June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE

SAARC Cultural Centre NEWSLETTER June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1

News in Highlight

Director, SAARC Cultural Centre meets the Secretary to the Hon. Prime Minister of Page no. 03

Visit to the SAARC Cultural Centre construction site, Matara Navimana Page no. 04

Culture in Nutshell Prof. Prashanthi Narangoda, Page no. 05 assumes duty as the 4th Director COVID -19 and the New Normal of the SAARC Cultural Centre Page no. 06 Book Launch- Photographic Prof. (Mrs.) Prashanthi Prof. (Mrs.) Prashanthi by the candidates who Documentation of Ancient Wall Narangoda, Former Narangoda (Professor accomplish their research Paintings of the Medawala Head of the Department of Fine Arts) is a at University of Kelaniya Temple on Pillars (Tampita of Fine Arts, University qualified professionaland elsewhere possible. Vihara) in Kandy District of Sri of Kelaniya has been and an academic who She, at the Department Lanka appointed as the Director has been serving in the level, holds the position Page no. 07 of SAARC Cultural Department of Fine Arts, of the Senior Treasurer Centre. With the long- University of Kelaniya of the Performing Arts term experience in the since1992. In addition, Students Society of the Announcements cultural, social and she serves as the Secretary Department of Fine Page no. 08 academic, she wishes to of the Ethics Review Arts, and Coordinator of contribute the centre for Committee of University the Art Gallery both of a successful institute in of Kelaniya, the central which serve enhance the the SAARC Organization. body which evaluates quality practice of the A brief profile is given and reviews the quality of soft skills of University bellow. the research carried out students whereas at the

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National level, serves as a member in the year 2000. In 2012 she of the UNESCO International Dance of the Subject Bench Mark Panel obtained her Doctor of Philosophy Council since 2016. She is also a of Fine Arts, and a member of the from the University of the West, member of the National Trustees Management Committee, Gamapaha California, USA. She also holds a Post Board. Her vision is to become an Wickramarachchi Ayurvedic Graduate Diploma in Architectural academic and a research scholar Institute, University of Kelaniya. She Conservation of Monuments and Site who can better serve enhance the obtained her Bachelors’ Degree of from the University of Moratuwa, Sri quality of research, education and Fine Arts with a Second-Class Upper Lanka which she obtained in 1994. social awareness to treat the needs Division Honours from the University She bears the life membership of the of economy, polity and culture of Sri of Kelaniya in 1992, and Master Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch) Lanka and contribute to achieve the of Science Degree from the Post since 2007, American Association best standards of education in the Graduate Institute of Archaeology, of Religion (AAR) since 2010, and a global market. affiliated to University of Kelaniya member of the Scientific Committee

