SAARC Cultural Centre to be set up in Sri Lanka's Southern city of Matara

Sri Lanka has set measures in motion to establish the South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Cultural Centre in Nawimana, Matara in the Southern Province.

Addressing media in Colombo, the Director of the Cultural Centre G.L.W. Samarasinghe said that the office of the Cultural Centre has already been set up in Colombo since last year and it is responsible for overseeing the construction of the Cultural Centre Complex in Nawimana, Matara.
Samarasinghe said the Centre will hold a seminar on rituals, ethics, and societal stability as its first programme at Ceylon Continental Hotel from September 23 - 25. The seminar will be the 1st programme of the summit. He said that all member countries are invited for the seminar.

The Sri Lankan government has offered to establish a SAARC Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka to promote the distinctive arts of South Asia. Accordingly, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have taken steps under the direction and guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to establish the SAARC Cultural Centre in Matara.

The complex will have an auditorium, a library, seminar and lecture halls, and comfortable accommodation and hostel facilities for artists, teachers and students from the region.