- The Memorandum of Cooperation signed to promote cooperation in the research, protection and development of cultural heritage between the two countries formed by maritime silk road
- Ambitious program to Promote Cultural Heritage among 34 cities in China under the CAMSR program
Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with China with regard to Heritage Tourism took a new turn on a new path down the famous Silk Route. The two Tourism Promotional strongholds, Sri Lanka Tourism and City Alliance for Maritime Silk Road Heritage Conservation and World Heritage Nomination (CAMSR) got together to further strengthen their bilateral and cultural ties focusing on Heritage protection and development of Heritage Tourism, at a special ceremony and Forum held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galle, on May, 19.
Liu Xiao Ming, Chief of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau
CAMSR, is an the organisation led by China, which is a city alliance comprised of 34 cities in China and one Indonesia city, spreading across Guangshou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Chaozhou, Hong Kong, Macau, etc. The CAMSR coordinator office is located in the Guangzhou Municipal Government, and the Guangzhou culture, Radio, Television, and the Tourism Bureau is the responsible government body.
The Chinese delegation comprised of Liu Xiaoming Deputy Chief of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau as the head of delegation together with Zheng Xiaolu Division Director, Hu Jianguang Deputy Division Director and Li Minyong, Chief Curator of Guangzhou Nanyue King Museum attended this event.
The event kicked off with a stunning Traditional dance performance which showcased Sri lankan cultural elegance.
Liu Xiao Ming, Chief of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau expressed his thoughts on this initiative and mentioned that he was pleased to have this long standing partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism in promoting Cultural Heritage among 34 cities in China under the CAMSR program and stressed on the importance of promoting Galle City as a World Heritage site accredited by UNESCO.
Sampath Nissanka, Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau addressing the gathering, said, “This event in Galle underscores the script of our relations that will be crucial for enhancing the full potential of this initiative. By working together, sharing experiences, and understanding, we can ensure the Maritime Silk Route to become a pipeline for shared prosperity and development of both nations”.
He further said, ’I strongly believe this initiative will unlock new avenues for tourism, to attract more visitors to Sri Lanka from China, and foster a deep cultural understanding and exchange between our nations’’ Waruna de Silva, a Board member of Galle Heritage Foundation made an excellent power point presentation on the ancient relationship between China and Sri Lanka and also the significance of the Galle Harbour as a famous trade hub. Out of the seven visits Admiral Zheng had done in the 14th century from Yunnan to Sri Lanka, four visits had been to Galle to explore its potential’, he enlightened the audience. De Silva mentioned that particularly the Silk Route has been a popular pathway used to connect the two countries during the ancient times, possibly since 6th century BCE, and that Sri Lanka had been an important landmark for maritime activities and trading of spices since then.
“Records of Marco Polo and the Chinese Traveler Monk Faxian are examples for Sri Lanka as a popular maritime destination. Therefore Galle is considered as a living heritage city and is also becoming a famous hub for International festivals such as the Galle Literary Festival,” he added.
Waruna de Silva
Ruwan Wijerathna, Chairman, Galle Tourism Department also expressed his views by elaborating their role as a provincial tourism body in preserving and developing Galle as a Heritage city.
As per the day’s program, a Maritime Silk Road forum was held, moderated by Li Pei Feng, Global Fellow partner of CAMSR program where questions were posted to the panel that comprised of Li Ming Yong Chief of Guangzhou Nan yue kingdom Museum, Madubhani Perera, Director PR of SLTPB, Dushan Wickramasuriya, Director/Marketing of SLTPB, Prof. Amalka Wijesooriya Senior Lecturer at the History and Archaeology Department of University of Ruhuna, and Chandrarathna, Chief of the Galle Maritime Museum on the development of maritime and heritage tourism in China and Sri Lanka.
During the forum ideas were shared on how best to make use of the CAMSR program for mutual benefit in developing and creating awareness of heritage tourism for both countries. It was suggested that it could be done through study tours, sharing expertise and technical knowhow and supporting Sri Lanka to promote China as a key source market. The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Liu Xiaoming, Chief of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and Sampath Nissanka, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion with the objective of promoting cooperation in the research, protection and development of cultural heritage between the two countries formed by maritime silk road mainly focusing on the historical City of Galle as a world heritage site.
Throughout the ceremony, video presentations of the tourism attractions of both countries were displayed, highlighting the beauty, and the immense potential both countries have as tourism destinations.
At the conclusion of the event a special Chinese song was sung by a girl named Tharusha, enhancing the day’s activities which were for the fostering of friendship and mutual understanding and cooperation in the promotion of Heritage Tourism which will no doubt be of benefit to both Sri Lanka and China.
