Successful Celebration of the UNESCO World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2026 

Posted on Wednesday, 22 May 2026

The Department of Archaeology and the Archaeology Students’ Society of the University of Kelaniya successfully organised the one-day academic programme and workshop titled “Contested Heritage: Navigating Diversity for Sustainable Peace and Development” on 21 May 2026 at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, University of Kelaniya, in celebration of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2026. The programme was conducted in collaboration with the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO.

The event was organised under the guidance of Prof. Chandima Bogahawatta, Head of the Department of Archaeology, as part of the winning proposal submitted to the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO under the UNESCO International Days Programme 2026. The programme aimed to create an academic platform for dialogue on contested heritage, cultural diversity, peacebuilding, and sustainable development while encouraging critical engagement among university students and academics from different disciplines and institutions. The programme was funded by the University of Kelaniya and the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO.

The programme was graced by Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guest. At the same time, Prof. Chaminda Abeysinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, attended as the Special Guest.

More than 100 participants attended the programme, including academic staff members, researchers, and students from several state universities, including the University of Kelaniya, University of Peradeniya, University of Colombo, University of Jaffna, University of Ruhuna, and the Pali and Buddhist University of Sri Lanka. Participants represented multiple disciplines, including Heritage Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Archaeology, History, Sinhala, Sociology, Tourism Studies, and related fields.

The opening lecture of the programme was delivered by Professor M.S.M. Aslam of the Department of Tourism Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, under the title “Culture as a Means for Prosperity: The Symbiotic Role of Tourism in Managing Contested Tangible and Intangible Heritage.” The lecture highlighted the relationship between tourism, heritage management, and sustainable peacebuilding.

The expert panel discussion brought together distinguished scholars and professionals who addressed different dimensions of contested heritage in Sri Lanka. The panel featured Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri of the Department of History, University of Colombo, who presented on “Heritage, Historical Consciousness and Sinhala-Buddhist Ideology”; Emeritus Professor S. Krishnarajah of the Department of History, University of Jaffna, who spoke on “Who Owns Heritage? Contesting the Past in Jaffna”; Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, Special Advisor to the Director of WHITRAP Shanghai, China, and former Special Advisor to the Director-General of ICCROM, Rome, who delivered a presentation titled “Contested Heritage: Reality or Construct? The Need for a People-Centred, Evidence-Based, Dialogue-Driven Approach to the Recognition and Addressing of Conflicting Views”; and Senior Lecturer Sudheera Jayaweera of the Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya, who presented on “Civilization and Violence: Hidden Violence within Heritage and Collective Memory.” The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Manoj Jinadasa of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya.

The discussions throughout the day generated meaningful academic engagement on issues of identity, memory, heritage interpretation, conflict sensitivity, and the importance of dialogue-based approaches to heritage management.

The evening workshop session provided students with an opportunity to actively engage in group activities and case-study discussions related to contested heritage and peacebuilding. Participants analysed hypothetical heritage-related scenarios and proposed peace-building solutions through collaborative discussions and visual presentations. Students reported that the workshop helped them understand contested heritage from multiple perspectives and encouraged inter-university interaction and networking.

Several participants also discussed the possibility of organising future collaborative academic programmes among student societies representing different universities.

The Archaeology Students’ Society coordinated the overall organisation of the programme, while the Tourism Club of the Department of Archaeology managed hospitality and catering arrangements for guests and participants. The hospitality extended throughout the programme was highly appreciated by attendees.

The organisers also extended their sincere appreciation to the Media Unit of the University of Kelaniya for coordinating the media coverage of the programme. The Departments of Mass Communication, Geography, and Philosophy of the University of Kelaniya further supported the event. The academic and non-academic staff members of these departments also provided valuable support towards the successful conduct of the programme.

The organisers extended their sincere gratitude to all resource persons, academic staff members, organising committee members, volunteers, and participants whose dedication and active engagement contributed to the success of the programme.

The programme concluded successfully with a strong message emphasising cultural diversity, people-centred dialogue, mutual understanding, and sustainable peace through inclusive and responsible approaches to heritage.