Sri Lanka Probes Disappearance of 42 Historic Paintings

A major cultural scandal has erupted in Sri Lanka after authorities confirmed that 42 historic paintings are missing from the National Art Gallery in Colombo. The news was delivered in parliament by Minister Sunil Senewi, who revealed that a 2015 physical verification had exposed the shortfall. Official registers list 281 artworks, but only 239 remain in the collection, leaving authorities scrambling to explain the gap. The gallery has remained shuttered since 2012 for extensive renovation, a fact that may have allowed the disappearance to go unnoticed for nearly a decade. The minister told lawmakers that both an internal inquiry committee appointed by the Ministry of Buddhasasana and the police are now investigating the case. Several officials have already been questioned as part of the probe. Parliamentarians voiced concern over the security lapses that permitted such a significant loss. The minister pledged that the renovated gallery will welcome visitors before the end of the current year. Situated in the heart of Colombo’s cultural district, the National Art Gallery is widely regarded as the premier state institution preserving Sri Lanka’s artistic legacy. Opposition members pressed the government for a detailed timeline and accountability measures. Heritage conservationists fear the missing works may have already left the country or entered the black market. The incident has renewed calls for stronger safeguards at national museums and galleries across the island.