Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO
Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO
ANNUAL REPORT 2013
EDUCATION | SCIENCE | CULTURE | COMMUNICATION
Annual Report 2013
Annual Report 2013
ANNUAL REPORT 2013
Annual Report 2013
Publisher: Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO 5th Floor Ministry of Education “Isurupaya” Battaramulla Sri Lanka Phone: +94 11 2177002 Fax: +94 11 2177007 E-Mail:
[email protected] Editors: Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe, Secretary General Ms. Theres Klose, International Volunteer © Sri Lanka National Commission fo UNESCO January 2014 Photos: Title Page © Panoramio.com Page 4 © SLNCU Page 27 © SLNCU, © Ministry of Education, © UNESCO
Annual Report 2013
Annual Report 2013
CONTENTS Foreword by the Secretary General ....................................................................................................... 5 Message from the Chairman .................................................................................................................. 6 Message from the Vice-Chairman .......................................................................................................... 7 UNESCO ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Programmes, Trainings and Workshops Miscellaneous ......................................................................................................................................12 Education .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Science ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Culture ................................................................................................................................................... 16
Other Programmes and Activities Participation Programme ...................................................................................................................... 19 Visits of UNESCO Delegations ............................................................................................................. 20 Fellowships ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Competitions & Awards......................................................................................................................... 22 Collaboration with UNCT and UNDAF .................................................................................................. 23 SLNCU Facts & Information ................................................................................................................. 24 Organizational Structure of SLNCU ...................................................................................................... 25
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Foreword From Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe Secretary General Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO
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Message From Hon. Bandula Gunawardhana Minister of Education Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNSCO
As the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, I look back on a successful year 2013 with satisfactory results the National Commission achieved in the past months. Within the last years, I got familiar with UNESCO’s concepts and global objectives, which were pursued by the National Commission on a national as well as local level. Much progress was made in enhancing the quality of education. Thus, I did not miss the chance to led the Sri Lankan delegation at the “Asia Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Child Care and Education” held in Korea this year. I appreciate UNESCO’s commitment to provide opportunities to numerous officials of the Sri Lankan Government in various sectors to participate in and benefit from international seminars and the grant of research fellowships. Like no other agency, UNESCO brings together education, sciences, culture, communication and information. As
Director and UNESCO Representative to Sri Lanka Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi and Hon. Minister of Education ©Ram Boojh
concerns cultural matters, the National Commission launched the training programme “Young Energy for Economic Development through Cultural Heritage”. It trains young people to work at the country’s World Cultural Heritage Sites to guarantee a positive long term and lasting impact on Sri Lanka. For this reason, I would like to thank the Secretary General and the staff of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO for their continuous commitment and encouragement. I am looking forward to strengthen the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO to support the Commission’s effort in pushing forward its programmes related to education, sciences, culture, communication and information. Thus, the National Commission will continue to play an active role at the local level in all fields of UNESCO’s competences.
Hon. Minister of Education at a meeting for the English Language Capacity Building Programme of UNV, UNESCO, Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education ©SLNCU
Annual Report 2013
Message From Mr. Anura Dissanayake Secretary of Education Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO
2013 was the first year that I got involved with the work of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO as newly appointed Secretary of Education. UNESCO’s history in Sri Lanka began in 1949 when the National Commission was established to put into effect UNESCO’s unique mission to create the conditions for a dialogue among the global civilizations, based on respect for commonly accepted and shared values. The implementation of various programmes on a local and regional level during the past decades testifies the National Commission’s indefatigable dedication.
Economic Development through Cultural Heritage” became a prime example concerning cultural heritage sites’ management and community involvement. As Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, I am poised for upcoming challenges in the next years. I am looking forward to support the Secretary General and staff of the National Commission to contribute to its sedulous effort to realize UNESCO’s concerns in the various fields of education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.
Much work has been done to ensure the approval of four proposals submitted by the National Commission for the biennium 2012/2013 under the UNESCO Participation Programme. As concerns culture, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO exemplified how to involve young people to protect and safeguard our national cultural heritage properties. The programme “Young Energy for
Hon. Minister of Eucation, Secretary of Education: Lee Young Ae Scholarship Foundation Letter Exchange Ceremony © Ministry of Education
Hon. Minister of Eucation, Secretary of Education: Lee Young Ae Scholarship Foundation Letter Exchange Ceremony © Ministry of Education
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UNESCO Founded in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations Organization (UN) with its Headquarter in Paris, France. As a multi-lateral organization, it federates 195 States and nine Associate Members all over the world.
History Two world wars demonstrated that it is not enough to build peace by political and economic treaties. More precisely, “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”. UNESCO’s main aim is to contribute to peace building, poverty eradication, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.
UNESCO Logo ©UNESCO
Bodies The UNESCO Secretariat, which is headed by the Director General Irina Bokova, implements the decisions made by the UNESCO General Conference and the Executive Board.
