Civil Society Groups Protest Outside Archaeology Department Over Alleged Removal of Historic Tooth Relic Casket

A group of civil society organisations staged a protest outside the Department of Archaeology, alleging that the historic casket used to house the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa had been removed and replaced with another casket.

The protesters called on the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the removal of the historic casket and alleged that the Department of Archaeology should bear responsibility for the decision.

Representatives of the civil society organisations said they were protesting against what they described as the removal of a historically significant casket from the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

“We are requesting an investigation into the removal of the original casket and the placement of another casket in its place,” representatives said while speaking to the media.

They also said they had formally submitted a document to the relevant authorities regarding the matter.

Several representatives of the civil society groups addressed the media during the protest.

The issue has also drawn attention from former senior officials of the Department of Archaeology. Three former Directors General of Archaeology recently called for the replacement of the historic casket to be reversed, describing the removal as unlawful and proposing that the Sacred Tooth Relic be returned to the previous casket.

The official Sri Dalada Maligawa website identifies the temple as the site where the Sacred Tooth Relic is enshrined and notes its significant cultural and historical value.