The Hon. Minister of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs,
Representatives of SAARC Missions in Colombo,
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I value this opportunity to be here today at the inaugural event of the SAARC Cultural Centre. I thank the Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre for inviting me and I also thank the staff of the Cultural Centre for their effort in organising this important event.
Ours is a region that reflects a rich and varied plurality of cultural, linguistic, philosophical and spiritual traditions. We are, heir to a common civilizational continuum of great antiquity. Our heritage is embedded in spiritual values and ethics representative of the major religions of the world. We have also given forth to the world, a large number of its greatest philosophers, political visionaries, writers, poets and artists.