UNESCO Headquarters, France ©UNESCO
Paris,
The General Conference occurs every two years to establish UNESCO’s goals and priorities as well as to set up available budgets. The second body, the Executive Board, meets twice a year to follow up programme implementations.
Activities To achieve its main aims, EDUCATION is one of UNESCO’s principal activities. The Education for All Programme (EFA) became an important global movement to achieve universal primary education, to foster gender equality in education and to reduce illiteracy. Director General ©UNESCO
Irina
Bokova
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©UNESCO
The 2013 Global Monitoring Report on Education for All concentrates on the topic “Teaching and Learning for Development” while it highlights the importance of teaching and learning for a general development in a rapidly changing world and how investing wisely in teachers transforms long-term prospects of people and societies. To realize everyone’s right to education, UNESCO operates with more than 9 000 associated schools in 180 countries within the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2013. Approximately 700 UNESCO Chairs at Universities in more than 120 countries and several UNESCO Category I and II institutions and centers, further promote UNESCO’s concern to promote all aspects of education, ranging from early childhood education and inclusive education to technical and vocational education, education for sustainable development and human rights education. In the field of NATURAL SCIENCES, UNESCO acts as a platform for sharing ideas and setting standards, it implements programmes throughout the world while promoting an international dialogue between scientists and policy makers. Five major global long-term programmes are hosted by UNESCO namely the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee (IOC), the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB), the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP). Cross-cutting themes include natural disaster preparedness and mitigation, biodiversity, engineering, science education, climate change and sustainable development. In order to contribute to the development of public policies to change today’s societies, UNESCO runs
©UNESCO
intergovernmental programmes on SOCIAL SCIENCES like the Management of Social Transformation Programme (MOST). Further, to contribute to the universal values of justice, freedom and human dignity, it coordinates projects pertaining to Social Inclusion and Youth, Ethic, Science and Society, transversal themes like Human Rights and Gender Equality. The protection and safeguarding of the world’s cultural and natural heritage is one of UNESCO’s main tasks. UNESCO is the only specialized agency within the UN system with responsibility for CULTURE and cultural matters. Since the General Conference adopted the Convention concerning the Protection and Safeguarding of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972, 190 UNESCO member states ratified this convention which is the basic tool to inscribe heritage properties in the World Heritage List. Nearly 1 000 natural, cultural or mixed heritage sites are already recorded. Above all, UNESCO seeks to promote a dialogue between the world’s different cultures and to support cultural diversity and the world’s intangible cultural heritage in general. With the promotion of the use of information technologies and the development of independent media to promote the freedom of the press, UNESCO supports access to information and knowledge for all. For this reason, UNESCO’s programmes on COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION support the development of knowledge societies while promoting the Information for All Programme (IFAP), the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Memory of the World Programme to safeguard the documentary heritage against collective amnesia, the ravages of time or climatic conditions.
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37th General Conference th
World Heritage List 2013
The 37 session of the biennial UNESCO General Conference took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from 5th to 20th November 2013. It was marked by the election of Irina Bokova for the second four-year term as Director General. Sri Lanka was elected to two main committees at the General Conference for a four-year term from 2013 until the 39th session of the General Conference in 2017: the Headquarters Committee and the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its country or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP). Beyond that, H.E. Prof. Karunaratne Hangawatte, Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, was elected as Chairperson of the 10th session of the General Assembly of UNESCO State Parties to the World Heritage Convention from 19th to 21st November.
37th General Conference, UNESCO Headquarters ©UNESCO
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In 2013, the World Heritage Committee added several new sites to the World Heritage List:
19 new inscriptions in total
14 cultural heritage sites
5 natural heritage sites
0 mixed world heritage sites
3 extensions
Further Information: www.unesco.org www.whs.unesco.org
H.E. Prof. Karunaratne Hangawatte ©UNESCO
Opening of the 37th General Conference ©UNESCO
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©UNESCO
©UNESCO
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UNESCO’s Functional Modalities
UNESCO in Numbers
UNESCO performs five principal functions within its spheres of competence:
190 Member States
8 Associative Members
around 60 field offices
382 organizations maintaining official relations with UNESCO
Associated Schools Project Network of 9566 educational institutions in 180 countries
981 World Heritage Sites including 759 cultural, 193 natural and 29 mixed properties in 160 States Parties
as laboratory of ideas
as standard-setter
as clearing house
as capacity builder in Member States
as catalyst for international cooperation
UNESCO World Heritage Sites by Country
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Programmes, Trainings and Workshops Miscellaneous Regional Training Workshop for Officials of National Commissions of UNESCO in the Asia Pacific Region To ensure effective contribution on UNESCO Commissions to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of its programmes, a regional training workshop was held from 30th March to 2nd April in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The participants discussed about the status and function of National Commissions, their role in decentralization, public information as well as coordination of partnerships. Mr. Prithi Perera, former Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, participated in this workshop.
