Our Activities

2024

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC Talk Series – 1st Session        Sri Lanka/ 30 January Held
2 SAARC Talk Series – 2nd Session        Sri Lanka/ 20 February Held
3 SAARC Talk Series – 3rd Session        Sri Lanka/ 13 March Held
4 SAARC World Puppetry Day        Sri Lanka/ 05 April Held
5 SAARC Film Day – India        Sri Lanka/ 05 April Held
6 SAARC Talk Series – 4th Session        Sri Lanka/ 30 April Held
7 SAARC Talk Series – 5th Session        Sri Lanka/ 19 June Held
8 SAARC Talk Series – 6th Session       Sri Lanka/ 10 July Held
9 SAARC Film Day – Maldives       Sri Lanka/ 31 July Held
10 SAARC Talk Series – 7th Session       Sri Lanka/ 30 August Held
11 SAARC Talk Series – 8th Session       Sri Lanka/ 9 September Held
12 SAARC Film Day – From Nepal        Sri Lanka/ 11 September Held
13 SAARC Special Lecture by Mr. Yeshi Samdrup        Sri Lanka/ 18 September Held
14 SAARC Special Lecture and Meet the Author        Sri Lanka/ 18 October Held
15 SAARC Special Lecture by Dr. Pramod Jaiswal        Sri Lanka/ 29 October Held
16 SAARC Special Lecture by Prof. Dr. Ghani-ur-Rahman        Sri Lanka/ 11 November Held
17 SAARC Special Lecture by Dr. Selvakumar Veerasamy        Sri Lanka/ 25 November Held
18 SAARC Film Day 2024 – From Pakistan        Sri Lanka/ 4 December Held
19 SAARC Special Lecture by Ms. Ashwini Natesan        Sri Lanka/ 9 December Held
20 SAARC Special Lecture by Ms. Sulochana Dissanayake        Sri Lanka/ 13 December Held
21 SAARC Festival of Rice Culinary Arts and Spice Exhibition        Bhutan/ TBA Scheduled
22 SAARC Film Festival 2024        Sri Lanka/ TBA Scheduled
23 Seminar on Intangible Cultural Heritage for Food Storage in the SAARC Region        Pakistan Scheduled
24 SAARC Symposium        India On Hold until Further Notice
25 Research Grant on Intangible Cultural Heritage for Food Storage in the SAARC Region On Hold until Further Notice
26 SAARC International Women’s Day        Bangladesh Proposed
27 Visions of Traditional and Contemporary Textiles Workshop and Exhibition Participatory Programme – Republic of Maldives       Maldives/ TBA Proposed

2023

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 Rabindra Jayanti Celebration Sri Lanka/ 9 May Held
2 SAARC Talk Series – 1st Session Sri Lanka/ 30 May Held
3 SAARC Cultural Celebration Sri Lanka/ 12 June Held
4 SAARC Talk Series – 2nd Session Sri Lanka/ 20 June Held
5 SAARC Special Lecture on Archaeology Sri Lanka/ 26 June Held
6 SAARC Talk Series – 3rd Session Sri Lanka/ 18 July Held
7 SAARC Special Lecture on Archaeology by Professor Osmund Bopearachchi Sri Lanka/ 28 July Held
8 SAARC Talk Series – 4th Session Sri Lanka/ 16 August Held
9 SAARC Film Day – August Sri Lanka/ 25 August Held
10 SAARC Talk Series – 5th Session Sri Lanka/ 26 September Held
11 SAARC Talk Series – 6th Session Sri Lanka/ 24 October Held
12 SAARC Special Lecture by Dr. Anamika Biswas Sri Lanka/ 25 October Held
13 SAARC Painting Exhibition 2023 Sri Lanka/ 07-10 November Held
14 SAARC Film Day – November Sri Lanka/ 21 November Held
15 SAARC Talk Series – 7th Session Sri Lanka/ 24 November Held
16 SAARC Talk Series – 8th Session Sri Lanka/ 6 December Held

