Integrated Plan for Conservation, Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage in the Southern Region within a concept ‘A Cultural Triangle in the South’ under the Netherlands-Sri Lanka Cultural Cooperation Programme 2006/2009

Being a new approach to the cultural development strategy, the Joint Statement for Cultural Cooperation signed between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in 2006 under the mutual cultural cooperation programme focussed on the introduction of Master Plan ‘A Cultural Triangle in the South’. The Triangle area in the south contains the Bentota-Galle zone in the west, Matara region in the south and Kataragama-Yala region in the east, which forms the Southern Cultural Triangle. All the cultural heritage sites in this region are included in the programme of future development.

A major part of the 18 stand alone projects which are indicated in the Master Plan covers activities related to conservation, preservation and development of heritage sites in the region with a view to promote cultural tourism, thus creating gainful employment and enhancing the living standards of the people living in an around such sites and to develop the economy of this region in general, which was affected by the Tsunami in December 2004. The majority of the heritage sites identified are of the mutual heritage interests to both the people of Sri Lanka and Netherlands.

The Master Plan has arranged provisions to obtain assistance from local and foreign experts during the process of detail planning and in the preparation of detail conservation and technical proposals for the projects identified. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, the main Sri Lankan partner of the program and its affiliated institutions such as the Central Cultural Fund, Department of Archaeology and Department of National Museums who acted as the implementing agencies of the individual projects suggested that the assistance and advice of the Dutch experts be sought in several special areas of activities. They are, the preparation of detail proposals for the conservation of the Ramparts and the interior designing and display techniques for the proposed museums and visitor centres.

Ancient historical sites such as Magama- Tissamaharamaya, Kataragama, Galle, Matara and Katuwana Dutch Forts, coral reefs, the beaches, underwater archaeological sites etc. are also part of the programme. The tourism development plan prepared by the Ministry of Tourism has identified 9 tourist zones in the region. Another important consideration in the proposed plan is to pay attention to the cultural and religious sites that have been severely damaged by the Tsunami disaster in 2004. These sites include Maritime Museum in Galle, Southern Rampart of Galle, Ancient Underground Drainage System of Galle, Matara Dutch Reformed Church and cultural tourism related activities. Other aims are to assist the Sri Lankan conservators to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the conservation of historic Ramparts in Galle, to restore the various historical layers of the Rampart in Galle giving due consideration to its evolution during the historical periods and to elaborate the preliminary proposal developed by the expert committee of Sri Lanka and workout interior layout together with the techniques of display and presentation for the proposed Maritime Museum at the Dutch warehouse in Galle.

OBJECTIVES
the projects which are indicated in the Master Plan covers activities related to conservation, preservation and development of heritage sites in the region with a view to promote cultural tourism, thus creating gainful employment and enhancing the living standards of the people living in an around such sites and to develop the economy of this region in general, which was affected by the Tsunami in December 2004.

RESULTS
Over 90% of all projects is finished.

See also:
Universities of Sri Lanka (Organisation)