The latest crisis comes after Dissanayake announced he was appointing a three-member panel to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement under a previous board.
President Kumaratunga refused to swear in SB Dissanayake as the welfare minister, because of an inquiry into his activities as the welfare minister in the outgoing government.
Dr Dissanayake also said that the department had kept records in the Anuradhapura district since 1890 and he could see no reason why the removal of such a stone would not be recorded.
Senerath Dissanayake, head of Sri Lanka's archaeology department, said it could prove very difficult to secure the return of such an item to Sri Lanka because legislation might not be adequate to support such a move.