Jaffna Cultural Centre

The Jaffna Cultural Centre (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணக் கலாசார மத்திய நிலையம்), also known as the Saraswathi Mahal, is a cultural centre in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It was opened on 11 February 2023 by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other Indian and Sri Lankan dignitaries. The centre includes an auditorium, conference hall, amphitheatre and a digital library. [1]

Jaffna Cultural Centre
யாழ்ப்பாணக் கலாசார மத்திய நிலையம்
Jaffna Cultural Centre in 2023
Alternative namesயாழ் பண்பாட்டுப்படுவம்
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeMixed use:
  • Entertainment
  • Observation
  • Education
  • Events
  • Tourist attraction
LocationJaffna, Sri Lanka
AddressEsplanade Rd, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Completed2020
Opened11 February 2023
Technical details
Floor count11

Background

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the cultural centre in 2015. The centre would be built at a cost of 11 million USD, with external fundings from India.[1]

The centre was completed in early 2020 but would not be officially inaugurated until three years later, due to uncertainty surrounding its leadership and funding.

In 2022, the centre was inaugurated virtually by then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar, who was on a three day visit to Sri Lanka. After its inauguration, the centre remained closed for nearly a year due to the economic and political instability in the country at the time. It was officially reopened by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian Union Minister Dr. L. Murugan on 11 February 2023.[1][2][3]

See also

India–Sri Lanka relations

References
  1. "Jaffna Cultural Center: India's USD 11 million gift to Sri Lanka inaugurated". NewsWire. 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. "India-funded Jaffna Cultural Centre inaugurated". NewsWire. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. "India dedicates Jaffna Cultural Centre to people of Sri Lanka". The Economic Times. 2023-02-11. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-02-11.

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