Treasure Hunters ravage Sri Lanka’s Cultural Heritage-by Emiline Smith Source:Dailynews Artefacts stolen from the ancient Kotawehera Rajamaha Temple in Sri Lanka are the latest victims of longstanding looting and trafficking of cultural treasures in the island. Impacted cultural heritage in Polonnaruwa, left to right: A beheaded statue; one of the four “Seated Buddhas” surrounding the Vatadage in the Sacred Quadrangle; a headless dwarf adorns the exterior walls of the Thivanka Pilimage (Image House). (all photos by and courtesy Emiline Smith) When the temple custodian of the Kotawehera Rajamaha Viharaya in the Rambukkana town arrived for his daily rituals in the early morning of February 12, 2022, he immediately noticed something was off. Upon entering the temple, the glaring hole in the glass display case confirmed his suspicions. Several precious items were missing, including five golden caskets and three crystal caskets. The Kotawehera temple is one of the oldest such remaining ...

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