July 03, Colombo (LNW): A key meeting took place yesterday (02) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, bringing together Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, and Dutch Ambassador Bonnie Horbach, to deliberate on the prospective repatriation of Sri Lankan heritage items currently housed in the Netherlands.
The dialogue centred around a shared interest in facilitating the return of historically significant artefacts and manuscripts that were taken abroad during the colonial period.
Ambassador Horbach acknowledged the positive engagement of Sri Lankan authorities, commending the government’s commitment to cultural restoration. She further highlighted that this collaborative effort not only signifies restitution but also paves the way for enhanced cultural and diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The Dutch administration has recently adopted a proactive approach to the repatriation of cultural heritage acquired during its colonial past, recognising the importance of returning these treasures to their rightful custodians.
As part of this policy, the Netherlands has initiated comprehensive research efforts aimed at identifying and cataloguing such objects in preparation for their eventual return.
In keeping with this approach, a bilateral agreement has been forged to facilitate joint research, with both Sri Lankan and Dutch scholars engaging in detailed studies of the colonial-era collections. The research is to be conducted under the guidance of Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives, which will oversee the examination and authentication of these artefacts.
Also in attendance were Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamange, and Krishen Mendis, who serves as the Cultural Affairs Advisor to the Dutch Ambassador. Their presence underscored the high-level support for this collaborative undertaking.
