First-ever SAARC Heritage Forum 2025 inagurated in Sri Lanka

The first-ever SAARC Heritage Forum 2025 was inagurated in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday, a landmark initiative aimed at preserving and promoting South Asia’s rich cultural heritage.

Organized by the SAARC Cultural Center (SCC), the three-day forum runs from 30 September to 2 October under the theme "Promoting Regional Art, Culture, Heritage Sites, Museums, and Archives.”

The opening ceremony at the Colombo National Museum was attended by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as chief guest. Other dignitaries included Professor Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs; Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary, Foreign Minister, and Deputy Ministers; the High Commissioner to India; and ambassadors from SAARC member states. Representatives from UNESCO, ICOM, leading archaeologists, and cultural heritage experts were also present.

The forum builds on the SAARC Regional Program for Art, Culture, Heritage Sites, Museums, and Archives, approved at the SCC’s 14th Governing Board meeting in October 2024 and endorsed at the 60th SAARC Programming Committee session in Kathmandu in April 2025.

Key objectives include:

* Preserving and restoring South Asia’s cultural assets.
* Creating a SAARC Heritage List with practical guidelines.
* Developing a cultural trail linking Buddhist historical sites.
* Improving access to major religious and cultural landmarks across the region.

*"This forum marks a milestone in South Asian cultural diplomacy," said Professor Sikdar Md. Zulkarnain, Deputy Director (Programs) of SCC. "It will open practical avenues for cooperation and safeguard our shared heritage for future generations."


Technical sessions will be held on 1–2 October at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, bringing together senior officials from the eight SAARC member states, heritage experts, and ICOM representatives.

Bangladesh’s delegation includes Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman Lal and Professor Masud Imran. Discussions will focus on establishing the SAARC Buddhist Cultural Trail, creating a regional framework for easier access to heritage sites, and strengthening institutional strategies for cultural cooperation.

The forum is expected to provide a regional framework for joint cultural preservation, boost cultural tourism, research, and education, and create lasting benefits for heritage conservation across South Asia.