Inscription of Central Highlands of Sri Lanka on World Heritage List:

Vote of confidence for Lanka - Musthapha

Environment Deputy Minister Faiszer Musthapha has described the decision of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) to inscribe the 'Central Highlands of Sri Lanka' as a World Natural Heritage Site on the World Heritage List, as a resounding vote of confidence in Sri Lanka by the international community.

The WHC at its 34th Session in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia unanimously decided to inscribe the 'Central Highlands of Sri Lanka' as a World Natural Heritage Site on July 30. The Sri Lankan nomination was the first to be considered among 32 nominations (six natural, 24 cultural and two mixed - Sri Lanka and USA).

In addition, nine extensions to properties already listed had also been proposed.

The nomination of the inscribed property, comprising the Peak Wilderness Protected Area (PWPA), Horton Plains National Park (HPNP) and the Knuckles Conservation Forest (KCF), had been originally submitted by Sri Lanka to the Committee for consideration as a mixed Natural & Cultural Property.

The proposal had been evaluated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the two advisory bodies that have been designated by the WHC to evaluate nominations for cultural and natural heritage values respectively.