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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 Sri Lanka 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 1 www.saarcculture.org SAARC CULTURAL CENTRE June 2020 | Vol 10, No. 1 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 Colombo 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.