‘National Heritage Ministry promoting cultural diversity’

Galle, Jaffna Forts to be made tourist centres:

Sandasen Marasinghe Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

The aim of the National Heritage Ministry is to create national integrity by allowing cultural diversity, said National Heritage Minister Dr Jagath Balasuriya in Parliament yesterday.

He made this observation joining in the committee stage debate on the Appropriation Bill 2012, when the finance heads of National Heritage were taken up.

He observed that the national identity of a country depends upon the creativity of national heritage that it possesses. He pointed out that eight Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka have been declared as World Heritage Sites.

He also noted that remains of human civilizations belonging to the Paeleolithic era had been found in Jaffna, observing that archaeological excavations could not be carried out in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the conflict period.

He also noted that all ethnic communities have equal rights to the country’s national heritage.

The minister further said action is being taken to make Sri Lanka an attractive centre where culture is concerned through the development of National Heritage Sites as tourists centres.

An extensive programme has been formulated to develop the Galle Fort and Jaffna Fort as tourist centres.