Another difference was that for the first time a Sri Lankan came to be the Head of the Department. As has been already stated, Senarat Paranavithana first acted in the post of Commissioner in 1932 but reverted to his substantive post from October 1935 to July 1940.

The end of March 1942 due to second World War the Department had to pack up and seek pastures elsewhere. In April 1943 the office was shifted to a house rented at Nawala and 1944 at Gangodawila. Finally from Gangodawila the Department's Head Office came back to the old house in Colombo in April 1946.

The regulations under the new ordinance were published in the Government Gazette No. 8698 of December 23, 1940.

The new Bill entitled the Cultural Property Act No. 73 of 1988 provides for the control of the expert of Cultural Property and for a scheme of licensing of cultural property.

In the beginning of the 1980's a new institution was set up by the enactment of a Bill in Parliament for developing, restoring and preserving cultural and religious monuments in Sri Lanka and the development of religious and cultural activities in Sri Lanka and abroad. This is known as the Cultural Triangle and the Central Cultural Fund finances this organization. The control of which is vested in a Board of Governors whose chairman is the Prime Minister

The New bill entitled the Cultural Property Act No. 73 of 1988 provides for the control of the export of cultural property and for a scheme of licensing of Cultural Property. Under this Act, no person is permitted to export any cultural property except upon a license.

In 1988 Galle Fort was included in the World Heritage List.