On 28th June 2016 three stone Statues were detained suspicious to be having Archaeological value belonging at the departure terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport while being attempted to smuggle out without a valid permit. Those statues were found concealed among other personal goods in baggage of Chinese passenger.
Department of Archaeology has confirmed that two statues were Antiques. Subsequently goods were forfeited. Exportation of Antiques without the valid license/ permit issued by the Director General of Archaeology is an offence in terms of provisions of Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) read with Antiquities Ordinance.
