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| Wednesday, 28 July 2004 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke Heritage Conservation (New Alliances for Past, Present and Future) a conference on heritage conservation in Southeast Asia Colombo, Sri Lanka organised by World Monument Fund (WMF) in co-operation with International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMS) will be held at the BMICH from July 28 to 30, 2004. The guest of honour will be Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Vijitha Herath. The President, Emeritus ICOMOS, Vidya Jyoti Dr. Roland Silva will be the chief guest. The President, ICOMOS, Sri Lanka, Archt. Plnr. Pali Wijeratne will deliver the welcome address. Keynote address will be delivered by the Chairman, National Heritage Commission, Sri Lanka, Prof. Senake Bandaranayake. The vote of Thanks by Special Advisor, WMF, Prof. Raj Isar. The two-day conference will comprise a series of round-table discussions of topics such as issues of sustainable conservation, the promise of cultural tourism and building new alliances for stewardship of the built environment. Addressing a press briefing held at Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo yesterday President, WMF, Bonnie Burnham said that due to a variety of threats such as negligence and pollution, many of the monuments located in South and Southeast Asia are in danger. 49 monuments located in 13 countries in South and Southeast Asia are also danger. In order to preserve the rich heritage of South and Southeast Asia we must address a range of critical issues, including urgently the lack of public awareness of the need to conserve the precious evidence of the region's history and culture. Prof. Nimal de Silva, Dean, Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa said that discussions are going on to decide whether conservation projects can be commenced in Sri Lanka in the future. Amitha Beig, WMF India Project Coordinator, Prof. V. Raj Isar, Special Advisor, WMF, Pali Wijeratne, President, ICOMOS, Sri Lanka and John Stubbs, Vice President for Programs, WMF also spoke. The World Monument Fund (WMF) an International organisation with headquarters in New York City, is the foremost private non profit organisation devoted to conservation of historic monuments and sites worldwide. Since its founding in 1965, WMF has achieved an unmatched record of successful international conservation projects in more than eighty countries. Working with partners across the globe WMF brings together public and private support to implement comprehensive conservation efforts which are conducted in collaboration with local individuals and organisations. Conservation work in Asia has also included sites in China, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The 2004 World Monuments Watch list included fourteen sites in Asia. ICOMOS is an INGO dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. The organisation was founded in 1965 as a result of the international adoption of the Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and sites in Venice the year before. Today the organisation has national committees in over 107 countries. Sri Lanka joined ICOMOS in 1983 with the consultants to the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) as the founder members of ICOMOS/Sri Lanka. The role of ICOMOS/Sri Lanka has evolved to be many faceted. Primarily it identifies problem areas in relation to the protection and management of monuments and sites and brings them to the notice of the relevant authorities. In this effort, it maintains close relationships with the Department of Archaeology, the CCF, the Urban Development Authority, Central Environment Authority, the National Physical Planning Department, Galle Heritage Foundation, Mutual Heritage Centre and Kandy Heritage Foundation. Currently ICOMOS/Sri Lanka is concentrating on the following. They are legalising the conservation profession in Sri Lanka by an Act of Parliament, preparation of a contract document and a fee scale for conservation consultancies, participation of technical audits of the conservation work carried out by Government agencies, private consultants in World Heritage Sites and enhancing private awareness on the value of Sri Lanka's cultural heritage and promoting the use of its members for consultancy work in the conservation of monuments and sites. |
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