A SINGLE WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION

For Sri Lanka’s Post Colonial Fortifications

This project, that commenced many years ago, was an attempt to make a single nomination to World Heritage that identified and brought together all existing colonial fortifications located around the island. The study was intended to examine these colonial monuments not only from a historical context but also, with a serious consideration to enhance a sustainable use value for each monument. This was envisioned to be a long term strategy to ensure that the monuments may in time, be better preserved in a sustainable manner. However, the purposeful delay in introducing this concept is due to its very special nature and requirement to be examined very judiciously to ensure that the local and international conventions and charters are not violated. Ultimately, the concept seeks to minimise gentrification of the remaining colonial fortifications. This simple concept was first put forward by de Vos in 1975 in an effort to protect the Fort of Galle. However, today what you see is what transpires when basic ideas and concepts are overlooked and more grandiose schemes are encouraged.

The 116th session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust Sri Lanka will be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30p.m. on Thursday 30th May 2019.

The fort is not as it should have been, but is the victim of extreme gentrification. What remains is an almost pseudo environment that may in time involve people dressed in Dutch period costumes – if that is what it takes to continue to generate business.

In modern times, gentrification is encouraged by budget-friendly package tours, cheap flights, all-inclusive resorts, and cruises. In general, it allows vast numbers of travellers to descend on a given destination in a relatively short time, usually during peak season and includes all the extra infrastructure that is demanded by the tour operators, including the titillations demanded by these fickle groups and unfortunately granted by a desperate administration. On the positive side, this extreme influx of tourists can help to generate jobs, stimulate the economy, and develop muchneeded infrastructure. On the downside, many of these jobs are not given to locals, much of the revenue is kept by outside investors, and the overwhelming tourist crowds often keep locals the real heirs to the tradition, from being able to enjoy the infrastructure and other benefits.

Unfortunately, in this scenario when use is investment driven with no consideration for the compatible use value of the archaeology and the need to maintain authenticity, the end result could be the complete destruction of the site. Mass tourism is inarguably the most popular form of tourism today, however most responsible travel experts consider it a shallow, exploitative, and unsustainable form of travel, consuming huge amounts of resources while giving little back to the local community. There are many examples where large-scale tourism has had detrimental effects on biodiversity, including coral reefs, coastal wetlands, rainforests, arid and semi-arid ecosystems, mountainous areas (UNWTO 2010). Biodiversity will be greatly affected by the way in which tourism grows and develops, especially in developing countries (UNEP 2010). This is generally brought about by tourism demands that soon exceed the carry capacity of the particular site.

Sustainable tourism thus aspires to be more energy efficient and more climate sound, consume less water; minimize waste; conserve biodiversity, cultural heritage and traditional values; support intercultural understanding and tolerance; generate local income and integrate local communities with a view to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. Making tourism businesses sustainable, in a way that benefits local communities, and raises awareness and support for the sustainable use of natural resources. Sustainable tourism is tourism that takes full account of current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. With greater respect for the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, a need to conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance

The National Trust – Sri Lanka conducts monthly lectures on the last Thursday of each month. The lectures are open to the members and the public at a nominal fee. The HNB Sustainability Foundation is the principal sponsor of the events of the National Trust – Sri Lanka.

Further information can be obtained from the Trust Office Tel 2682730 / 0778081214 at the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.