SriLanka, Sept. 30 -- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a steering committee to streamline the repatriation of Sri Lankan cultural property and artefacts removed from the country during the colonial era, in line with the UNESCO Convention, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday (29) he said that articles 7 and 13 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property entitle a state to request the return of cultural property belonging to it that is held abroad.

He added that according to a proposal presented by the then Buddhasasana, Religious and Cu...