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The Archaeological Advisory Council was held at the Setshiripaya National Heritage Auditorium on May 25, under the chairmanship of Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake.
In this Archaeological Advisory Council, regarding the actions to be taken in response to the requests received to visit the Omniscient Sacred Relics for worship in foreign countries,
For this purpose, regarding the insurance of the relics, it is also expected that the money received from traveling the relics to foreign countries for worship will be credited for the maintenance of temples in remote villages.The Minister focused his attention on the measures to be taken for this.
Furthermore, regarding the exposition of the relics of the Nilgiri Mahasai, the problems that have arisen in the gazetting and conservation of the archaeological sites in the North East and “Unu pangeya” and “Magul Maduwa” of the Temple of the Tooth, attention was drawn to various other areas.
The minister advised the relevant authorities to act according to the Archeology Ordinance in such a way that the archeological values are not damaged at all and in such a way as to protect the archeological monuments and ensure the safety of the relevant archeological objects. Most Venerable Maha Sangha gave advice on the relevant matters and the members of the advisory council also expressed their views.
For this Archeological Advisory Council, graced by the presence of notable dignitaries,including The Chief Prelate of the Polonnaruwa Solosmasthan Raja Maha Vihara, Senior Anunayaka Thero of the Shyamopali sect; Asgiriya Maha Viharaya Most Venerable Vedaruve Dharma Keerthi Sri Ratanapala Upali Thera, The Chief Prelate of the Somavathi Raja Maha Vihara Most Venerable Dr.Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thero and Most Venerable Prof.Induragarhe Dhammarathera Thera. Other notable attendees included The Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana , Religious and Cultural Affairs, Heads of Ministries and Institutions Officers, expert professors and lecturers in the fields of Archeology and a group of officials .
Cabinet Minister of Buddhasasna, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hon. Vidura Wickramanyake presented his video message at the founding assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia on April 24th, around 2.00 pm, at Xian Province, People’s Republic of China.
The Hon. Minister highlighted the amicable and close cultural relationship between Asian nations. And he focused his attention on the preservation of cultural identity, the restoration of artifacts of entities, and Asian cultural dynamics and relationships to strengthen the diplomatic ties further.
A discussion on conducting the 73rd ‘Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ Festival of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya was held on April 22 at the President's Office.
This ‘Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ Festival, which is held every two years, will be held from July 21st to July 27th at the Sudu Ganga Udakukkhepa Seema Malakaya connected to the Mahaweli River and centered around the Purijjala Sri Sanghabodhi Pirivena in Matale, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in keeping with tradition.
The next discussion regarding the organizing of this year’s Upasampada Vinaya Karma Festival will be held on May 18 at the Matale District Secretariat,
The Chief incumbent of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya Venerable Makulewe Sri Wimala Thera, Venerable Anunayakes of the Rāmañña Maha Nikāya including Venerable Matale Dhammakusala Thera, Venerable Nadagamuwe Wijayamaithri Thera, , Minister of Buddhasasana , Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister Ramesh Pathirana, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Janaka Wakkambura, Ashoka Priyantha, Chairman of the Rāmañña Maha Nikāya Sabha Deshbandhu Karu Jayasuriya, Treasurer Mervin Gunawardena, Senior Vice President Kesara Lal Gunasekara and Defence Ministry Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), Ministerial secretaries and government officials, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage and representatives of the security forces participated in this discussion.
The Chief Prelate of the Narahenpita Abeyramaya, Most Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, at the Narahenpita Abeyramaya, As advised, and Sri Lanka Islamic Center and Colombo Youth Buddhist Association jointly organized this event on the 11th of this month.
Minister Hon. Vidura Wickramanayake, who participated in this event, addressed the crowd It was emphasized that by organizing such events, a great example has been set not only for the country but for the entire world and that it is necessary to continue such programs without limiting them to one time only.
On this occasion, the Minister further stated that the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs have started many programs to strengthen the bonds of mutual trust between each religion.
This event is held annually on the idea of the late Hon. Mohammad, the former speaker and the former president of Sri Lanka Islamic Center.
Many people, including all major religious leaders, members of parliament, other members of civil society, and representatives of organizations, participated in the event.
A gift presentation ceremony for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year organized by the Tower Hall Theater Foundation for tower artists who have shown their talents and made an exceptional contribution to the stage theater industry was held on April 11th at Savsiripaya premises located at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.
On the occasion of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, the Tower Hall Theater Foundation annually presents New Year gifts to artists, and this time, the Tower Hall Theater Foundation used the funds to give gifts to 50 artists.
Under the chairmanship of Hon. Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, organized this gift-giving, and the minister also mentioned that many programs are going to be implemented in the future for the welfare of these artists who have rendered exemplary service to the theater industry.
