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Cultural centers like this can be called major centers that preserve the historical heritage of our country and transfer the cultural gifts to future generations. The Minister in Charge of the Subject, Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, is constantly giving advice and guidance to the relevant parties to start new cultural centers for children and artists in all areas and implement programs for the sake of future generations. Also, necessary actions will be taken to resolve the problems that are being investigated by going to those cultural centers.
According to the minister’s views, instead of the ceremonies being presided over by politicians, the program of opening the cultural center was held under the leadership of the invited artists of the area. The plaque was also unveiled by the senior artists in the area.
With the blessings of the Maha Sangha, senior artists of the area, people’s representatives, including honorable ministers, officials including heads of state administration, officials including heads of ministries, cultural center officials, teachers of local art institutes, children, and parents, many people participated in the opening of the Bamunakotua Cultural Center.
Regarding the future administrative activities of the Jaffna Cultural Center recently awarded by the Government of India and the projects to be implemented by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs using the 15 million dollar grant money, Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, the Minister in charge of the subject, along with the Indian High Commissioner A long discussion was held with the group on March 9, 2023.
In this discussion, the Minister’s attention was also drawn to several new programs that will strengthen the cultural and religious heritage of the two countries. Also here, attention was paid to implementing some new programs jointly with the institutions that met at the recent conferences held in India.
The Minister held discussions with the Indian representatives about historical explorations such as Rama’s journey related to the Ramayana with Sanchi and Nalanda Universities and various cultural exchange programs and archeological explorations on land and sea.
Indian High Commissioner Mr. GOPAL BAGLAY, Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Vinod Jacob, Press, Information and Development Cooperation Advisor Mr. Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Second Secretary (Development Cooperation), and Mr. Mahesh Chand Giri participated in this discussion, representing the Government of India. Representing the Ministry of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Secretary Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana and Director Dr. Prasad Ranasinghe participated in the discussions with the Minister.
The appointment of new members for the management board of the Galle Heritage Foundation under the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs was done today (09), at the premises of the Galle Heritage Foundation.
Dr. T.M.J.N. Kure was appointed as the new chairman of Galle Heritage Foundation, and Mr. AH Anil Kumarasiri, Chamikara Pilapitiya, HK Balachandra, Professor Wijeratne Bohingamuwa were appointed as new members of the Management Board.
Dr. T. M. J. N. Kure, who was appointed as the new chairman, explained the future plans of the Galle Heritage Foundation to the officials of the Ministry and other institutions who were present here.
Buddhasasana Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake said that the Galle Fort premises should not be restricted to foreign tourists only but should be done with local tourists and the youth community and use new technology to promote the area.
The future actions of Galle Heritage Foundation and its problems were also discussed here. Additional Secretary (Development) Nishanthi Jayasinghe of the National Heritage Division, Director of the Ministry of Buddhism Dr. Prasad Ranasinghe, Director (Planning) of the National Heritage Division Somasiri Ekanayake, Chief Accountant R. T. K. Welivitage, Galle District Secretary Shanta Weerasinghe, Secretary to the Honorable Governor Dipika K. Gunaratne, Sunil Dahanayake, Director of Galle Heritage Foundation, Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, and a group of officials from a number of government institutions joined the occasion.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a program called "Senehasa" Pleasure Clinic was held at Setsiripaya Office Complex in Battaramulla today (08) for pregnant mothers working in the ministry premises.
Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious , Cultural Affairs and Athurugiriya Lions Club organized this program. For the entertainment of the mothers, there was also a singing program and a prize distribution event.
Ministry Secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana, Additional Secretaries Tilak Hettiarachchi, Champa Wijemanna, Ministry Director Dr. Prasad Ranasinghe, National Heritage Division Director (Planning) Somasiri Ekanayake, Hon.Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, Lions Club officials, and many other dignitaries joined this event.
The first step of the Heritage Forum between Italy and Sri Lanka was held last (27) at the Italian Embassy, with the aim of supporting the Italian government to preserve the cultural heritage of our country.
It is hoped to develop the exchange of ideas and cultural cooperation between the two countries in the fields of archaeology, museum management, conservation and appreciation of cultural heritage.
For this occasion, Hon’ble Minister of Education Mr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, several responsible persons of the Rome Expo 2030 candidate committee, heads of the Culture and Archeology Department of Rome Municipality and several archeologists from La Sapienza University of Rome. Heads of Italian embassies also attended.
Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, who spoke here, said that since this program is only a beginning, it is more important to carry forward the activities of this heritage forum step by step and to effectively implement those ideas in the future.
There are currently 7 villages where the Telugu people live in Sri Lanka. They earn their livelihood by exhibiting traditional cultural and traditional skills (such as performances using snakes) to local and foreign tourists. They have been living in the areas of Sigiriya, Galle, and Trincomalee near the hot water springs, which tourists mostly visit.
But with the impact of covid that started a few years ago, those activities had to be temporarily stopped. They submitted requests to the Minister today (27) to make the necessary arrangements to carry out the activities as before. Furthermore, proposals were also made to carry out the restoration work of the cultural center in Tambuttegama and take the necessary steps to restore it.The Minister, Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, was working to provide these requirements at that moment and made the arrangements needed to prepare the necessary documents.
K. R. Anawattu Telugu People’s Leader, Secretary of Telugu People’s Association Mr. D. Nimal and other officials and members participated in this, and they expressed their gratitude to the minister on behalf of Telugu people.
The 40-feet tall stone Buddha statue located in Ehatu Lake, Pothanegama, Kurunegala district, is a place of worship where many of the historical heritages of our country can be seen. Rasvehera has great historical importance through ancient caves, rare moonstone , Bodhi and Bodhi walls, cave temples and sculptures. A discussion was held last (22nd) with Reverend Rahula Kanankuttiye, the head of the Raja Maha Vihara of the Rasvehera, and Katugastota Dhammarakkhita thera of the Rasvehera Aranya Senasanavasi, regarding the registration as a place of worship and several other matters. There, Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake agreed to take steps to prepare the necessary activities for that in the future according to their request and requested to prepare the necessary documents for the same. This will bring many benefits to the historic Rasvehera Raja Maha Vihara.
A bilateral discussion was held at the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs (Cultural Division) last (21) to discuss future programs aimed at developing cultural cooperation between Korea and Sri Lanka.
Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, the minister in charge of the subject, who participated in the discussion, paid special attention to the implementation of programs to develop cultural cooperation between the two countries and proposals were made to organize a “Cultural Heritage Forum” between Korea and Sri Lanka. A request was also made by the Korean side to provide support to Korea for the EXPO 2023 to be held here in 2023.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (H.E. Woonjin Jeong) and the Second Secretary, the People’s Diplomatic Ambassador (H.E. Lee Sang Hwa) and the First Second Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea also participated in these discussions. On the side of the Ministry, Secretary of Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Additional Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, Director Generals of the respective departments, and other heads of the ministry staff participated.
The Republic Perahara, which was held after thirty-four years at the historic Sri Dalada Palace in Kandy, toured the streets of Kandy today (19). Its opening ceremony was presided over by the President Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe and the Prime Minister Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena.
The parade was organized in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day celebrations and to attract the tourism industry. Only on the most special and important occasions in the country, at the request of the government, such special processions are conducted by Sri Dalada Maligawa. According to the instructions of Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, these activities were organized and led by the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs.
This Republic Perahara was beautified by all Perahara cultural elements including dance groups in Dalada Maliga and Satara Mahadevala. Here, instead of the relic casket, the flag of the Republic is displayed on the Mangala Hasthiraaja in procession. Yesterday (19) at 6.45 perahara, which started from the Kandy wedding hall, came through Dalada Street, Yatinuvara Street, Kanda Street, entered Raja Street and returned to the palace.
Honorable Ministers, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, President’s Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Chief of the Defense Staff, Army Commander, Ambassadors and many others attended this event. The Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs and other heads of ministries also participated in this event.
On the last (18) in the Kandy President’s House regarding several requests made by the members of the Malwatu Asgiri Committee on several issues such as turning the Pali and Buddhist University into an “international center of Buddhist studies”, raising the quality of education in Piriven, holding the 2023 Vesak festival with government intervention. discussed.
The problems of the Buddhist monks and the temples were widely discussed and the Honorable President said that all possible solutions will be provided in this regard and everyone including the minister in charge of the subject Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake agreed to take the necessary steps in this regard.
Reverend Anamaduwe Dhammadassi, Anunayake of the Asgiri side, Reverend Dimbulkumbure Sri Sarankara Wimaladhamma, Anunayake of the Malwatu side, Dr. Niyangoda Wijitasiri, Anunayake of the Malwatu side, Reverend Medagama Dhamanda, the Registrar of the Asgiri side, Reverend Pahamana, the Scribe of the Malwatu side, etc. The President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Buddhasasana, Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake were present on this occasion.
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