HIST and Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT) for Space technology Applicatio

The Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT) is mandated by the Government of Sri Lanka to promote application of space technology for the social and economic development of Sri Lanka. Prof. Guo Huadong, Director of HIST and Eng. Sanath Panawennage, Director of ACCIMT signed an MOU on 16th June 2014 for promoting the applications of space technologies for the identification, conservation, monitoring, management and sustainable development of natural and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony was held at the ACCIMT in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in the presence of senior ACCIMT staff and the Acting Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Mr. Prasanna Ratnayake. Mr. Hong Tianhua, Executive Deputy Director of HIST and Prof. Natarajan Ishwaran, State Recruited Expert of China working with HIST and AIR were also present at the ceremony.

Both Prof. Guo Huadong and Eng. Sanath Panawennage highlighted the long-standing and friendly relationships between China and Sri Lanka and expressed the hope that this partnership will grow in strength and generate significant benefits to space technology applications and heritage conservation in both countries. Eng. Sanath Panawennage said that the signing of the MOU is hopefully the first significant step “in a long journey of cooperation” and noted that China-Sri Lanka friendship extends well into the history of the two countries.

Sri Lanka currently has 6 cultural sites included in the World Heritage List: Sacred city of Anuradhapura; Ancient City of Polonnaruwa; Ancient City of Sigiriya; Sacred City of Kandy; Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications; and the Golden Temple of Dambulla. The island nation also has two natural heritage sites: Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. There are three other biosphere reserves of Sri Lanka, namely Hurulu, Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya (KDN) and Bundala.

Following the signing of the MOU, the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka arranged for the HIST Delegation visits to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa and Sacred City of Kandy. These visits provided the HIST Delegation initial impressions on the importance assigned by the Government of Sri Lanka to the conservation of the country’s heritage.

Sri Lanka has expressed the wish that using space technologies for the identification, conservation, monitoring, management and sustainable development of archaeological sites should be a priority for activities to be undertaken under the MOU. Capacity building for staff of ACCIMT, Department of Archaeology and other relevant Ministries and Departments of the Government of Sri Lanka will also be strongly emphasized. Two Sri Lankan trainees are expected to attend the 2nd International Training Workshop of Space Technology Applications for World Heritage organized by HIST in Beijing and Henan Province from 1 to 20 July 2014.

A work program of actions and activities to be implemented under the MOU will be jointly developed by HIST and ACCIMT during the coming weeks.