Education Expert Advisory Body Meeting at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development From 6th to 8th March 2013 the 1st Expert Advisory Body Meeting of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIP) was held in New Delhi, India, to discuss the way forward for the institute. The MGIP was formally established by UNESCO and the Government of India as Category I Institute in 2012 to develop and promote new approaches to education to build a more sustainable and peaceful world. Directed by Mr. Kabir Shaikh, the MGIP pursues the following aims: expanding the knowledge base, providing technical advice, building networks and partnerships. Mr. Prithi Perera, former Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, was invited to the 1st meeting of the Advisory Board to
present the initiatives taken in Sri Lanka in regard to education for peace and sustainable development. Further, the following members of the Expert Advisory Body joined the meeting: Mr. Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary, Government of India to USA and High Commissioner UK, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Professor Emeritus of Thammasat University in Thailand and former Secretary General of ASEAN, Mr. Richard Celeste, former US Ambassador to India, Dr. Dasho Karma Ura, President of Bhutan Studies in Bhutan, and Ms. Soo Hyang Choi, Director, Division of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development from UNESCO head office in Paris. Stating that education must encourage pupils and young people as well as adults to live together in peace and to respect human dignity and rights, the participants agreed that education for peace and sustainable development should not be limited to schools but including local governments and communities to achieve a sustainable future and to empower society. This main objective is embodied by five pillars: Peace, Environment, Health, Economy and Society. The National Action Plan on Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, which was launched in Sri Lanka under the leadership of H.E. The President, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, was shared with the participants. Asia Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Child Care and Education The Asia Pacific Ministerial Policy Forum was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 10th to 12th September 2013. The forum focused on the theme “Are children ready to learn? Are schools ready for children?” with almost 200 high-level representatives from 31 countries in the Asia-Pacific region participating, including 18 education ministers and vice-ministers. Officials from focal ministries and coordinating bodies involved in ECCE as well as ministries responsible for finance and economic planning were also in attendance.
Annual Report 2013
EFA ©UNESCO
Asia Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Child Care and Education ©KNCU
The forum bolstered the early childhood development community’s commitment to children, underscoring the importance of an inter-sectorial, holistic approach. Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Bandula Gunawardhana, led the Sri Lankan delegation. He addressed the forum on 11th September with a speech on “Integrating Care and Education”. The Forum ended with participating delegations presented and discussed follow-up actions to be undertaken in their respective countries as well as mechanisms for future country-to-country cooperation. At the closing ceremony, the Government of Malaysia also announced that it will host the next Asia-Pacific policy forum on Early Child Care and Education. 13th Regional Meeting of National Education for All Coordinators: The Big Push The 13th Regional Meeting of the National Education for All (EFA) Coordinators took place at UNESCO Asia Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok, Thailand, from 26th to 27th February. This meeting was called to follow up on the Global EFA Meeting in November 2012 in Paris, France. Discussions were focused on key elements for speeding the EFA progress, innovative approaches and practices in terms of achieving EFA goals on country level, identifying problems and prioritized actions to develop national EFA acceleration. Further to take actions to carry out national EFA reviews and provide inputs on education for the future from a national perspective according to the post-2015 development agenda. Mrs. Bara Withanage, Director, EFA, Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, and Mr. W.S. Perera, Director of Education, Data Management Branch, Ministry of Education, attended the meeting. The session on Region-
EFA ©UNESCO
al Thematic Consultation in Asia-Pacific from 28th February to 1st March was held in Bangkok, Thailand, too. South Asian Symposium on Gender, ICT and Education Policy makers, officials, practitioner, researchers, students and teachers got together for a three days long forum on Gender, Information and Communication Technologies and Education, co-organised by UNESCO New Delhi Office and Intel South Asia. From 24th to 26th September 2013 several discussions on the issue of gender equality in ICT component of education policies were hold in New Delhi, India, where the symposium took place. Mr. M.G. Ranjith Kumarasiri, Education Specialist, Education for Knowledge Society Project, Ministry of Education, and Mr. M.F.S.P. Jayawardene, Deputy Director General, National Institute of Education, participated in this forum. Regional Policy Seminar on Education Development and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region: Shifting Dynamics, Increasing Collaboration Within the framework of the working arrangement between UNESCO Asia and Pacific Bureau for Education and the Korean Educational Development Institute, a regional seminar on “Education, Development and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region” was organised in Bangkok, Thailand, from 5th to 7th August this year. Ms. Tushara D. Pathiranage, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Education, participated in this seminar. Oral presentations and open discussions focused on regional trends and implication for international as well as regional cooperation for education in the Asia-Pacific Region.
