The Netherlands Ambassador in Colombo Bonnie Horbach and President's Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka had a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat recently.
On a presidential directive, Ratnayaka raised at this meeting the possible return of Sri Lankan artefacts that had come into the possession of the Dutch during colonial rule.
A request in this regard had earlier been made at ministerial level. It has now been met with agreement by the Netherlands government.
Transporting, storing and preserving those artefacts too, came under discussion.
Until such time they will find a home at the National Museum, the Netherlands will provide facilities to academics and students to study and carry out research on these artefacts.
