Sri Lanka, Oct. 25 -- A valuable, highly ancient Buddha statue weighing approximately 40 kilograms of copper was stolen on the night of Tuesday (22nd) from the museum located within the historic Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya.

The Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya, Most Venerable Urulawatte Dhammarakkhitha Thera, stated that the statue was stolen after thieves broke down a door to the museum.

Venerable Thera revealed that the stolen Buddha statue was one that was discovered during the excavation carried out for the reconstruction of the temple's stupa.

The statue, made of copper, is estimated to weigh about 40 kilogrammes.

The thieves are suspected to have climbed onto the museum's roof from an adjacent tree at the b...