Dr. Anamika Biswas (India) assumes duty as Deputy Director, Programmes at the SAARC Cultural Centre Dr. Anamika Biswas has been State Museum, Salarjung Museum, Gandhi National Centre for the Arts selected for the post of Deputy Hyderabad, Bodhgaya and Nalanda (IGNCA), Associate Professor and Director (Programme) by the Museums, etc. Her expertise in Deputy Dean at Pearl Academy of Selection Committee of the SAARC using Information Technology Fashion of the Laurate International Cultural Centre. The programmes as tool for managing Cultural Universities Network and Research of the SAARC Cultural Centre will Heritage, creating interactivities for Head & Senior Consultant at NIIT be handled by herself with the help museums and archiving museums Ltd. She was also attached to the of Cultural Specialist. She wishes to (online & offline) has established National Museum, Delhi, National implement the programmes for the her formidable identity. Her recent Museum Institute of History of Art, benefit of peoples of the whole SAARC projects include Content Research, Conservation and Museology, Delhi Region during her tenure with her Design & Development for Bihar and National Institute of Fashion cultural expertise knowledge. Museum, Conceptualization of Technology (NIFT), New Delhi as Dr. Biswas has obtained her M.A. Tansen Museum in Madhya Pradesh, Guest Faculty. She has received and PhD degrees in History of Art Design and Conceptualization fellowship on Indology from Indian from the National Museum Institute of Surajkund International Craft Council of Historical Research, of History of Art, Conservation and Mela in Faridabad, Design and New Delhi and Ministry of Culture, Museology, New Delhi. She has Implementation of International Government of India. She has been active in the field of Heritage Gitamahotsav in Kurukshetra, published her PhD thesis on the artist and Cultural Development and India.Her work experience includes Ram Kinker Baij and has authored Management for the last 20 years. Programme Director at the Indira many articles in prestigious journals. Her holistic approach towards Cultural Heritage is a consequence of her hands-on experience with museum design and development, event conceptualization and implementation, academic research, teaching, organizing conference and formulating publications. She commenced her professional journey with UNESCO – ICOMOS project for digital documentation of museum collections for more than fifteen museums in India which included Mumtaz Mahal Museum, Patna 2 June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE Director, SAARC Cultural Centre holds meeting with Editorial the Secretary to the Hon. It is with great pleasure we launch the first issue of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka SAARC Cultural Centre’s Newsletter for the year 2020 29-05-2020 which contains the important events took place amidst the Corona Virus pandemic Professor Prashanthi Narangoda, allocations for completing the Phase tension all over the SAARC Director, SAARC Cultural Centre I to propegate the activities from Region. The whole SAARC had a meeting with Mr. Gamini the Centre because it plays a major Regional Centers were kept Senarath, Secretary to the Hon. role with regard to the future of the silence for three months Prime Minister of the Democratic SAARC Cultural Centre which is from the start of Corona Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to going to be re-named as the SAARC Virus Pandemic situation in discuss the matters and present Educational and Cultural Centre in the Region according to the situation of the construction of the 2030. He further emphasized that its SAARC Secretariat’s advice. cooperation with the However, SAARC Cultural Member States must Centre in resumed be strengthened by work according to the health all means with the guide lines issued by the proposed cultural government from 11th May activities in the year 2020. The scheduled events 2020. were postponed due to the It was also discussed pandemic situation until the that the SAARC bad time leave the Region. Cultural Center During the lockdown for must be moved to Covid 19, SAARC Cultural a location where it Centre benefitted with new proposed SAARC Cultural Centre, can better perform the duties of the professionals to revamp at Navimana, Matara and proposed SAARC Cultural Centre by exhibiting the promotion of the future activities of the Phase I, Phase cultural properties, artifacts, and culture in the Region. The II and Phase III in terms of enhancing establishing a reference library and Director and the Deputy cultural activities and promoting a resource center and museums etc., Director Programmes posts Cultural Centre as the Centre of where people can visit and improve were appointed for the Excellence in the SAARC Region for their knowledge on the Culture of SAARC Cultural Centre. Cultural Studies. The discussion was our region and its significance with The upcoming events focussed on the currently held up regard to the regional identity and announcements for the year physical construction of the Centre, cooperation. 2020 and the progress of and the feasibilities and possibilities the ongoing activities will The meeting took place at the of completing the Phase I along with content in this Newsletter. Temple Trees with the participation the road access towards the Centre The SAARC Cultural Centre of the Secretary of the Ministry from Matara town. wishes all peoples of the of Buddhasansana, Cultural and Region a healthy and fruitful The Secretary to the Hon. Prime Religious Affairs Mr. Bandula year ahead 2020. Minister explained the importance Harishchandra and high rank of completing the Cultural Centre officials. at the earliest convenience in terms of obtaining and achieving the goals - Editor of SCC and instructed to prepare a detailed report on the current situation of the Centre: pending payments, estimated budgetary 3 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1

Visit to the SAARC Cultural Centre construction site, Matara Navimana

Director, SAARC Cultural Centre, together with the was commenced in 2009 and still the completion of the Deputy Director Programme Dr. Anamika Biswas and construction is pending. The objective of the site visit Mr. Keerthi Gunathilaka, Administrative Officer of the was to review the progress of the construction and find Centre visited the SAARC Cultural Centre Construction some favourable solutions to expedite/ complete the Site at Navimana, Matara. Officials representing the construction. It was highlighted that the completion of the Secretary, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural and site would be successful if the construction would proceed Religious Affairs and Director General SAARC, Ministry step-by-step. It was decided to propose the completion the of Foreign Affairs also joined the site visit. The team met Phase I, and commence the activities from the Navimana with the Project Officer, Consultant for the Construction Center and implement programs for self sustainability and and the Construction Party at the site. It was reported attract the local and overseas travelers across the country, that the construction of the SAARC Cultural Centre and move forward accordingly.

