Police said yesterday that thieves have broken into the museum of the historic Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya and stolen several ancient Buddha statues stored there.
The complaint, regarding the theft, was lodged by Ven. Urulewatte Dhammarakkhitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya and a senior member of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya.
According to police, the stolen Buddha statues were discovered during the recent renovation of the ancient stupa at the temple.
Ven. Dhammarakkhitha Thera said the statues were made of copper alloy and weighed approximately 40 kilos in total.
The thieves are believed to have entered the upper floor of the temple treasury by climbing onto its roof from a nearby tree, breaking through the ceiling.
The monk further told police that the CCTV cameras in the treasury had been inactive for several months, though footage from a camera behind the building showed two individuals, on a scooter, passing the area around 1 am on the night of the incident.
by Norman Palihawadane 