SAARC Cultural Festival 2011:

'Cultural diversity advocates admiration of differences'

D. C. de Silva- Kahawa special correspondent

The concept of cultural diversity advocates the maintaining and nurturing of different cultures with admiration to each other's differences.

SAARC countries illustrate unity with diversity, said Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya addressing the SAARC Cultural Festival 2011 in Galle recently.

"I felicitate the honourable services of the SAARC Cultural Center for their unfailing endeavour in promoting cultural cooperation bringing the nations of South Asia closer and upholding the genuine cultural identity of South Asia. The center has acted as a cooperative and dependable facilitator in fostering cordial and fraternal ties among the artistic communities of the member states," she said.

She said: "Cultural diversity is as essential as bio-diversity to human kind for the long-term survival of humanity.

"However, it is unethical to promote backward traditions such as polygamy, child brides, human sacrifices etc. which have been identified as unethical by the WHO and UN."

"All of us have an ethical obligation to safeguard, promote and up-hold cultural diversity as it is the best way to maintain human dignity," she said.