All measures to protect historical artifacts:

Security at museums will be strengthened - Minister Ekanayake

We have taken steps to strengthen security at museums belonging to the ministry. There are valuable artefacts in museums located in Polonnaruwa, Abhayagiriya, Kataragama and Galle. We have made arrangements to provide training for our security guards on weapons handling with the assistance of the Defence Ministry, said Culture and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake during an interview with the Daily News.

Tourists visit Sri Lanka to see our historical sites. We will take all steps to protect our historical artefacts, he added.

Here are excerpts:

Q: What are the plans of your ministry in 2012 to push forward Mahinda Chinthanaya - Vision for the future?

A: In 2012, arrangements will be made to increase the number cultural centres according to budgetary allocations. The Cultural Affairs Ministry could not built any cultural centres in the North and East due to terrorism. Now arrangements have been made to build 51 cultural centres in the two provinces. Construction of another 52 new cultural centres has already been completed and they will be opened soon. A kovil located in Kilinochchi destroyed due to LTTE firing and bombs, was renovated by a foreigner at a cost of Rs three million and opened recently. A 300-year-old kovil located in Palali is to be renovated and the funds have already been allocated for this purpose through the Central Cultural Fund. Similarly there are some Buddhist Solosmasthana in Jaffna. Naga Vihara is to be renovated. A lot of tourists go to the North and East to see these historical and religious places, and the ministry will give priority to rehabilitate them.

The SAARC Cultural Centre is to be constructed in Matara, Nawimana at a cost of Rs 420 million. Construction work of this centre is taking place at the moment. The Pereliya Tsunami Centre will be constructed. A special cultural centre will be built in Kundasale for all artistes at a cost of Rs 400 million. Accommodation facilities for artistes such as writers are available at this centre. The Elphinston Theatre will be rehabilitated and Tower Hall Theatre has already been rehabilitated. A mini theatre is constructed for the Public Performance Control Board within Tower Hall premises. Funds worth Rs. 400 million are received to develop the National Art Gallery and John de Silva Theatre as one main centre.

A kala pola will be constructed in Colombo and funds have already been allocated for this purpose. A separate village to be established to manufacture traditional musical instruments such as drums etc. At the moment, we purchase such items from companies. Once we establish villages, the income will directly go to village craftsmen who produce musical instruments. A large number of sub-committees have already been set up. We will build a special village in a 20 acre land for our traditional Angampora fighters.

Q: What do you think of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government’s second term?

A: The UPFA government faced many challenges during the past two years. Some countries in the world believed that LTTE terrorism cannot be destroyed but the UPFA government defeated it. The UPFA government established a united Sri Lanka. IDPs were resettled except a few. They will also be resettled once landmines are cleared. The expressway, harbour, airport etc are built in the South. President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenced a programme to carry out one project in one village. We will establish Gam Sabhas in every village which will provide employment for over 80 percent of graduates. The production went up which is why the price of vegetables came down. There is a significant change in the administration of the country. Because of the massive development drive of the government, the cost of living has gone down. The UPFA government is ready to go a long way while changing the country significantly.

Q: What are the measures taken to preserve our culture and to market it at the international level in the tourism sector?

A: We have already taken steps in this regard. The historical places which fall under the Central Cultural Fund have been included in one programme. We have already created documentaries on them with the assistance of prominent persons. We will give them to various airlines. We will also produce booklets on these places in foreign languages and put them in small bags in front of every seat in the flight. The main objective of all these steps is to educate tourists on Sri Lanka before they land here. We will send DVDs with the same documentaries to telecast in other countries. We will pay and obtain air time to telecast our documentaries in foreign countries. Now the tourists who went to Egypt, Maldives etc in the past, come to Sri Lanka due to unrest in those countries. One in every three tourists who visits Sri Lanka, visits our historical places. Therefore, we have taken immediate steps to accelerate our promotional activities.

Q: Why is our tradition and culture gradually fading away from Sri Lankan society?

A: The main reason for this is the opportunity received by our young generation to use the Internet. As children we did not have computers, Internet, facebook etc. But today these items have added new words to our vocabulary. Today children can watch whatever they want without the knowledge of their parents. That is why they get addicted to pop music, pornography etc. But the Muslim countries have taken steps to protect their societies from the Internet. But here we do not have that and when we try to do something we get blamed for trying to restrict freedom. Recently we tried to bring in a bill on songs, lyrics, visuals etc. But a lot of people opposed it. Some visuals contain the image of the Sri Lankan National Flag which used inappropriately. Unfortunately some 'journalists’ in some media do not know how to use the language.

They distort the Sinhala language and culture including Jayamangala Gatha. Recently some persons re-mixed Jayamangala Gatha. The Media Ministry should take stern action against such acts. Taking action against such acts is not restricting creativity. Prominent artistes such as Sir Lester James Peries used reputed Sinhala novels for his creations. But today creations are like kottu roti - instant but without meaning. We will bring about rules and regulations to protect the future generation.

Q: What is your opinion about bringing in laws to prevent illegal/forceful conversions and strengthen religious harmony?

A: Forcefully converting people from one religion to another and creating special sects within religions is a serious problem in Sri Lanka at the moment. For an example, only one Mahamewna can be exist in Sri Lanka. But today there are Mahamewnas at every junction. People visit this Mahamewna at the junction and not at the village temple. In one Sinhala song, one mother asks the Buddha why a heavy rain of flowers pore on the Mahamewna and not on the village temple. She questions the difference. In this Mahamewa and Asapuwa, bana and other Buddhist preachings can be heard in a rap style. But in pure Buddhism, Buddhist Bhikkus always use the same rhythm to chant pirith and sutra. They did not rap them. There is only one rhythm for all of them. But now bana is being preached in rap style. No asapuwas existed in the past. We always had Buddhist temples. This happens in all religions.

Q: As the Cultural Affairs Minister, what do you think of the issue of child mothers and ensuring protection of the future generation?

A: The child is a treasure in our culture. The World Bank gave us a infectious disease about ten years ago. That is Punchi Pawla Raththaran (small family is best). But the traditional Sri Lankan family is big with six or seven children. Once one of our female Parliamentarian said cow's milk is better than breast milk. But nobody can say that. All these are international conspiracies. We commenced a special programme called Senehasa (love). The main objective of this programme is promoting a good sense of literary taste among young pregnant mothers.

The programme is conducted in every Divisional Secretariat division with the assistance of health officials. Present day young pregnant mothers do not know lullabies. We teach them our traditional lullabies with the assistance of universities. Learning and singing lullabies is very emotional for pregnant mothers because they experience how their unborn baby hear and respond to it. Groups that lobby against protecting children do so because of local and foreign funds they receive. They try to propagate a distorted version of Sri Lankan culture and values. They do this for money.

Q: What do you think about the safety of our historical places?

A: I instructed the Ministry Secretary to take steps to strengthen security at museums belonging to the ministry. There are valuable artifacts in museums located in Polonnaruwa, Abhayagiriya, Kataragama and Galle. They have a high archaeological value which is priceless. We have made arrangements to provide training for our security guards on weapons handling with the assistance of the Defence Ministry. There is no use of being there to protect these places without a weapon. Burglaries take place all over the world. Tourists visit Sri Lanka to see our historical sites. It is our duty to protect our historical artifacts. We will take all steps to protect them.

Q: Any special message to the Sri Lankan public?

A: In history, Sri Lanka faced 180 conspiracies. We did not get defeated or our culture did not get destroyed by these conspiracies. We were strong until the 1815 Kandyan Convention. We called Westerners 'sea pirates'. Even today, Westerners trouble us. We have a history of over 2,500 years but USA has a history of only 400 years. These countries have nothing to show to the world. One European country shows its wall. So we have to protect our country and our culture. We saw how people reacted during the Geneva issue. Without political differences the entire country clearly said not to touch Sri Lanka.

The Western world wanted to divide the country just as they did to Sudan, Libya, Egypt and Syria. But they could not do it. Today peace is enjoyed by all. There is no fear. We have joined hands to protect and develop our motherland.