Explore Sri Lanka event showcases culture, heritage

 

A series of traditional performances and activities yesterday marked the Explore Sri Lanka cultural event at Education City, aimed at showcasing the South Asian country’s rich culture and heritage.
The event, which forms part of Qatar-Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) Year of Culture 2022, showcased Sri Lankan dances and provided an opportunity for visitors to try authentic Ceylon tea and a wide range of native food and products.




“As you would note, culture is one of the most effective tools to bring people closer together, encourage dialogue, and deepen understanding between nations,” said Sri Lankan ambassador Mohamed Mafaz Mohideen, who led the cake-cutting ceremony at the celebration.




Explore Sri Lanka was attended by Ali Hassan M R al-Emadi, second secretary of the Embassy of Qatar in Sri Lanka, Qatar-Indonesia Business Council president Farhan al-Sayed, embassy officials, members of the Sri Lankan community in Doha, and other guests.
This special occasion, Mohideen said, gives residents and visitors in Qatar a great exposure to identify their rich cultural heritage and learn more about their traditions, arts and crafts, and mouth-watering traditional Sri Lankan cuisine.




The envoy also highlighted the strong and long-standing friendly relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka, saying such a vital juncture allows both their people to come together.
“The people connection is a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship and we value it. In the last 18 months, we had a lot more engagement with our counterparts here, and we believe in the coming months and years, we will take this relationship to new heights.

“The friendship which is a key ingredient in this relationship grows from strength to strength. I am confident that our bilateral ties would be further enhanced through this cultural co-operation for the benefit of both our countries,” Mohideen said.





He lauded Qatar Museums’ Years of Culture initiative, saying the MENASA edition has given them the opportunity to display Sri Lankan culture and heritage, arts, crafts, and cuisines in Qatar. He thanked QM, Qatar Foundation, and Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their continued support and invaluable assistance.




“This is the first time that Qatar is partnering with an entire region – MENASA,” the envoy said, noting that the Years of Culture programme – under the leadership of QM Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani – is an international cultural exchange that deepens understanding between nations and their people.