After years of silence, a massive stockpile of gold, diamonds, gems, and jewelry seized from the LTTE has been officially handed over by the Sri Lanka Army to the government — ending years of speculation and secrecy.
At a special event held today (May 2) at Army Headquarters, 120 parcels of high-value items — previously held by military intelligence for investigative purposes — were handed over to the police, marking a pivotal moment in the post-war handling of assets recovered from the defunct Tamil Tiger organization.
These treasures, reportedly recovered from LTTE-controlled banks and personal possessions at the end of the war, had been retained for scrutiny under the directive of national security investigations. Now, with those inquiries concluded, the process to evaluate, value, and return the items has begun.
The goods — which include gold bars, jewellery, and uncut gems — will be inspected by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority, accompanied by police protection. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is set to take official custody following the valuation process.
Present at the high-security handover were Major General Deeptha Ariyasinghe, Director General of Army Intelligence, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya, and Naveen Suryarachchi, Chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Authority.
In a major revelation, the Acting IGP confirmed that efforts are underway to trace the rightful owners of the seized items. If identities can be verified, the long-lost possessions may eventually be returned — a move that could reopen dialogue around wartime accountability, restitution, and justice.
The Gem and Jewellery Authority is expected to announce the official value and weight of the seized gold in the coming days — a figure that could run into the billions.
This dramatic unsealing of wartime loot is likely to ignite renewed public interest, political scrutiny, and questions about what other assets may still remain in military custody.