2021

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC International Women’s Day
 Bangladesh/ 8 March Scheduled
2 SAARC Festival of Traditional Instrumental Musical and Workshop
 Bhutan/ March Scheduled
3 SAARC Artists, Sculpture Camp and Exhibition Bangladesh/ April Scheduled
4 SAARC Film Festival
 Sri Lanka/ May Scheduled
5 SAARC Food Festival and Spice Exhibition
 India/ June Scheduled
6 SAARC Cultural Capital-Closing Ceremony
 India/ June Scheduled
7 SAARC Literary Award and Ceremony
 India/ June Scheduled
8 SAARC Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Architecture
 Pakistan/ July Scheduled
9 SAARC Cultural Capital-Opening Ceremony
 Maldives/ August Scheduled
10 SAARC Research Seminar & Research Grants for Protection of Cultural Heritage from the impact of Climate Change and Disasters
 Maldives/ August Scheduled
11 SAARC Archaeology and Heritage Management Training Workshop
 Afghanistan/ September Scheduled
12 SAARC Non-Violence Day
 Afghanistan/ October Scheduled
13 SAARC Cultural Festival of Theatre
 Nepal/ November Scheduled
14 SAARC Children’s Day
 Bhutan/ November Scheduled
15 SAARC Charter Day
 Sri Lanka/ 8 December Scheduled

2020

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC Exhibition of Paintings Sri Lanka/ January Held
2 SAARC International Women’s Day
 Bangladesh/ 8 March Scheduled
3 SAARC Festival of Traditional Instrumental Musical and Workshop
 Bhutan/ March Scheduled
4 SAARC Artists, Sculpture Camp and Exhibition Bangladesh/ April Scheduled
5 SAARC Film Festival
 Sri Lanka/ May Scheduled
6 SAARC Food Festival and Spice Exhibition
 India/ June Scheduled
7 SAARC Cultural Capital-Closing Ceremony
 India/ June Scheduled
8 SAARC Literary Award and Ceremony
 India/ June Scheduled
9 SAARC Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Architecture
 Pakistan/ July Scheduled
10 SAARC Cultural Capital-Opening Ceremony
 Maldives/ August Scheduled
11 SAARC Archaeology and Heritage Management Training Workshop
 Afghanistan/ September Scheduled
12 SAARC Non-Violence Day
 Afghanistan/ 2 October Scheduled
13 SAARC Cultural Festival of Theatre
 Nepal/ November Scheduled
14 SAARC Children’s Day
 Bhutan/ 20 November Scheduled
15 SAARC Charter Day
 Sri Lanka/ 8 December Held

2019

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC Exhibition of Paintings Sri Lanka/ 22-24 January Held
2 SAARC Cultural Capital-Closing Ceremony
 Bhutan/ 29 June Held
3 SAARC Cultural Capital-Opening Ceremony
 India/ TBA Scheduled
4 SAARC Literary Award and Ceremony Bhutan/ 29 June Held
5 SAARC Cultural Festival on Music and Dance
 India/ TBA Scheduled
6 SAARC International Women’s Day
 Sri Lanka/ 8 March Held
7 SAARC Sculpture Symposium
 Pakistan/ 25-30 November Scheduled
8 SAARC Seminar on Islamic Cultural Trails
 Afghanistan/ 28-30 August Held
9 SAARC Film Festival
 Sri Lanka/ 2-7 July Held
10 SAARC Artists Camp and Exhibition
 Maldives/ 22-27 September Held
11 SAARC Handicraft Exhibition and Workshop
 Nepal/ 8-12 September Held
12 SAARC Non-Violence Day
 Sri Lanka/ 2 October Held
13 SAARC Charter Day
 Sri Lanka/ 8 December Held

2018

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC Literary Award and Ceremony Sri Lanka/ 26 January Held
2 SAARC Exhibition of Paintings
 Sri Lanka/ 10-13 July Held
3 SAARC Cultural Capital
 Bhutan/ 31 May Held
4 SAARC International Women’s Day Sri Lanka/ 8 March Held
5 SAARC Artists Camp and Exhibition
 Sri Lanka/ 4-6 December Held
6 SAARC Film Festival
 Sri Lanka/ 22-27 May Held
7 SAARC Cultural Festival on Traditional Dance
 Nepal/ 11-14 December Held
9 SAARC Handicraft Exhibition and Workshop
 Bhutan/ 31 May – 1 June Held
10 SAARC Non-Violence Day
 Sri Lanka Held
11 SAARC Seminar, Research Grant and Publications on Hindu Cultural Trails
 India/ 8-10 October Held
13 SAARC Charter Day
 Sri Lanka/ 8 December Held

