through a formal agreement in collaboration with the Swiss government, honoring the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Dambana Wariga Mahagedara's request."