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13th Asia-Pacific Training Workshop on EIU (APTW) Acknowledging the need of pushing forward the implementation of Education for International Understanding (EIU) in teacher training curriculum and the consolidation of a network among educators in Asia and the Pacific, the 13th Asia-Pacific Training Workshop on EIU was held from 8th to 17th July 2013 in the Republic of Korea. Ms. W.W.G.U. Gamage, Assistant Lecturer at the National Institute of Education, participated in this training workshop. Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Pilot Consultation and Regional Consultation on Support Planning for the ESD Programme Framework to follow the UN DESD in 2014 The main objective of the three days long workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand, from the 15th to 17th May, was to organize expert consultations to collect positions on the development of the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme and framework for 2014 and to prepare a final report on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). Ms. P. Wijesooriya, Director, Ministry of Education, Ms. I. Selvaranee, Project Officer, National Institute of Education, and Ms. K.A.I. Geethani, Project Officer, National Institute of Education, participated in this workshop. Consultative Meeting for APEID Programmes 2014-2017 The UNESCO-Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) was established in 1973 to improve the quality of education and to promote sustainable human development through educational innovation and research.
RICE ©SLNCU
RICE ©SLNCU
This year the Consultative Meeting for APEID Programmes 2014-2017 took place from 19th to 21st November in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss various strategies and future partnership arrangements in terms of the APEID Programmes. Prof. P.C.P. Jaufar, Deputy Director General, Faculty of Alternative and Teacher Education, National Institute for Education, joined the meeting. Asian RICE Project: 4th Regional Training Workshop The Regional Initiative for Climate Change Education (RICE) was launched in 2011 by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) to help small communities to mitigate the effects of climate change at the local level. Organised by the KNCU and supported by the Korea Energy Management Corporation and the UNDP Special Unit for SouthSouth Cooperation, the 4th Regional Training Workshop took place in Chiangmai, Thailand, from 25th to 29th November 2013. Main objectives of the said workshops were the evaluation of the progress of on-going projects from a viewpoint of adequate climate change education, to share experiences and good practices as well as to discuss future plans of the Asian Rice Project all together. The training workshop was joined by N.L.K. Anjana Kumara, Management Assistant, Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, Mrs. H.M.C.B. Menike, Kurunegala Maliyadewa Vidyalaya, Mrs. Lalani Jayathilaka, Royal College Colombo, Mrs. E.A. Padimini, Devi Balika Vidyala Colombo, and Mrs. Indika Pathirana, Southlands College Galle. Asia-Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT Education UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Intel Corporation and the Government of People’s Republic of China were co-organizing
RICE ©SLNCU
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ELCB ©SLNCU
ELCB ©SLNCU
the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT in Education 2013 from 26th to 28th November in Shenzhen, China. The Forum is an annual conference that provides countries in the Asia-Pacific region a regular platform to share experiences and that discusses strategies on the roles and uses of technology in education. In 2013 the theme of the forum is “Fostering Favourable Policy Environments for Mainstreaming Sustainable Innovations”. Because of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, the Hon. Minister of Education was represented by Ms. W.A.S.W. Wijesooriya, Assistant Director of Education ICT, Ministry of Education, and Mr. Sunil Nihal Maduwage, Director ICT, National Institute of Education.
ELCB ©SLNCU
pacity Building Programme, the implementing agencies United Nations Volunteers Programme, UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Education called for this workshop in co-operation with the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO to discuss the current programme proposal with teacher trainers and RESC coordinators amongst others from all over the country. The two years project plans to bring in UN volunteers, who are experienced professionals in teacher training with reference to English as a second language. Mainly they will support the work at all RESCs in the country’s nine provinces. The programme aims to improve the quality of and the access to English Language Training in a systematic manner.
Workshop on English Language Capacity Building The one-day workshop on “English Language Capacity Building of Education Officers” was held on the 27th of September 2013 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. Within the framework of the Teacher Training in English Ca-
RICE ©SLNCU
RICE ©SLNCU
RICE ©SLNCU
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YEEDCH English Language Training ©SLNCU
YEEDCH English Language Training ©SLNCU
Science ISTIC – ESCI Training Workshop on Maintenance of Infrastructure This year’s training workshop on maintenance of infrastructure was held from 9th to 13th September in Hyderabad, India. Organised by the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) and the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), the workshop’s programme covered essential contents on assessment needs, planning and execution including financial planning and budgetary control of infrastructure maintenance. Mr. R.M.U.P. Abeysekara, Design Engineer, Departments of Buildings in Sethsiripaya, participated in this workshop.
Culture Memory of the World Programme Since UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme in 1992, several countries took action to support the protection of and to improve the access to the documentary heritage worldwide. One of the most important aspects of this programme is the Memory of the World Register which has been a powerful tool for increasing global awareness of the existence and significance of documentary heritage. As Chairman of the Memory of the World Committee in Sri Lanka, Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka
YEEDCH English Language Training ©SLNCU
National Commission for UNSCO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Library and Documentation Service Board and the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the respective parties to the agreement. In this regard, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO provided the amount of approximately US$ 1 300 through the national budget for the preparation of nominations under the Memory of the World Programme within the year 2013. UNESCO Memory of the Word Training Workshop on the Asia-Pacific Region UNESCO, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia invited the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO amongst other UNESCO National Commission in the Asia-Pacific Region for an UNESCO Memory of the World Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mr. Udaya Prasad Cabral, Secretary of the Memory of the World National Committee of Sri Lanka, Head Conservation and Preservation Division, National Library and Documentation Services Board, joined the four days long workshop held from 26th to 29th November 2013. The main purpose of this workshop was to support all member states in the Asia-Pacific region that have not yet registered or have registered only one documentary heritage. The participants further received direct guidance for prospective nominations of intangible properties for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
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YEEDCH Cultural Heritage Training Field Trip ©SLNCU
YEEDCH Cultural Heritage Training Field Trip ©SLNCU
Young Energy for Economic Development through Cultural Heritage This year, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO launched the “Young Energy for Economic Development through Cultural Heritage” training programme which aims to build capacities of selected unemployed youth from the six cultural heritage sites in Sri Lanka and to provide employment opportunities as well as to promote economic development through heritage tourism. Further, to find a reasonable solution for youth unemployment and the lack of knowledge about heritage properties in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO is looking forward to support civic engagement of young people in heritage promotion and to foster their intercultural understanding. The Korean National Commission for UNESCO agreed to fund USD 20 000 to realize such a training under the Programme of Capacity Building of National Commissions which was launched by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO in 2013. Ms. Dhammika Wijayasinghe, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, joint a preliminary meeting organized by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO from 10th to 23rd March 2013 in Korea. National Commission members from UNESCO in Bhutan and Uzbekistan also took part in the said meeting. The first part of the training comprised an English Language Training to instruct the participants in presentation and reporting skills as well as to improve their writing and speaking skills. It took place from 1st to 21st July at the National Institute of Education. Under the patronage of the Hon. Minister of Education, Bandula Gunawardhana, the 21 days long English Language Training was closed
YEEDCH Cultural Heritage Training Field Trip ©SLNCU
by a solemn ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education on 21st July 2013 at the Auditorium of the National Institute of Education. The second part of the programme was designed as Cultural Heritage Training which took place from 23rd September to 7th October at Colombo University. Conducted by the Center for Economic Research and Industrial Policy Analysis, Department of Economics, University of Colombo, the second part of the training focused on questions regarding the local and global importance of heritage sites and the necessity of preserving those. According to the guidelines and criteria of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, field trips to the cultural heritage sites of Galle, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy were an integral part of the training to internalize practice guiding techniques.
Representatives of UNESCO National Commissons in Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan in Korea ©Korea National Commission for UNESCO
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International Vesak 2013 Buddhist Film Festival and Exhibition: “Buddhism - Protection of Nature and All Living Beings”
Training Course on the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region
The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO was only one of the involved parties organising the International Vesak 2013 Buddhist Film Festival and Exhibition which took place from 22nd to 29th May. The exhibits on “Preservation of the Planet Earth and the Endangered Species of the World” were staged at the Royal College in Colombo during the celebration of Vesak from 24th to 29th May.
The 14th Training Course on the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region took place from 3rd September to 3rd October at the Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office of the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) in Nara, Japan. Mrs. N.D.H. Singappulige, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of National Heritage, participated in the training programme which informed the participants about the latest methods and techniques for the investigation, analysis, preservation, restoration and management of wooden structures.
Second UNESCO Capacity Building Workshop on the Community-Based Inventory under UNESCO Programme for the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka From 10th to 17th March, the 2nd UNESCO Capacity Building Workshop on Community-Based Inventory under the UNESCO Programme for the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage occurred at the National Cooperative Development Institute (NCDI) in Polgolla, Sri Lanka. This workshop is one in an ongoing series of capacity building workshops for the 2003 Convention that focuses on Community-Based Inventorying (CBI). It further wanted to provide an introduction to the concept of inventorying and to discuss various approaches as well as methodologies. Initiated by the UNESCO Office New Delhi, the eight day long workshop was joined by Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe, Secretary General, Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO. International Congress on the Theme “Culture: Key to Sustainable Development”
of
The international Category IV Congress on Culture as a key to sustainable development was held from 15th to 17th May this year in Hangzhou, China, to examine the multifaceted role culture has in achieving global sustainable development goals as well as in achieving a peaceful and equitable human development. More precisely, the congress aspired to engage the international community in an open debate on the contribution of culture to sustainable development. Mr. Wasantha Ekanayake, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Arts, and Mr. Prasad Ranasinghe, Assistant Director, Ministry of National Heritage, took part in this congress.
UIS South and West Asia Culture Statistic Training Workshop The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) organized a training workshop on Cultural Statistics with a special focus on the 2009 UNESCO Framework for Cultural Statistics (FCS) from 22nd to 25th October 2013 in New Delhi, India. In cooperation with UNESCO New Delhi, the UIS introduced several topics including Cultural Trade Statistics and Cultural Employment Statistics. Mr. M.G.R. Sisira Kumara, Cultural Promoting Officer, Ministry of Culture and the Arts, and Ms. M.D. Tekla Kumari, Statistical Officer, Department of Census and Statistics, participated in this training workshop. French Postage Stamp dedicated to the Ancient City of Sigiriya UNESCO World Heritage Site The Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO in association with the French Postal Service launched a new French postage stamp dedicated to Sri Lanka’s World Heritage Site of Sigiriya on the occasion of the 37th Session of the UNESCO General Conference on 7th November 2013. The launching ceremony took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, in the presence of Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates to UNESCO, the Director of the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO, members of the diplomatic and Sri Lankan communities.
Annual Report 2013
French Postage Stamp 2013 ©UNESCO
French Postage Stamp ©UNESCO
Other Programmes and Activities Participation Programme
for this project will be provided by the Institute of Fundamental Studies.
To strengthen the partnership between UNESCO and its Member States, the Participation Programme of UNESCO supports national, sub-regional and regional projects which are directly related to the activities of the organization. Under the Participation Programme, UNESCO approved 4 proposals submitted by the SLNCU for the biennium 2012 to 2013.
Awareness and Participation of Integrated Water Resources Management with Particular References to the Farming Communities
Follow Up of National Plans on Education for Peace and Sustainable Development The goal of this proposal, which was submitted by the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, is to implement the planned follow up activities for the National Action Plans on Education for Peace and Sustainable Development. This includes several workshops scheduled for 2014. UNESCO has approved the proposal and provides funding of USD 25 000 for the implementation of the project. Inculcate Scientific Methodology and Novel Teaching Techniques for the Level of Junior Secondary Education UNESCO approved the proposal submitted by the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO for funds of USD 20 000 for this programme to awake the enthusiasm of students in their early ages to learn science methods and concepts not only as a subject in the school curriculum but also to practice it in real life to assure lifelong learning. For this reason the students learn the practical approach of science concepts behind nature and its surroundings. The administration and coordination support
UNESCO approved the programme proposal submitted by the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka for funds of USD 20 000 to make aware the farmer community on integrated water resource management and water conservation. Finally, the applicant intends to enhance the farmer’s knowledge and to educate these communities on integrated water resource management using educational tools such as DVD’s, CD’s, brochures and booklets. Empowering Women through Education for Health Equality and Sustainable Development The proposal of this programme was submitted by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to improve the health status, behaviour and care seeking in the war-affected Northern Province of Sri Lanka through community based empowerment of women in the this Province. UNESCO approved the proposal and will provide funding of USD 26 000. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO regrets that it was not possible to implement the project for various reasons. Further Information: www.unesco.org
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Visits of UNESCO Delegations Visit Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO On 5th of April 2013 the Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, H.E. Mr. Karunaratne Hangawatte, made a call on Mr. R.P. Perera and Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe to get a picture of the work at SLNCU. As incoming Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to France, he will replace H.E. Mr. Dayan Jayatilleka who promoted the long-time cooperation between Sri Lanka and UNESCO before.
Mr. Prithi Perera, H.E. Mr. Hangawatta, Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe ©SLNCU
Visit Patrick Mendis to Sri Lanka Hon. Minister of Education and Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Bandula Gunawardhana, praised the appointment of Sri Lankan-born American diplomat Patrick Mendis to the UNESCO Commission by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Born in Pollonaruwa, Mr. Mendis studied at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura before he left the country to study at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO hosted a lunch in order of Mr. Mendis and his visit in Sri Lanka at the Sovereign on 27th June.
Mr. Patrick Mendis, Mr. Prithi Perera ©SLNCU
Visit of UNESCO Officials from New Delhi Office Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and Mr. Ram Boojh, Programme Officer Natural Sciences at UNESCO New Delhi, visited Sri Lanka to attend meetings on a joined programme by the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO and the National Institute of Education from 16th to 17th June 2013. The programme “Development of Science Kits to Facilitate Hands-On Science in Secondary Schools in Sri Lanka” is funded by the government of Malta. Further information: www.unesco.org/new/en/newdelhi
Mr. S.M. Gotabaya, Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Hon. Bandula Gunawardhana ©Ram Boojh
Annual Report 2013
Fellowships Sujatha Diyani Scholarship Fund of the Lee Young Ae Scholarships Foundation
Lee Young Ae Scholarship Foundation Letter Exchange Ceremony ©Ministry of Education
To solemnize the establishment of the Sujatha Diyani Scholarship Fund between the Lee Young Ae Foundation of the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, a letter exchange ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Education on 31st August 2013. The two contractual partners agreed that the foundation will provide the initial funding of 20 000 US$ which will be increased up to 100 000 US$ in a phased manner. This scholarship is provided to mainly female advanced level students of the technological stream. To further discuss the details regarding the establishment and management of the scholarship foundation, the Lee Young Ae Foundation and the Ministry of Education agreed to cooperate and set up a committee. H.E. the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Arjuna Jeong Moon Choi, and Mr. Ji Suk Jin joined the ceremony. UNESCO/Poland Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme Engineering Cycle 2013
Lee Young Ae Scholarship Foundation Letter Exchange Ceremony: Lighting of the oil lamp © Ministry of Education
Lee Young Ae Scholarship Foundation Letter Exchange Ceremony: Stage Programme ©Ministry of Education
Within the framework of the UNESCO Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme, Mr. M.P.S. Rathnayaka, Mechanical Engineer, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, and Mr. Chamila Kumara Karunananda, Mining Engineer, Geological Servey and Mines Bureau, have been selected and awarded fellowships under the co-sponsorship of UNESCO and Government of the Republic of Poland. This fellowship is awarded for a period of six month, commencing on 1st October 2013. With a focus on Geotourism, the fellows attend lectures at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. Fellowships are specially tailored training which are designed to give qualified persons practicing or intending to practice a profession in the field of the UNESCO programme priorities an opportunity to receive additional and practical training, thus contributing to the advancement and circulation of knowledge and skill promoting development and international understanding. UNESCO
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UNESCO Israel Cosponsored Fellowships Programme (MASHAV) The international training course on “Integrated Approach to Upgrading Poor Urban Areas” in Rehovot, Israel, was held from 10th February to 10th March 2013. It was organized by the Weitz Center for Development Studies in cooperation with UNHabitat TCBB and UNESCO. The qualified participants are Mr. Liyana Waduge Palitha, Director, Urban Settlement Development Authority, Ms. Marakande Sepali Kusumalatha Wickrematilake, Consultant Community Physician, Ministry of Health, and Ms. Pradeepa Sweeandi Gamage, Assistant Director. UNESCO L’OREAL Cosponsored Fellowship for Young Woman in Life Science The UNESCO L’OREAL International Fellowships Programme was designed to promote 15 young and talented women working in the field of life sciences all over the world. Offered in an open competition, the fellowships include a financial contribution for a max. sum of USD 20 000 for a period of twelve months, the participation in the Fellowship Training Programme and a round-trip travel to Paris. Ms. S.M. Vidanagamachchi applied for the said fellowship programme. UNESCO/People’s Republic of China Great Wall Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 20132014 These fellowships, which are in most cases to be conducted in English, are offered to senior advanced students wishing to pursue higher studies or intending to undertake individual research with
Enikki Festa Art Competition: Hon. Minister of Education and H.E. Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Nobuhito Hobo ©Ministry of Education
periodic guidance from the assigned supervisor. Under the co-sponsorship of UNESCO, the People’s Republic of China this year offers 25 fellowships of one year duration each. Three candidates applied for the said Programme: Rev. M.D. Thero, Sri Sudharmarama Maha Pirivena, Mr. A.L. Siraj, ADE, National School Branch, Ministry of Education, Ms. D.M. Priyanthi, ADE, Zonal Education Office, Walapane. Further information: www.unesco.org/new/en/fellowships
Competitions and Awards Award Ceremony of the Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa 2012-2013 and Kanagawa Art Competition The Enikki Festa Art Competition among 24 Asian countries was jointly organised by the Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee, the Asian Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ). Further, the Kanagawa International Foundation in Japan organised the Kanagawa Art Competition among 77 countries all over the world. As Executive Committee of these art competitions, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO organised the award ceremony to confer prizes and certificates to the winners on 10th October 2013 at the Ministry of Education. The twelve-year-old Grand Prix Winner Sandali Anutthara Garusingai was invited to join the Award Ceremony and five-day Study Tour to Kobe, Japan. Further information: http://enikki.mitsubishi.or.jp/e/
Enikki Festa Art Competition: Grand Prix Winner Sandali Anutthara Garusingai ©Ministry of Education
Mitsubishi Asian Children’s Enikki Festa Award Ceremony Audience ©Ministry of Education
Annual Report 2013
Collaboration and UNDAF
with
UNCT
In 2013 the tripartite collaboration between UNESCO New Delhi, the United Nationals Country Team (UNTC) and the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO was coordinated by the UNESCO Focal Point for the Cluster Office New Delhi, Ms. Himali Jinadasa, and funded by UNESCO New Delhi. Established in 2009, to enhance UNESCO’s presence in post conflict disaster situations, the Focal Point’s work has been greatly appreciated by the UNESCO National Commission in Sri Lanka and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. Different programmes and projects have been realized in 2013 under the Focal Point’s contribution. UNESCO Support for Creative Industries: War Widows Livelihood Project “Sri Lanka Paradise Collection” The War Widow Project commenced in September 2013 in Mullathivu and Mannar districts for 80 beneficiaries through funds allocated through the US Embassy in Colombo. 80 looms were provided by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to each beneficiary in order to ensure a six months training while working at their homes. UNESCO’s technical support for this project was put into effect through a survey on traditional craft in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for local livelihood and marketingcollaboration with IRCI, Japan and UNESCO New Delhi which will assist in documenting motifs found in these areas. The “Sri Lanka Paradise Collection” includes handicraft textile products woven by the war widows. The initial work regarding the survey on traditional craft in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for local livelihood and marketingcollaboration was commenced in December 2013. The Project will be implemented by the Craft Revival Trust in New Delhi in collaboration with the Centre for Eco Studies in Sri Lanka with funds from the International Research Centre on ICH in the Asia Pacific Region. Development of Science Kits to Facilitate Hands-On Science in Secondary Schools in Sri Lanka
The development of science kits to facilitate handson science education in secondary schools in Sri Lanka was conducted at national level at the National Institute of Education first, followed by its adoption at provincial level. As schools in Sri Lanka have the opportunity to integrate practical studies and experiments in their class room learning experiences now, the programme was considered as success. The Science Kit Training handbooks for teachers were developed by UNESCO and funded by the Government of Malta. They were handed over to the Minister of Education, Hon. Bandula Gunawardhana, and to the UNESCO Regional Director for South Asia, Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, by the Director General of the National Institute of Education, Mr. W.M.A. Bandara, at the Ministry of Education in June 2013. HIV/AIDS Treatment Book On 11th December 2013 the first consultative workshop for the launch of a new HIV/AIDS Treatment Book was held with 20 members of the HIV/AIDS affected community in Sri Lanka. The consultations were based on adapting the UNESCO and Plan India booklet entitled “Zindagi Mile Dobar – HIV Treatment Education” which was originally developed as collaboration between UNESCO New Delhi and Plan India for Sri Lanka in September 2011. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO is implementing this project in collaboration with UNAIDS Sri Lanka and Plan International Sri Lanka with funds from UNESCO Bangkok. Opening UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management was established at the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa on 22nd April 2013. Thus it became the new member of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence to promote regional cooperations through South Asian’s Water Management Education. The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management and the Department of Engineering will offer Master Degrees and Postgraduate Diploma Courses in Water Management while granting seven Madanjeet Singh ScholFurther information: www.un.lk
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SLNCU Facts & Information The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO was founded on the 14th November 1949 as one of the national coordinating centers of UNESCO to provide contribution to all its notions and ideas. This work covers the varied fields of Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Culture as well as Communication and Information. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO facilitates technical assistance towards topics of education ranging from early childcare education to higher education and the UNESCO Education for All campaign. Further it successfully promotes the National Action Plans on Education for Peace and Sustainable Development while organizing national and provincial workshops. As concerns Sciences, the office took part in UNESCO’s Participation Programme which focuses on natural sciences, health behavior or the empowerment of women. Moreover it is keen to establish ties between several sectors, for example through the Asian Regional Initiative for Climate Change Initiative. In respect to its cultural work, it additionally supports UNESCO’s main object to protect the world’s cultural, natural and intangible heritage. This also includes the promotion of art, craft and a sustainable tourism. For this reason, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO
Staff Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO ©SLNCU
Annual Report 2013
launched the programme “Young Energy for Economic Development through Cultural Heritage” in 2013. As concerns Communication and Information, it continuously pushes forward the restructuring of the library to ensure a free use of its facilities for the public. Staff Changes at the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO Mr. R.P. Perera, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO since 2006, left the Sri Lanka National Commission of Sri Lanka on 1st May 2013. Ms. S.L.D.K. Wijayasinghe, who became the new Deputy Secretary General in July 2012, was appointed to the post of the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO on the 1st May 2013. Ms. Theres Klose joined the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO in March 2013 as Volunteer from the German National Commission for UNESCO for one year.
Annual Report 2013
Members of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO Minister of Education, Chairman, SLNCU Secretary, Ministry of Education, Vice-Chairman, SLNCU
Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Secretary, Ministry of Technology and Research
Secretary General, SLNCU
Secretary, Ministry of Social Services
Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development
Chairman, Finance Commission
Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
Chairman, University Grants Commission
Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration
Chairperson, National Science Foundation
Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education
Director General, National Institute of Education
Secretary, Ministry of Mass Media and Information
President, National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol
Secretary, Ministry of National Heritage Secretary, Ministry of Culture and the Arts Secretary, Ministry of Environment
Chancellor, University of Moratuwa Chairperson, Committee for the Establishment of a New Education Act
Organizational Structure of SLNCU CHAIRPERSON (ex-officio) Minister of Education
VICE-CHAIRPERSON (ex-officio) Secretary of Education
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SUBCOMMISSIONS
35 Members: Representatives of relevant ministries and national bodies concerned with UNESCO’s fields of competence
SPECIALIZED COMMITTEES MAB IHP IOC ICH IFA Bioethics Memory of the World
Education Science and Technology Culture Communication and Media
SECRETARY-GENERAL (Full-time) appointed by Chairperson for a renewable two year term
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Proposed Structure of the Sri Lanka National Commission UNESCO
SECRETARY-GENERAL (Full-time) appointed by Chairperson for a renewable two year term Equal to the level of the Additional Secretary
NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF UNESCO ASSOCIATED SCHOOL PROGRAM
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL Equal to the level of the Senior Assistant Secretary
SECRETARY GENERAL’S OFFICE Professionals: 4 Supporting Stuff: 22
SPECIALIST EDUCATION
SPECIALIST SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SPECIALIST CULTURE
ACCOUNTANT
DOCUMENTATION CENTER
SPECIALIST COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
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© SLNCU 2013
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