Additional Secretary (Development) Nishanthi Jayasinghe of the National Heritage Division, Additional Secretary (Administration) M.N.P. Gunaratne, Director of the Tower Hall Foundation Dr. D. M. S. Dissanayake, Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, and a group of artists joined the event.
Minister Vidura Wickramanayake and other dignitaries met the students of the Jaffna Tower Tamil Media School of Drama and Performing Arts at Apegama Premises in Battaramulla, who came for the World Theater Day celebrations on March 27.
All those who participated in this event discussed with the audience the subject development of the drama and theater higher diploma course and the problems they faced in the arts. Many issues were discussed, including the lack of musical instruments, problematic conditions in the places where lectures are held, the inclusion of the Koothu drama in the syllabus, and getting opportunities for the exhibition of their creations.
The Minister gave the necessary instructions to the heads of the relevant institutions to resolve the existing problems. Also, it was proposed to hold the Tower Theater Festival in Jaffna, and the Minister gave instructions to arrange for it.
Additional Secretary (Development) Nishanthi Jayasinghe of the National Heritage Division, Director General of the Tower Hall Foundation Dr. D. M. S. Dissanayake, Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, Principal of its educational courses, and a group of officials and students participated in this event.
The members of the Buddhasasana Fund met on March 24, 2023, at the Prime Minister's Office in Colombo, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, and with the participation of the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Vidura Wickramanayake, and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sajith Premadasa.
They discussed the current status, follow-up, and progress of the Buddha Sasana Fund. The minister in charge of the subject, Vidura Wickramanayake, also expressed his views on the future measures to be taken.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the current status of the fund and its progress and also discussed measures to be taken to promote Buddhist shrines, including the involvement of Buddhist Religious, monks, and temples.
Reverend Maha Sangha, Secretary of the Prime Minister, Secretary of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, and other dignitaries participated in this event.
A Theater Day Celebration organized by the Tower Hall Theater Foundation in conjunction with the World Theater Day celebrations. held today (27) at Maradana Elphinstone Theatre, led by dramatists and students of Tower Hall Sinhala and Tamil Drama School.
World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute ITI. It is celebrated annually on March 27 by ITI Centers and the international theater community. Various national and international theater events are organized to mark this occasion.
The students of Tower Hall, Sinhala and Tamil Drama School presented the World Theater Day message this year in Sinhala and English languages, and this participation is the first time in Sri Lanka, a combination of two nations on the same stage. The premiere of the stage play 'Next Up' written and directed by Rumesh T. Chandrasiri Produced by Tower Hall Theater Foundation was also staged here.
To provide a trip abroad for the students studying at the Tower Hall Theater Foundation to study stage drama and other related activities and courses performed in foreign countries and to start drama schools covering Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa, and the southern regions, Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, who was involved in the event, said that theater associations will be started in selected schools all over the island in connection with the Tower Hall Foundation.
Additional Secretary (Development) Nishanthi Jayasinghe of the National Heritage Division, Director of the Tower Hall Foundation Dr. D. M. S. Dissanayake, Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, a group of officials, and schoolchildren joined the occasion.
Mr. Sumathipala Perera, President of the All Ceylon Ballad Association, said today (25) at the Colombo Public Library Auditorium that the ballad, which is an art peculiar to Sri Lanka, has now become a disappearing art among Sri Lankan fans, and he and his team are engaged in the task of re-popularizing it.
A group of veteran ballad singers from the island, including Kolonnave HS Padmakumara, Galkissa Ajeet Rohana Fernando, Kala Shilpihu Beho, etc., sang songs here.
Dr. Pratibha Mahanamaheva, President of Sri Pali Mandapam, Dr. Pratibha Mahanamaheva, Chairman of the State Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Council, Prof. Kamal Valeboda, Minister of Buddha Sasana,Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake, and others joined the event.
Today (21) the "Puppet Theater Show and Cultural Vision" showcasing Sri Lanka’s Ambalangoda traditional thread puppetry, which is a world heritage, along with the World Puppet Day celebration, was held in a grand manner at the Kamatha Open Air Premises of the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall, Colombo.
The concert was organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, sponsored by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the State Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Council, the Sri Lanka Arts Council, and the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Secretary of Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Director (Cultural Affairs), Mrs. Bhagya C. Katudenia, State Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Council Chairman, Prof. Kamal Valeboda, Sri Lanka Arts Council Chairman, Prof. Praneet Abhyasundara, Deputy Director (Cultural Affairs Department), Mrs.Shamila Krishanthi, Assistant Directors Mr. Prasad Chandana, Mr. Kasun Seneviratne, Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake and a large number of people joined this event.
Department of Cultural Affairs
J.R. Jayewardene Centre
National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
Central Cultural Fund
Tower Hall Theatre Foundation 
Arts Council of Sri Lanka
Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksha Theatre