The visit of H.E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, the Secretary General of the SAARC Secretariat in Nepal

H.E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, the Secretary General of the SAARC visited the SAARC Cultural Centre in Colombo, accompanied by Mr. M.H.M.N. Bandara, Director of Education, Security and Culture at the SAARC Secretariat on 30th May 2017.  They were warmly welcomed by the Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre Mr. Wasanthe Kotuwella in the Sri Lankan traditional way by offering a sheaf of Betel leaves.  Ms. Kishani Jayasinghe Wijayasekara (Deputy Director Programmes), Ms. Bindu Urugodawatte (Deputy Director Research), Dr. Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai (Culture Specialist Research) and Mr. Keerti Gunathilaka (Administrative Officer) were also present.

Activities of the SAARC Cultural Centre were discussed after the presentations made by Deputy Director Programmes and Deputy Director Research.  Mr. Bernard Vasantha, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural of Affairs of Sri Lanka made a presentation on the progress of the new construction of the SAARC Cultural Centre by the Government of Sri Lanka in Nawimana, Matara in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.  H.E Mr. Sial was also introduced to the staff of the SAARC Cultural Centre and a group photograph was taken with the SCC Staff.

The site visit to the SAARC Cultural Centre in Nawimana was cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in Sri Lanka.  H.E. Mr. Sial visited the Galle Fort, the only Colonial Period World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka.  The Maritime Archaeological Museum housed in the Dutch period warehouse was visited providing a glimpse of Sri Lankan Maritime history.  The visit to Galle Dutch Fort was concluded with a stroll along the ramparts and the Flagrock Bastion of the Galle Fort.