2017

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC celebrates International Women’s Day Colombo, Sri Lanka/ 08 March 2017 Held
2 SAARC Exhibition of Paintings
 Sri Lanka/ 03-09 July 2017 Held
3 SAARC Artist Camp & Exhibition of Paintings
 Nepal/ 28-31 July 2017 Held
4 SAARC Film Festival Colombo, Sri Lanka/ 21-25 November 2017 Held
5 Cultural Festival on Traditional Dance
 Bangladesh/ 30 November-3 December 2017 Held
6 Research on Cultural Trails
 Colombo, Sri Lanka/ 26-27 August 2017 Held
7 SAARC Exhibition & Workshop on Handicrafts
 Bangladesh/ 30 November-3 December 2017 Held
8 SAARC Non-Violence Day Art Competition Awards Ceremony
 Colombo, Sri Lanka/ 08 December 2017 Held

2016

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC celebrates International Women’s Day Colombo, Sri Lanka 08 March 2016 Held
2 SAARC Artist Camp
 Thimphu, Bhutan 25-28 April 2016 Held
3 SAARC Film Festival
 Colombo, Sri Lanka 01-06 June 2016 Held
4 SAARC Cultural Capital – Closing Ceremony
 Bamyan, Afghanistan 21 September 2016 Held
5 SAARC Exhibition of Paintings
 Battaramulla, Sri Lanka 02 – 05 October 2016 Held
5 SAARC Handicrafts Exhibition
 Colombo, Sri Lanka 17 – 20 November 2016 Held

2015

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/ Scheduled/Postponed/ Proposed
1 SAARC Cultural Capital – Coordination Meeting Colombo, Sri Lanka 15 January 2015 Held
2 SAARC Cultural Festival on Folk Dance Thimphu, Bhutan 08-12 April 2015 Held
3 SAARC Seminar on Cultural Dynamics in National Harmony
 Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 15-17 May 2015 Held
4 SAARC Film Festival
 Colombo, Sri Lanka 26-31 May 2015 Held
5 SAARC Cultural Capital – Inauguration- Bamyan
 Bamyan, Afghanistan 4-8 June 2015 Held
6 SAARC Cultural Capital 2016, Preparatory Meetings
 Bangladesh 16-22 June 2015 Held
7 SAARC Literary Festival
 Bangalore, India 02-05 July 2015 Held
8 SAARC Artist Camp Bamyan, Afghanistan 23-27 August 2015 Held
9 SAARC Photographic Competition Colombo, Sri Lanka 08 December 2015 Held

2014

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates Held/Scheduled/Postponed/Proposed
1 SAARC Artist Camp Bangladesh 3-6 April 2014 Held
2 SAARC Capacity Building Workshop on preparation of proposals of new sites for inclusion in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list Lumbini, Nepal 3-8 August 2014 Held
3 Review Meeting the Research Project (2013-14) on Traditional Knowledge Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 25-26 April 2014 Held
4 Launching of Research Project (2014-15) on  Cultural Heritage Tourism and Sustainable Development : Regional Seminar Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 28-29 April 2014 Held
5 SAARC Cultural Capital  – Coordination Meeting to be held in Afghanistan
 Bamiyan, Afghanistan 16-22 June 2014 Held
6 SAARC Film Festival Colombo, Sri Lanka 20-25 May 2014 Held
7 Cultural Festival – Traditional Dance Delhi, India 26-28 September 2014 Held
8 Conference on Development of South Asian Museums Colombo, Sri Lanka 23-25 October 2014 Held
9 Exhibition on Handicrafts Kathmandu, Nepal 20-24 November 2014 Held
10 Photographic Competition and Exhibition Colombo, Sri Lanka 8 December 2014 Held
11 Meeting of the Governing Board of SCC Colombo, Sri Lanka 6-7 September 2014 Held
12 SAARC Charter Day Colombo, Sri Lanka 8 December 2014 Held

