Fourteenth Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre concludes in Colombo, Sri Lanka

SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC) hosted its Fourteenth Governing Board (GB) Meeting from 22-23 October 2024 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was convened under the Chairmanship of Mr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Governing Board Members of SAARC Member States participated both in person and virtually. The distinguished members who represented their esteemed Member States virtually at the Governing Board Meeting were: Ms. Nagtsho Dorji, Director of the Department of Culture & Dzongkha Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan; Mr. Yash Veer Singh, Director of International Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture, Republic of India; Mr. Mohamed Shahuruzziyad, Minister of State for Divehi Language, Culture & Heritage, the Republic of Maldives; Dr. Suresh Suras Shrestha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal; and Mr. Hassan Nasir Jamy, Secretary, National Heritage & Culture Division, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Mr. Ranjith Ariyaratne, Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, attended in person representing Sri Lanka. Ms. Irosha Cooray, Director of Education, Security & Culture (ESC), SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal represented the SAARC Secretary General, and Ms. Renuka Ekanayake, Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre attended as Member-Secretary. Mr. Niluka Kadurugamuwa, Director General (South Asia, SAARC & Public Diplomacy) also attended the meeting representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka.

The meeting concluded successfully with observations and recommendations from the GB Members and the Board congratulated the SAARC Cultural Centre for its proposed programmes for 2025 aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and unity among the Member States through art and culture.