SL to open first living museum for indigenous community

Saturday, 30 July 2011 00:54 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet approval given for Rs.22 million project in Dambana, expected to be a significant tourist draw (strap)  

Cabinet has given approval for the construction of a living Indigenous Community Museum for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Even though the concept of a Living Museum is rather strange to the Sri Lankan, this has been successfully implemented in many countries of the world. A living museum is a type of museum, in which historical events showing the life in ancient times are performed, especially in ethnographic or historical views, or processes for producing a commercial product in terms of technical and technological developments are shown, especially the craft.



It is a type of museum that recreates to the fullest extent conditions of a culture, natural environment or historical period. Sometimes, a drama performing group of historical re-enactment of historical scenes in historical buildings is considered as a living museum. Under this concept action will be taken to exhibit the manner in which incidents of historical importance are being activated live in the form they took place in the past.

Under this project, while the infrastructure facilities of a selected part of the Dambana locality would be developed in a manner that would highlight the traditional lifestyle of the Indigenous Community, action would be taken to rebuild 15 houses in the traditional manner.

 It is also expected to promote tourist attraction through this programme.

The proposal was made by Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, Minister of National Heritage utilizing Rs.22 million for the purpose from the fund provided to the Ministry for 2011. The Cabinet paper was approved by the Cabinet.

In a living museum, a visitor is using their senses. The objective is total immersion, designing exhibits so that visitors can experience the specific culture, environment or historical period using all the physical senses: sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.

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