Netherlands Embassy to host seminar on PPPs in cultural heritage

On 23 November, between 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m., a day long program with workshops will culminate in a function that explores future possibilities for public-private partnerships in cultural heritage in the Sri Lankan context.

Participants from the Government, the private sector and academic institutions have been invited to share their experience and points of view, in order to explore the possibilities for sustainable partnerships.

The Guest of Honour, Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, will share his insights and the keynote address will be delivered by the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Experts and representatives from the business community will join in the discussion.

With the huge potential of mutual heritage in Sri Lanka, the need exists for alternative investment resources in order to sustain mutual heritage sites on the island. One needs to look at (international) investors and commercial enterprises with the aim of making heritage more self-sustainable.

To further the process and explore opportunities, the Netherlands Embassy together with partners, is organising a seminar on sustainable heritage management and business opportunities in heritage development under the banner ‘Value your Heritage.’ This seminar is meant to gather local as well as international players and provide a solid basis for new ways of thinking regarding the conservation and maintenance of mutual heritage sites.

The seminar aims to find new ways of fundraising for heritage projects and it will aim at pointing out mutual interests between public and private sectors in relation to managing heritage on the island. The seminar will provide a platform to bring together the public and private stakeholders, including Governmental institutions, national and international private sector companies as well as investors in the field of tourism.

The Netherlands has been cooperating with Sri Lanka in the field of (mutual) cultural heritage for over two decades. During this period, capacity in the field of heritage management and infrastructure for cooperation has been developed. The capacity building programs have contributed substantially to the prominent position Sri Lanka holds within the international heritage community.

Heritage sites need to be properly maintained and managed, but also exploited in a sustainable manner. Finding new viable (economic) purposes is important because the truth for heritage is: “use it or lose it.” Benefits of economic development of heritage should cut both ways, as investors, local communities and the heritage itself will be able to benefit. However, all groups and stakeholders have their own interests and working methods, which need to be taken into account in their cooperation. The Netherlands Embassy has the pleasure to invite all those who are interested to participate in the discussions at the Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in Colombo, on 23 November 2012 between 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Partners of the organisation are the Ministry of National Heritage, Ministry of Arts and Culture, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Ministry of Economic Development and CIE – Centre for International Heritage Activities.  For more information contact Jaco Beerends 112510206 or [email protected]