Sri Lanka on Sunday urged the people to return or provide any information regarding valuable artefacts and archaeological items that went missing during the massive protests against the government in July last year.

More than 1,000 artefacts, including items of vintage and antique value went missing from Sri Lanka’s Presidential Palace and Prime Minister’s official residence at Temple Trees in Colombo after protesters occupied these premises in July last year to protest the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) said that during protesters’ occupation of the Colombo Fort Presidential Palace from July 9 to 14, 2022, various valuable artefacts and archaeological items went missing, including coats of arms associated with former governors and presidents of Sri Lanka.

President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has requested the return of any Coats of Arms with archaeological or artistic value that belonged to Sri Lanka’s former governors and presidents by July 31.