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and integrity developed through ages while respecting their “identity” is one important element that we restore for the day, by celebrating and promoting the cultural festivals, CULTURE IN NUTSHELL artifacts, scholarship and the beauty of it in its very nature!! Thus, it is significant that culture plays a major role, and its contribution is so Culture is something we all enjoy elements to the generations ahead significant in a locked down situation from our birth to death!! It defines while awakening the minds of our as we are facing today, because the behavioural and ethical conduct brethren to move forward hand in everyone of us have been of mankind at its best and embellishes hand to serve our society. our own inventions and interventions through the ages for the wellbeing of our society. Needless to say: “Culture encompasses religion, food, [clothes “Culture encompasses religion, food, and attires:] what we wear, how we [clothes and attires:] what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, wear it, our language, marriage, music, what how we sit at the table, how we greet we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things,” as table, how we greet visitors, how we behave Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist with loved ones, and a million other things,” at Barnet and Southgate College in London emphasizes its immemorial set apart unprecedently and isolated unpredictably under so values as Live Science. This involves The SAARC Cultural Center, much pressure due to abundant of not only the customs and norms, as the custodian of culture of our reasons. Having that in our minds we, thoughts and attitudes, language and region, as I believe, under the canopy the members of the SAARC Cultural behavior but also the arts and crafts of South Asian Association for Center, with all the support and that include dance, music, art and Regional Cooperation, stands for guidance from the SAARC Secretariat, architecture and their symbolic and providing every single opportunity are making all the efforts to reach our societal characteristics that forms and to preserve the authenticity of each community through various means reforms any society that shape the culture: its aspects and elements to sooth their mind and soul with uniqueness of people of the particular which offers us with empirical so much love and compassion. This society. The simplest fact is that what evidence of any nation at any time. Be newsletter serves as the preamble to we enjoy everyday belongs to our it is Visual or Performing, Tangible show our continuous engagement in culture. and Intangible, Stable and Unstable restoring and promoting the beauty of In its deepest point, the eco sounding etc., these artifacts and cultural our cultures and their elements while value of the culture is that it is the products and properties are precious outreaching to heal our wounds!! universal language we all use to gifts of our ancestors and it is our express our ideas, impressions and responsibility to restore and promote expressions to appeal the audience them with the understanding Professor (Mrs.) Prashanthi in front of us. Further, it is the most that it “belongs to human family” Narangoda respectful medium of expression because we live in a global village Director, SAARC Cultural Center, that each one of us uses to pay our to date. The temperament of all Colombo gratitude, sympathy, empathy and any such categorization is that we as the other attainment of life to the others. members of the same genre of human That provides us a very good reason civilization have contributed to the to think of the importance of “culture” growth and sustainability of it by and the massive responsiveness that shaping the thoughts, behaviors, and it has encountered on us to serve, attitudes and the cultural identity of preserve and promote its authentic the members of the society. The unity

