Sigiriya Museum complex:

Boost to culture - oriented tourism

Japan’s ex-P. M. Yasuo Fukuda visits Sri Lanka:

by Sisil PANDITHA

Sri Lanka considers the development of her cultural and tourism sectors as main objectives in the 10-year Mahinda Chintana manifesto plan, which emphasises tourism and prioritizes the protection of archaeological sites.

The cultural section of the same document lists first in its objectives the renovation and development of important museums including the one at Sigiriya.

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan and the President of Japan - Sri Lanka Association, is in Sri Lanka to attend the inauguration of the museum complex in Sigiriya. He was the 91st Prime Minister of Japan (2007 - 2008). His father Takeo Fukuda was the 67th Prime Minister from 1976 to 1978. He was assigned as Ambassador on a Special Mission at the opening session of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial follow up meeting held in Gabon, Botswana, on March 21, 2009.

He met with 47 African leaders over a period of three days though he turned 73 few days ago. Japanese media expressed it as a ‘Meeting Marathon’. Fukuda met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Boao Forum in Boao at Southern China’s Hainan Province on April 18 under the theme “Asia Managing beyond Crisis”. This forum is the Chinese version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Last May the Executive Committee of Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) met under the chairmanship of Fukuda in Jakarta. Fukuda returns back to Tokyo on July 17 after long official visits to Canada and Hawaii accompanying the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan.

They were in Canada to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Canada-Japan diplomatic relations. He has visited Sri Lanka on several occasions,one being as the special envoy for the funeral of former President J. R. Jayewardene in November 1996. In 2000 October, he attended the funeral of former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and in April 2006 as the President of Japan - Sri Lanka Association.

The opening of the Sigiriya Museum will take place on July 28. Fukuda will grace the occasion. In 1982 UNESCO declared Sigiriya as a World Heritage site. Over 600,000 visitors, including foreigners visit Sigiriya annually.

The project for development of Culture-Oriented Tourism in Sigiriya (Project COTS) was initiated in line with the request from the Government of Sri Lanka which was intended at developing the tourism sector that was affected by the 2004 tsunami and the civil war. The government of Japan responded to this request by providing assistance under a cultural grant aid scheme to several related projects of the museum such as installation of display equipment, supply of equipment for interpretative display and presentation of the cultural heritage of Sigiriya.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Central Cultural Fund of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Tourism initiated the two and half year technical cooperation project including project COTS. The cost of the new Sigiriya museum is about Rs. 459 million. Japanese Yen 2,604 million worth of financial assistance was approved, and provided through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to improve the infrastructure facilities, access roads and human resources in five tourism regions including Sigiriya. The Sigiriya Museum has six display halls, two open terraces, an information centre, connecting bridges, counter to issue tickets, recreational hall, book stall, souvenir stall, AV cinema, 200-seat auditorium and lecture hall, archaeological enclosures, display stalls and open air theatre, rest rooms and a cafeteria.

There are facilities for educational and research work, electronic media and printing facilities too. Short films and leaflets will be available at the museum to impart a wider knowledge to the public.

Thanks to our local experts as well as Japanese supervisors and Architect Chandana Ellepola who have created a novel design for Sigiriya Museum Complex “dreamlike 21st century architectural concept”: it has been designed so that large trees were not felled and the stream runs under the building naturally. Harmony and identity with natural surroundings of the site and creating architectural spatial quality by the manipulation of natural light and space, makes it a museum in a class of its own. Senior citizens and the differently abled have been taken into consideration. Those who cannot climb all the way to the top of Sigiriya will experience the same visual experience through the newly built museum.

Through the recent experience at the Cultural Exhibition in Tokyo, Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena believes culture - oriented tourism around the country will attract more visitors to Sri Lanka as a destination. He expressed appreciation for the help of the Japanese government and people that will develop an everlasting bond between our two countries.

“We must look forward, be positive and recognise true friends for mutual benefits for long-term achievements”, he said.