Dutch priority for Lanka in heritage cooperation

The Government of The Netherlands has listed Sri Lanka as one of the eight priority countries identified for mutual heritage cooperation, Dutch Ministers told Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena when he paid an official visit to The Netherlands from March 27 to 31.

The Minister was in The Netherlands in connection with the Southern Cultural Triangle program funded by The Netherlands and to negotiate Dutch financial assistance towards the program’s second phase.

Abeywardena, during his visit called on Dutch Education, Culture and Science Minister Ronald Plasterk.

European Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans who is also the State Secretary for International Cooperation at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The Ministers engaged in extensive discussions on the restoration as well as conservation and preservation of Dutch built heritage and artefacts in Sri Lanka.

Minister Abeywardena also briefed the Ministers on the proposal of the Sri Lanka Government on the second phase of the Cultural Cooperation Program with Dutch financial assistance for conservation of built heritage in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The Ministers informed the visiting Minister that the Government of The Netherlands has listed Sri Lanka as one of the eight priority countries identified for mutual heritage cooperation and added that the Dutch Ambassador in Sri Lanka will study the new proposal and make recommendations for consideration.

They also discussed matters concerning augmenting the entire scope of cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The Government of The Netherlands granted Rs. 702 million in 2006 to support the Southern Cultural Triangle Program which comprised 18 projects on cultural heritage and economic development.

The Dutch Ministers expressed satisfaction over the steady progress made to complete the majority of projects within three years.

In addition, the Government of The Netherlands granted Rs. 56 Million in 2008 for the conservation of the old Dutch Naval Commissioner’s Residence in Trincomalee.

The Sri Lankan Minister also briefed the Dutch Ministers on the internal security situation in terms of military operations against LTTE in the North and the Government’s humanitarian program in those areas to help civilians displaced as well as held by the LTTE as human shields.

The Centre for International Heritage Activities in Leiden which coordinates implementation of cultural projects in Sri Lanka through the Embassy of The Netherlands in Colombo, the Cultural Affairs Ministry and other agencies, organized a workshop to review the progress achieved in the implementation of projects under the Southern Cultural Triangle Program and to exchange views on the future cooperation with Sri Lanka.

The workshop was attended by the Senior Policy Adviser of International Cultural Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry and representatives of focal implementing agencies of the Dutch international cultural heritage activities.

The Sri Lanka delegation made a comprehensive presentation of the Dutch Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka, ongoing conservation activities and details of sites identified for conservation in the North and East.

The Dutch stakeholders of the International Cultural Cooperation commended the work completed under the Southern Cultural Triangle Program in three years.

Minister Abeywardena addressed the stakeholders and appealed to them to consider funnelling the available funds for cultural cooperation in Sri Lanka.