Atlantis Online
March 28, 2024, 07:19:13 am
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: THE SEARCH FOR ATLANTIS IN CUBA
A Report by Andrew Collins
http://www.andrewcollins.com/page/articles/atlantiscuba.htm
 
  Home Help Arcade Gallery Links Staff List Calendar Login Register  

Major Artifact Smuggling Attempt Foiled In SriLanka

Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Major Artifact Smuggling Attempt Foiled In SriLanka  (Read 350 times)
0 Members and 21 Guests are viewing this topic.
Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« on: May 29, 2009, 10:46:41 am »








                                           Major artifact smuggling attempt foiled

 
   
                                   Customs seize priceless Buddha statues going to US






By Kurulu Kariyakarawana
Daily Mirror
May 28, 2009

In a shocking yet daring attempt to smuggle out to the United States of America, a collection of priceless artefacts consisting of antique Buddha statues, by a foreigner was thwarted by the Customs, thus putting a full stop to a major international racket operating for a long time.

Customs Bio Diversity Protection Unit (BDPU) on a tip-off took an American national into custody last January from a leading courier service agency in Ja-Ela along with a collection of priceless artefacts.

The BDPU had received information from an officer of this courier service on January 22 about a mysterious foreigner who was trying to send a collection of antique items through a courier to USA.

The BDPU seized the consignment that contained 74 items and found a number of statues of the Buddha and other deities, sacred caskets of tooth relics, ola-leaves etc. which reportedly belonged to the 19th century Kandyan era.

The suspect identified as Arian Alexander Stone, an American was produced before the Negombo Magistrate on January 23 and remanded for 14 days.

The BDPU which took the artefacts into custody sent them to the Archaeology Department to examine and found that 48 out of the 74 items were antiques belonging to the bygone Kandyan era.

On questioning the suspect the BDPU found that the items were

 delivered to him on January 19 by a Swedish national named Robert Ulvenkrantz. Two females in a three-wheeler had delivered the goods to Alexander who was reportedly staying at a leading hotel in Negombo.

Alexander had divulged to Customs that he was to send the goods to an American buyer named Steven Sinkleman who is running a large scale Buddhist artefacts business called “The Buddha Gallery” (www.thebuddhagallery.com) in San Francisco.

According to Customs Mr. Sinkleman boasts of his business, being a leading collector who buys, sells and possesses a large variety of priceless Buddhist artefacts collected from the countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The priceless artefacts collected from these countries will be purchased by the foresaid collector at cheap rates and will sell at unbelievably high prices, the Customs sources said.

Alexander was however released on a bail of Rs.50,000 by the Negombo Magistrate on March 3, and it was reported that the US Embassy had directly intervened in this case to facilitate him with legal aid.

In the meantime the BDPU had informed the Immigration and Emigration Department about Robert Ulvenkrantz in case he tried to leave the country. On May 1 the BDPU was informed by the emigration desk at Bandaranaike International Airport that Ulvenkrantz was about to leave the country.

The Customs having searched the Swedish national found two priceless antique Buddha statues in his personal baggage. He was immediately taken into custody on May 2 and produced before Negombo Magistrate who ordered the suspect to be remanded. He was summoned again on May 18 and was further remanded till June 1.

Mr. D A M R Sagara, Assistant Superintendent of Customs in charge of Bio Diversity Protection Unit is conducting further investigations under the instructions of Customs Superintendent and Chief Preventive Officer Samantha Gunasekara.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2009, 10:50:16 am by Bianca » Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Bianca
Superhero Member
******
Posts: 41646



« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2009, 10:48:28 am »










Director General Archaeological Department Dr. Senarath Dissanayake told the Daily Mirror that out of the 74 items recovered 48 were antiques belonging to the 18th and 19th centuries.

He said that the age of these items consisting of seated and standing Buddha statues, Parwathi and Saraswathie statues, three stupas and two salambas which are made out of copper and bronze, are decided according to the style of the art prevailing during the said era.

According to Dr. Dissanayake the circulation, sale and possession of antiques and artefacts is not illegal within the country but it is a punishable crime if they are to be smuggled out of the country.

The artefacts could be defined under two Government ordinances which are known as the Cultural Property Act and the Antiquities Ordinance. Under the Cultural Property Act an item older than 100 years could be defined as an antique. Under the Antiquities Ordinance, artefacts produced before March 2, 1815 are considered as antiques. On March 2, 1815 the British and the locals signed the Kandyan Convention.

Strict laws have been introduced for smuggling antiques out of the country as it is an unbailable offence. A sentence of two to five years or a fine of Rs.50,000 to Rs.250, 000 could be imposed for this, Dr. Dissanayake said.






Archaeological background



Dr. Senarath Dissanayake, the director general of theArchaeological Department, told Daily Mirror that 48 of the 74 items recovered were antiques belonging to the 18th and 19th centuries.

He said that the ages of these items -- comprising seated and standing Buddha statues, Parwathi and Saraswathie statues, three stupas and two salambas made of copper and bronze -- were deduced from the style of art prevailing during the different eras.
According to Dr. Dissanayake, the circulation, sale and possession of antiques and artefacts within the country was not illegal, but smuggling them out of the country was a punishable offence.

Artefacts are defined under two government ordinances, known as the Cultural Property Act and the Antiquities Ordinance. Under the Cultural Property Act an item older than 100 years could be defined as an antique. Under the Antiquities Ordinance, artefacts produced before March 2, 1815 are considered antiques. On March 2, 1815 the British and the locals signed the Kandyan Convention.

Strict laws have been framed regarding the smuggling of antiques out of the country. It is an unbailable offence. A sentence of two to five years or a fine of Rs.50,000 to Rs.250, 000, could be imposed for this offence, said Dr. Dissanayake.
Report Spam   Logged

Your mind understands what you have been taught; your heart what is true.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum
Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy