Mr Vidura WICKRAMANAYAKA
Minister, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka

Distinguished guests, and delegates. It is indeed a privilege and honor to be a part of this significant event that will bring Asia together.

I do believe that we have been sharing two lineaments. One is the colonialism that has battered and shattered our cultures. The other of course, is what we share, the richness, our heritage, the culture.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, as Asia, we are the most resourceful continent of the whole world. Have we been sharing the difficulties and bounties? Our cultural interactions, the value systems that we have been transferring from generation to another that has not been duly recognized globally, and in terms of Asia, and in terms of our respective societies. So we are losing the identity, the cultural identity, loss is the worst thing that could happen to a country or a nation.

Therefore, I appeal to this distinguished forum. Let us get together. We have to look into new perspectives, new vistas of cultural diplomacy. Not only that, all our countries virtually depend on tourism. The tourists come to our countries because of our rich cultural heritage. So let us share that with one another.

And the second point I would like to raise is restitution of artifacts and antiquities. At the Asian Cultural Cooperation Forum, we should voice out that to bring back, get back what has been taken to other countries.

The third point I would like to raise is the sharing, as I mentioned earlier, the bounties and the difficulties. For the past two years, not only on political sphere, but on health factors affected most of us. But somehow or other, we overcame that hurdle. By degrees, we are opening up. I heard the good news of Hong Kong opening up further, starting yesterday or today. So likewise, all our countries are opening up. And we have to open not the physical aspects, but also open our hearts and minds to accommodate, to welcome other nations.

As you all know, Sri Lanka has a very rich heritage. Unfortunately, the video is not being played. I don't know why. You have to pardon me for, I don't know whether it is a technical fault or something. Nevertheless, very rich heritage, very rich culture. I don't want to elaborate on that. Perhaps in a short while or later, we'll be distributing a booklet and a pen drive that you all can take home and view a very brief history and what has been going on culturally in Sri Lanka.

We have been restrained to a certain extent, not only as a country, not only as a nation, the same problems that you are also experiencing, maybe political or otherwise. And lately, Sri Lanka is undergoing the worst economic patch of the recent history, as you all know.

Now we are on the recovery path. At this juncture, let me invite all of you to Sri Lanka to taste the paradise, tangibly and intangibly. Intangibly with the cultural heritage, and with all the problems, bottlenecks, constraint, we warmly welcome all of you to the Pearl of Indian Ocean. Let me thank and appreciate the Organizing Committee, especially the Secretary for hosting this marvelous and splendid event for us.

Furthermore, I would like to appreciate and admire your commitment to art and culture. You all have given not only physical space, but the spiritual space as well for art and culture. That is what is important, not the physical aspect. And Hong Kong has proven beyond doubt that the commitment to art and culture and to foster it.

And with that, let me once again reiterate on the cultural bonds that we have been sharing through Buddhism or through otherwise. We have been linked in hearts and minds. Let us cherish them. Let us harness, let us promote it. Let us not make this another festival of saliva. This forum, we need actions, we need actions. So culturally, we can do that. I believe Asia can prosper; Asia can prosper. The giants of the world, China and Russia, a part of Asia, and the other countries of course, all of us can get together, and let's start it all over again. Culturally bind with our views, the heritage, the food culture, all that.

I am grateful for the invitation and for the Forum being hosted by you. Wishing you all the best. My sincere thanks go out to everyone once again.