Derive strength from past to take country to greater heights - President

Rasika Somarathna reporting from Sigiriya

The people of our country have inherited a great culture and a civilization. There are many places which house the ruins of historical and cultural importance. We should protect the rich cultural heritage of the past because they are the monuments that symbolize the great past and the future potential of our country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa observed yesterday addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony of the newly constructed Sigiriya Museum complex.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the opening of the Sigiriya Museum. - Picture by Chandana Perera

At a time when the country is brimming with new hope, with the demise of terrorism, we can derive strength from our proud past to take the country to greater heights, as well as portray to the whole world that Sri Lanka is a strong nation not only in the past but at the present as well, the President further noted.

The President reffering to the first eco-friendly museum at Sigiriya, built at a cost of Rs.480 million(funded by Japan) which was opened for the public yesterday, said that such museums were a repository for the preservation of our cultural heritage. The President also paid a glowing tribute to Japan and its people recalling with gratitude the Japanese Governments continued economic assistance to Sri Lanka over the years, in multi faceted fields.

Calling Japan as Sri lanka’s largest donor, the President noted that unlike some other countries the Japanese Government had never imposed any conditions while assisting the country. Japan has also extended its willingness to be a major stakeholder in the rebuilding of conflict ravaged North, the President added.

Former Japanese Premier Yasuo Fukuda who participated on the occasion as a special envoy of his country, noted that Japan would continue to assist Sri Lanka in multiple spheres, specially at a time when the country was emerging from a two and a half decade old conflict.

He also added that he sincerely hoped that this new beginning would be built on the foundations of a national reconciliation among various ethnic groups in the country and Japan would extend its hand to realise this endeavour.

Sigiriya which houses the newly built museum has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982 and is a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists, welcoming approximately 600,000 visitors per year including 70% of all foreigners that visit Sri Lanka. The Sigiriya Museum Complex has been established with the goal of providing a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical value of Sigiriya ( for both domestic and international visitors), increasing the number of visitors and promoting the local standard of living by stimulating the local economy without doing any harm to the natural environment.

The Sigiriya Museum has six display halls, two open terraces, an information centre, connecting bridges, counter to issue tickets, recreational hall, book stall, souvenir stall, AV cinema, 200-seat auditorium and lecture hall, archaeological enclosures, display stalls and open air theatre, rest rooms and a cafeteria.

The Museum is managed by the Central Cultural Fund.

Yesterday’s opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Piyasiri Wijenayake, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, other Government Ministers, Provincial politicians, Japanese officials, and many others.