5 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 COVID -19 and the New Normal This impact is social political and guided tours. Lebanon, the ministry economic- it affected the fundamental of culture opened its virtual tours right of access to living- tangible for its world heritage site by the culture, social right of creative artists month of April 2020. There is an and professionals to mobilize and unprecedented acceleration in free express. The pivotal cultural issues online of cultural portals, websites, Streets being raised around the world is content, performances, lectures and are empty, related to the loss of tourism revenue, webinars and discourses. railway stations are desolate, social security of artists and cultural On an individual level, most of us international borders sealed, schools professionals, arts and culture in have updated and upgraded ourselves and academic institutions are shut confinement, and ensuring culturally with online conversations, meetings, and local public transport is on halt… appropriate awareness-raising about celebrations like birthday, engagement life with restricted human interaction the pandemic. and wedding are conducted online. is trying to fulfil its primary functions As per the UNESCO official website The physical world of the human with the help of technology. It is 89% of Heritage Sites and Cultural race has been constrained within the mandatory – to wear a mask and keep institutes and Museums were closed four walls; it has taken the wings of 6 feet distance from each other. in Month of March-April 2020; which technology and connected globally Lockdown, work from home, classes means the loss of jobs for many with more intense and shared from home, social distancing – temporary workers, independent emotions of hope, care and concern. a new culture has emerged as a artists, creative professionals and their COVID-19 is an extremely infectious result of COVID-19 Pandemic. The auxiliary partners. Putting this data disease caused by a newly discovered virus has caught the human race into context would be to share that coronavirus. The outbreak of unprepared and gripped it to re- the creative and cultural industries COVID-19 was declared as a Public think and restructure their lives. The (CCI) contribute USD 2,250 bn. to the Health Emergency of International impact of the COVID -19 has been global economy and accounts for 29.5 Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO unprecedented, never seen, heard million jobs worldwide. However, Director-General on 30th January or experienced before. The very first this economic loss can be quantified 2020 and on 11th March 2020, the thought in the morning and before whereas the other facets of culture outbreak was characterized as a sleeping seems to check the number are harder to gauge. The lockdown pandemic. The virus spreads through of infected people worldwide, rate of and confinement measures have droplets of saliva or discharge from survival and fatality. In this gloomy interrupted living heritage practices the nose when an infected person and grim atmosphere year 2020 is and expressions such as celebrations coughs or sneezes. The infected schooling and preparing humanity – from Nowruz in parts of Central person experiences mild to moderate for the new normal… Asia and the Middle East to Buddhist respiratory illness and recovers The Covid-19 pandemic hasVesak celebrations in South-east without requiring special treatment. reshaped our life and living culture Asia, Christian Holy Week festivities The vulnerable group as defined by in unprecedented ways, forcing us in several countries, carnivals in the WHO, aged people and those to live inside the four walls of our Latin America and the Caribbean, with underlying medical problems homes. All except necessary services and countless other festivals and like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and businesses are closed. Heritage community performances around the chronic respiratory disease, and sites, Museums are closed and world. While assessing the impact of cancer are likely to develop serious cultural events are cancelled. Cultural this pandemic, we must account for illness. Worldwide many ongoing Institutions are closed, community the disruption it caused to the living clinical trials evaluating potential cultural practices suspended. As an heritage and cultural practices. treatments are going on as there are individual, we all are experiencing None the less, the vital and no specific vaccines or treatments for our very own spaces, relations and incessant creative force of human COVID-19. functions in a very different way. Our race has bounced back with the cities and towns have a new identity help of technology. Museums and Dr. Anamika Biswas as containment zone, quarantine Cultural institutes quickly adapted Deputy Director - Programmes zone or safe zone. themselves to online platforms and SAARC Cultural Center COVID 19 has impacted the have inaugurated virtual exhibitions, Colombo organized cultural sector globally. webinars, interactions, and online 6 June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE

Book Launch- Photographic Documentation of Ancient Wall Paintings of the Medawala Temple on Pillars (Tampita Vihara) in Kandy District of Sri Lanka

One of Research Reports of the Buddhist Cultural Trails, “Photographic Documentation of Ancient Wall Paintings at the Medawala Temple on Pillars (Tampita Vihara) in Kandy District of Sri Lanka” conducted under the research grant scheme awarded to the scholars across the member states, launched on 06 March 2020, at the Auditorium of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka. It was the research outcome of the grant awarded to the Research Team of the Department of Archaeology who successfully completed their project back in 2017. Dr. Senarath Dissanayake, Director General, Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka was the chief guest at the book launch. His Excellency Omar Abdul Research Seminar on “Buddhist gathering. Ms. Bindu Orugodawatte, Razzak, the Ambassador of Embassy Cultural Trails: Journey through Time Deputy Director, Research made of Maldives and High-level officials and Space, of Merchants, Monks and the introductory note for the book of the SAARC Member States were Pilgrims,” held in Colombo, Sri Lanka launch. Representing Research Team present at the event. in August 2017. Ms. Nishanthi Ranasinghe, Research It is worth mention here that the Mrs. Renuka Ekanayake, Former Officer, Department of Archaeology SAARC Research Grants for further Director, SAARC Cultural Centre proposed the vote of thank. studies on Buddhist Cultural Trails welcomed the distinguished guests was awarded to Afghanistan, while Dr. Senarath Dissanayake, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Director General, Department Lanka, consequent to the SAARC of Archaeology addressed the

7 SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 Farewell Tribute ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mrs. Renuka Ekanayaka SAARC Exhibition of Paintings, Sri Lanka Mrs. Renuka Ekanayake successfully completed her The SAARC Exhibition of Paintings 2020 has been tenure as the Director, SAARC Cultural Centre for rescheduled due to restrictions on public gathering nearly two years. She always paid attention to the in response to Covid-19. This event marks the respect successful completion of the SCC Programmes and and recognition for the South Asian Artist for their Research projects. During her tenure she introduced unprecedented effort in creating some of the best and worked out several programs that could contribute works for the Region. This year’s public display to the advancement of the cultural activities locally and would exhibit the creations from SAARC Artist regionally.We take this opportunity to pay our tribute Camp 2019 which held in Maldives from 22nd -27th for her commendable service and wish her a happy September. Moreover, the Exhibition would stand retirement!! out as a learning platform for the budding artist and aspirants. Mrs. Kishani Jayasinghe Wijayasekara Mrs. Kishani Jayasinghe Wijayasekara served as the Deputy Director (Programmes) at SCC and she offered SAARC International women’s Day, her services with the assistance of Culture Specialists Mr. Bangladesh Karma T Wangchuk (Bhutan) and Dr. Soumya Chavan A Documentary Film is underway in its production (India) and the Programme Assistant Mr. Nadaraja in a collaborative effort by the SAARC Cultural Harishnath. Keeping with good rapport with all the staff Centre and the Ministry of Women Affairs of the she was able to implement the programmes successfully Member State of Bangladesh. The Documentary under the supervision of two directors; Mr. Wasantha would be a tribute in observance of the SAARC Kotuwella and Mrs. Renuka Ekanayake. We wish her International women’s Day 2020 with an emphasis success in all her future endeavors!! towards Women in Handicraft Industry of the Ms. Bindu Orugodawatte Member State of Bangladesh Ms. Bindu Orugodawatte led the Research Division of the SAARC Cultural Center along with her Research SAARC Film Festival Assistant Ms. Apsara Karunaratne. She was able to SAARC Film Festival will be held from 22nd to 26th finalize three research projects; Buddhist Cultural Trails, September . The Festival which Hindu Cultural Trails and Islamic Cultural Trails during is acclaimed for being the platform for regional tenure of her service. Keeping with standards of research engagement for the South Asian film fraternity will methodology, she contributed to the SCC with Research witness its 10th Edition this year. SCC has been reports and books. She further assisted in conducting working on the realignment of the festival format programmes and many SAARC Cultural Centre events. and the due precautionary measures to comply to the We wish her all the success in her future endeavors!! prevailing challenges.

Executive Editor Prof. (Mrs.) Prashanthi Narangoda, Director

SAARC Cultural Centre Editor No. 224, Bauddhaloka Dr. Anamika Biswas, Deputy Director - Programmes Mawatha, Colombo 7, Text Sri Lanka Mahinda Sumanasekara, Documentation Officer Tel : +94 11 2584451 Fax : +94 11 2584452 Layout and Design Email : [email protected] Ishan Amaraweera, Computer Operations Officer Web : www.saarcculture.org Published by 8 ISSN 2579-2423 SAARC Cultural Centre, Sri Lanka