Centre to coordinate SAARC cultural activities

Dharme Sri ABEYRATHNE

COLOMBO: A Cultural Centre is to be established in Sri Lanka with the aim of co-ordinating the cultural events of SAARC countries.

Cultural Affairs Ministers and Secretaries of the South Asian Countries, had a discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees recently. At the discussion the Ministers and the President drew their attention to safeguard the traditional cultural heritage in the South Asian countries.

Apart from safeguarding the cultural heritage, carry on experiments regarding fine arts in SAARC countries, making other countries aware of cultural heritage is the main role of the proposed cultural centre. In addition, it is scheduled to form an agenda about cultural affairs in South Asian countries.

Construction work will commence in Matara next January.

The Cultural Affairs Ministers of Bhutan, Maldive Islands, Nepal, Pakistan and the Cultural Affairs Secretaries of Bangladesh, India and The General Secretary of SAARC, Wanagyab Dodge were present on the occasion.

Sri Lanka was represented by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.