Cultural diversities celebrated
Sri Lanka is a country of many races and religions, observing many
different cultural practices. If a tiny island like ours was home to
such cultural diversity, can you imagine the wide diversity that must be
prevalent in the vast variety of cultures in the world?
Today is a day which celebrates this variety of differences in the
world. Why? May 21 is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue
and Development.

Culture embraces not just a way of life, value systems, traditions
and beliefs, but also literature and the arts. The protection and
promotion of their diversity presents many challenges.
Cultural diversity is also a major factor in sustainable development.
The Day for Cultural Diversity came into being after the Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on November
2, 2001, and this Declaration and the main lines of its Action Plan was
welcomed by the United Nations General Assembly. The Day gives an
opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural
diversity and to learn better to live together with people of different
cultures.
UNESCO promotes greater awareness of the vital relationship between
culture and development, and the important role played by information
and communication technology in this relationship.
Cultural diversity has been at the core of UNESCO's concerns since
the organisation was born 60 years ago. It has expressed its commitment
to cultural diversity in a spirit of dialogue and openness.
Some of the actions UNESCO has taken in this regard and the areas it
concentrates on are:
To ensure harmonious co-existence and peaceful living together -
respecting human rights
promote inter-cultural dialogue
fight against racism
action in favour of indigenous people
cultural approach to HIV/AIDS
Defend diverse creativity and the multiplicity of cultural
expressions -
tangible and intangible heritage
endangered languages
local indigenous knowledge on nature
contemporary cultural expressions: cultural goods and services
crafts
creative content: radio, television and news media
multi-lingualism in cyberspace
cultural and linguistic diversity in education.
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