Nuwara Eliya post office's old lightning conductor heist

The valuable ancient lightning conductor installed on the historic Nuwara Eliya pink post office building was looted in broad daylight, the Nuwara Eliya Protection Organisation accuses.

A powerful political hand is highly suspected to be operating behind the failure of the police and the Department of Archaeology to take proper action regarding this large-scale heist, Gayan Wijayabandara and Nalaka Rathnayake who expressed views on behalf of the organisation stated.

Because of that, the Nuwara Eliya Protection Organisation accuses that the investigations into the looting of the lightning conductor are being buried.

Development activities recently commenced at this ancient building, which was declared an archaeological monument by an extraordinary gazette dated 23 February 2007.

During that, the copper strip connected to the lightning conductor was cut from the middle, damaging the conductor, and it was misplaced, the postmaster observed.

The Nuwara Eliya Postmaster submitted a complaint to the Nuwara Eliya Police regarding the misplacing of the lightning conductor while also informing the Department of Archaeology.

The Department of Archaeology informed the Nuwara Eliya Police in writing to conduct a formal investigation and report regarding this victimised property according to the Antiquities Ordinance.

The officer in charge of the criminal investigation division of the Nuwara Eliya Police said regarding this that the relevant investigation activities are properly functioning.

Several statements were recorded in relation to it, and the upcoming legal activities are scheduled to be performed expeditiously, it is noted.