Fourteen officials were recruited by the Department of Archaeological Affairs last week to be deployed as Regional Archaeological Officers while some of them were deployed to conduct excavation and research work of the Department at various locations countrywide.
Some officials were deployed to maintain the national museums and eight of them were selected from applicants who were already in service in the Department while the others were selected from outside, senior Director General of Archaeological Affairs, Prof. Anura Manatunga told the Sunday Observer.
Senior Archaeological Officer, Kurunegala, R. M.Chandrasena Herath told the media on Friday that incidents of treasure hunting were now on the rise countrywide and about 760 police officers and 430 Archaeological assistants are engaged day and night countrywide to protect ancient Buddhist temples, and archaeological sites.
About 1,789 treasure hunting suspects were arrested during the past two years and 189 ancient archaeological sites were reported to have been robbed by the treasure hunters and vandals..
About 636 suspects of vandalism and treasure hunters had been arrested by the Police during the past two years while attempting to sell invaluable artefacts to tourists at very high prices, Herath added.