The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
The Minister replied that the National Art Gallery has been largely closed for renovation since 2012, with only the Eastern Exhibition Hall displaying paintings in 2020 before closing again on 29 December 2020. He stated that Rs. 163.58 million had been allocated or spent for the renovation, and confirmed that a 2015 inventory found 281 paintings in the stock book but only 239 physically present, leaving a discrepancy of 42 paintings. He said a Ministry-appointed committee is conducting a preliminary inquiry and the Colombo South Divisional Crime Investigation Unit is also investigating the matter.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:
¶ 02 (a) (i) Since 2012, the main gallery of the National Art Gallery has been closed for renovation and the Gallery has not been regularly open. In 2020, only the Eastern Exhibition Hall contained paintings, and the Gallery was closed again for renovation after 29.12.2020. (ii) Yes. (iii) Rs. 163.58 million. (iv) Yes. As per the instructions of the then Director of Cultural Affairs, an Inventory Board conducted an audit of paintings and sculptures for 2015. According to the Inventory Report: - Number of paintings recorded in the stock book: 281 - Number physically present in the Gallery: 239 - Difference: 42 Hon. Member, these are the 42 paintings you refer to. (v) Actions taken: A committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry has commenced a preliminary inquiry and is presently recording evidence from relevant parties. Further, the Colombo South Divisional Crime Investigation Unit is conducting police inquiries. In response to queries under Ref. No. DCDB/CS/OUT/760/2024 by letter dated 14.07.2025, I have provided information by my letter dated 13.08.2025 under file DCA/06/10/05.
¶ 03 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 21 May 2026 ·No. 23621 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 21 May 2026. No. 23621. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/7275