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(1) Where the Archaeological Commissioner is of the opinion that any cultural property of national importance owned by or in the custody or possession of any person, is in danger of being destroyed, defaced, misused, allowed to fall into decay or where the character of such property is about to be, or is being, or has been, changed, he shall with the concurrence of the Board give directions to the owner or the persons who have custody or possession of such cultural property to safeguard such property.
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(2) Where the Archaeological Commissioner is of opinion that the owner or person in possession is unable to comply with his directions within a reasonable time or where he is of opinion that such directions will not be complied with or that such cultural property will be removed from Sri Lanka without a licence he shall with the concurrence of the Board take such property into his custody.
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(3) Any person who wilfully obstructs the Archaeological Commissioner in performing the duties made under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction after summary trial before a Magistrate be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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(4) Where the Archaeological Commissioner subsequent to the taking of into his custody any cultural property under
subsection (2) is satisfied that the owner or the person who had custody or possession of such property is now in a position to comply with his directions or has complied with such directions and that such property will not be in any
danger of being destroyed, defaced, misused or allowed to fall into decay he may with the concurrence of the Board.
return such property to such owner or person,
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(5) Any property taken into custody under subsection (2) may be handed over to the Director of
Museums by the Archaeological Commissioner for exhibition at a Museum for public display.
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts