Opposition SJB Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman is to lodge a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the reported disappearance of 42 paintings from the National Art Gallery.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said that he intends to submit a complaint to the CID next week. "In response to the related question that I raised in Parliament, the subject Minister told me that there is an investigation going on. However, I wish to lodge a complaint with the CID. I will be submitting it to the CID during the course of next week."

Multiple attempts to contact the Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Minister Dr  Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, and Deputy subject Ministers Gamagedara Dissanayake and Muneer Mulaffar proved futile.

The move comes after Dr Senevi informed Parliament recently that 42 paintings from the Gallery had been reported missing. He said the information emerged from a survey conducted by a stock verification board in 2015 under the instructions of the then Cultural Affairs Director. Responding to a question raised by Rahman, he said that according to the official stock records, the Gallery should possess 281 paintings. However, he revealed that only 239 paintings were physically available at the Gallery, resulting in a disparity of 42 paintings. He further stated that a preliminary investigation has already been launched by an inquiry committee appointed by the Ministry Secretary, while the Colombo South Division Criminal Investigation Bureau is also conducting a separate investigation into the disappearance of the paintings.