COLOMBO, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's police have established a separate unit to investigate rising theft and smuggling of valuable artifacts from ancient temples in the Buddhism-predominated country, an official said Monday.

Police set up the unit after numerous and highly publicized events of artifact smuggling including one that even involved the special forces of the police.

Last week Oakley Jupiter Squared black Sunglasses, a group of rich businessmen were arrested for engaging in illegal excavation of artifacts.

"There has been a sudden increase in illegally extracting and selling of very valuable artifacts that are of immense archeological value. The new police unit will investigate into these crimes and dedicate itself to protecting and minimizing these activities,"police spokesman Ajith Rohana told media.

Disturbingly, there is increased smuggling of artifacts from Sri Lanka's ancient temples with even the national museum being broken into in March.

An Archeological Department official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that 92 law suits have been filed against offenders this year alone. "Last year, 220 incidents of artifact smuggling were detected but many still aren't reported to the police and the fines given to offenders are too low,"he said, adding that concerted efforts are needed to protect the country's heritage.