Will foster understanding among people in the region:
SAARC Cultural Center in Matara
Speaking at the inauguration of the Office of the SAARC Cultural
Centre in Colombo on March 25 Chief Guest Foreign Minister Rohitha
Bogollagama hailed the event as an important step that would enable the
region to begin work on the implementation of the SAARC agenda for
culture, through the operation of the SAARC Cultural Centre.
“The Office of he SAARC Cultural Centre which thus commenced work
yesterday will also be responsible for overseeing the construction of a
Cultural Centre Complex in Nawimana, Matara, where the centre will be
eventually housed.
Tracing the history of the establishment of the Center, Minister
Bogollagama stated that it was in 1998 when Sri Lanka previously held
the Chairmanship of SAARC that leaders of SAARC who met in Colombo at
the 10th Summit acknowledged that the SAARC process could draw more
deeply from the vitality and strength of South Asia’s shared cultural
heritage as a source influencing and enhancing creative energies in all
fields.
In this context, the Government offered to establish a SAARC Cultural
Centre in Sri Lanka to promote the distinctive arts of South Asia.
In fulfilment of this pledge, Cultural Affairs and National Heritage
Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry have taken steps under the
direction and guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to establish the
SAARC Cultural Centre in Matara.
The Centre which would be easily accessible to artists, teachers and
students from the region and beyond once the Colombo-Matara Expressway
is completed will have an auditorium, a well endowed library, seminar
and lecture halls, and modest but comfortable accommodation and hostel
facilities.
Elaborating further on what activities the Centre could undertake,
the minister said that he is confident that the Cultural Centre will,
through enhanced interaction, foster friendship and greater
understanding among the people of the region.
Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa
Abeywardane and Centre Director Cultural Affairs and National Heritage
Ministry Secretary G.L.W. Samarasinghe also spoke at the event.
The Cultural Centre Office was opened at 224, Bullers Road, Colombo 7
in a simple ceremony attended by diplomats, artists, academics and
officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Cultural Affairs and
National Heritage Ministry.
Religions dignitaries representing Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and
Christian faiths conducted religious observances at the commencement of
the inauguration ceremony.
Following the Opening of the Office of the Cultural Centre, the
Govrning Board of the Centre consisting of representatives of all SAARC
Member States will hold its first meeting in Colombo on March 6 and 7,
2009. |