2013

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates     Held/Scheduled/
Postponed/Proposed
1 SAARC International Women’s Day
Photos
 Galle, Sri Lanka, 12 March 2013 Held
2 Artists Camp and Exhibition of Paintings
News   Photos		 Malé. Maldives  25-28 March 2013 Held
3 Research Project 2013
News   Photos		 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, 29-30 April 2013 Held
4 Reveiw Meeting – Ongoing Research
News		 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, 2-3 May 2013 Held
5 SAARC Film Festival 2013
News   Photos		 Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26-31 May 2013 Held
6 SAARC Workshop on World Heritage Sites
News   Photos		 Islamabad, Pakistan, 26-31 August 2013 Held
7 5th Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre Galle, Sri Lanka, 9-10 September 2013 Held
8 SAARC Exhibition on Handicrafts Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22-27 September 2013 Held
9 SAARC International Conference on Development of Archives in South Asia
News & Photos		 Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3-5 December 2013 Held
10 SAARC Charter Day
Photos		 Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, 8 December 2013 Held
11 Photographic Competition & Exhibition
Photos		 Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, 8 December 2013 Held
12 SAARC Literary Festival on South Asian Novels
News		 Thimphu, Bhutan, 18-21 December 2013 Held

2012

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates     Held/Scheduled/
Postponed/Proposed
1 SAARC Cultural Festival 2011

 BMICH Colombo and Galle, 17-19 February 2012 Held
2 SAARC Film Day Colombo – one day in every month Held
3 SAARC International Women’s Day

 Colombo, 9 March 2012 Held
4 Regional Conference on Diasporic Cultures
of South Asia – Research Project 2

 Galle, 15-17 March 2012 Held
5 SAARC Foundation Day Lecture

 Colombo 27 March 2012 Held
6 Research Project on ‘Diminishing Cultures of South Asia’, Mid Term Review meeting – Research Project – Research project 1 Colombo, 27-28 March 2012 Held
7 SAARC Culture -2011 Annual SAARC Cultural Journal Colombo Published
8 Contemporary short stories of South Asia

 Colombo Published
9 Collection of poems of South Asia

 Colombo Published
10 SAARC Film Festival – 2012

 Colombo, 16-20 May 2012 Held
11 Artist Camp and Art Exhibition

 Colombo, 7-10 June 2012 Held
12 SAARC International Conference on ‘Archaeology of Buddhism:
Recent Discoveries in South Asia’

 Colombo, 22-24 August 2012 Held
13 Exhibition and Workshop on Traditional Handloom India, 1-6 November 2012 Held
14 Fourth Meeting of Governing Board of SCC

 Colombo, 2-3 October, 2012 Held
15 SAARC Non-Violence Day

 Colombo, 2 October, 2012 Held
16 Cultural Festival on Traditional Drumming in the SAARC Region

 Bhutan, 21-24 November 2012 Held
17 SAARC Charter Day

 Colombo, 8 December 2012 Held

2011

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates     Held/Scheduled/
Postponed/Proposed
1 Symposium on Shared heritage of Sculpture and decorative Arts in South Asia

 National Art Gallery, Colombo  27- 30 January 2011 Held
2 Web Portal on SAARC Cultural Heritage
 Colombo, January 2011 Launched
3 SAARC Film Festival- 2011

 Colombo, 11-15 May, 2011 Held
4 SAARC Regional Conference on Diminishing cultures
in South Asia – Research Project 1		 Kandy, 19-21 July, 2011 Held
5 SAARC Artists Camp and Exhibition
 Janakalakenderiya, Battaramulla,
2-6 September 2011		 Held
6 Third Meeting of Governing Board

 Colombo, 8-9 September 2011 Held
7 Symposium on Folk Dances in South Asia

 Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22-25 October 2011 Held
8 SAARC Culture 2010 – Annual SAARC Cultural Journal

 Colombo, 2011 Published

2010

S/N Name of Activity Venue/Dates     Held/Scheduled/
Postponed/Proposed
1  Seminar on Rituals, Ethics and Social Stability in the SAARC Region

Colombo, 23-25 September 2010		 Held