Cultural ministry to restore vandalized statues

Colombo (News1st): Minister Sajith Premadasa said officials of the Archeology Department and the Department of Cultural Affairs, carried out an investigation into the incident where an organized group had vandalized buddha statues in Mawanella and several other areas. Issuing a communique the Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa said that through Preliminary investigations it was revealed that the statues were not of archaeological value. The Minister's communique says that the importance of reconstructing the Buddha Statues that the people venerated is something that cannot be ignored. The release further states that the money that is required for the above reconstruction work has been estimated and that the future actions will be completed during the next week.