Sri Lanka, Netherlands initiate process to repatriate second batch of colonial artefacts

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera met with the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands, Eppo Bruins recently in The Hague to discuss the repatriation of the second batch of colonial artefacts, a statement from the mission said.

Ambassador Gunasekera handed over to Minister Bruins the list of colonial artefacts identified by Sri Lanka for the second phase of the repatriation. She referred to the first batch of artefacts that were repatriated and now being housed at the Colombo National Museum, and informed Minister Bruins that the collection keeps receiving many viewers, including Dutch tourists. 

The Ambassador looked forward to continuing the excellent cooperation between the two countries on the return of colonial artefacts and stated that this process signifies the goodwill between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, and the commitment to further strengthen cultural diplomacy.

Minister Bruins expressed his commitment to the policy to return colonial artefacts and stated that these objects should never have been in the Netherlands. The return of identified colonial artefacts to their rightful home is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a quintessence of the Dutch commitment to try and rectify the past and foster a future of understanding and collaboration. The Minister assured that the list would be conveyed to the Advisory Committee on the Return of Cultural Objects from Colonial Context for perusal.

It is recalled that in December 2023, the Netherlands returned six colonial artefacts to Sri Lanka including the Lewke Canon, a Golden Royal Kasthane, a Royal Silver Kasthane, a Golden Royal Knife and two Wall Guns.