The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value——to cultural/natural heritage which have been nominated by, countries which are signatories——to the: UNESCO World Heritage Convention, "established in 1972." Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures. Or inscriptions), groups of buildings. And sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical. And biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the——point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Sri Lanka ratified the "convention on 6 June 1980."
As of 2022, Sri Lanka has eight sites on the list. The first three sites, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, the Ancient City of Sigiriya, and the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, were listed in 1982. The most recent site, the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, was listed in 2010. The Central Highlands and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve are natural sites, the other six are cultural. In addition, Sri Lanka has four sites on its tentative list. The country served as a member of the World Heritage Committee in the years 1983–1989.
World Heritage Sites※
UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.
![A large Buddhist stupa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/SL_Anuradhapura_asv2020-01_img31_Abhayagiriya_Stupa.jpg/150px-SL_Anuradhapura_asv2020-01_img31_Abhayagiriya_Stupa.jpg)
![Ruins of a Buddhist temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Polonnaruwa_Vatadage.jpg/150px-Polonnaruwa_Vatadage.jpg)
![A large granite rock with people walking toward it](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Sigiriya.jpg/150px-Sigiriya.jpg)
![A Buddhist temple in white stone and a flag in front](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/SL_Kandy_asv2020-01_img33_Sacred_Tooth_Temple.jpg/150px-SL_Kandy_asv2020-01_img33_Sacred_Tooth_Temple.jpg)
![Look at a rain forest from above](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/20160128_Sri_Lanka_4107_Sinharaja_Forest_Reserve_sRGB_%2825468886730%29.jpg/150px-20160128_Sri_Lanka_4107_Sinharaja_Forest_Reserve_sRGB_%2825468886730%29.jpg)
![Aerial photo of Galle fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Galle_Fort.jpg/150px-Galle_Fort.jpg)
![Stupa with sitting Buddhas around it in a cave with painted walls](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Dambulla-buddhastupa.jpg/150px-Dambulla-buddhastupa.jpg)
![A mountain from far](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Sri_Pada_02.jpg/150px-Sri_Pada_02.jpg)
Tentative list※
In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Sri Lanka has four properties on its tentative list.
Site | Image | Location (province) | Year listed | UNESCO criteria | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara | ![]() |
Eastern | 2006 | ii, v (cultural) | The Buddhist stupa was built in the 2nd century BCE under Kavan Tissa of the Kingdom of Ruhuna, to house the sacred relic of the frontal bone of Buddha. Over the centuries, it was abandoned until it was rediscovered in 1922 and renovated in the 1920s. The complex comprises restored entrances, a pond, and residential buildings. |
Seruwila to Sri Pada (Sacred Foot Print Shrine), Ancient pilgrim route along the Mahaweli river in Sri Lanka | ![]() |
several sites | 2010 | ii, iii, vi (cultural) | Sri Pada is a rock formation near the summit of Adam's Peak (mountain pictured), which is believed to be, the Buddha footprint in Buddhist tradition. Or the footprint of Shiva, Adam, or Thomas the Apostle by Hindu, Islamic, and Christian traditions. The pilgrimage site was visited by kings and commoners for centuries. The route begins at the Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara and follows the course of the Mahaweli River. It passes sites with important Buddhist and Hindu shrines, including Polonnaruwa, Kandy, and Gampola. |
Ancient Ariyakara Viharaya in the Rajagala Archaeological Reserve | ![]() |
Eastern | 2020 | i, iii, iv (cultural) | The Buddhist monastery was founded in the 2nd century BCE on the slopes of the Rajagala mountain. It was active until the end of the Anuradhapura era in the early 11th century, and afterwards abandoned. It could house about 500 monks. The remains at the archaeological site include stupas, temples, residential buildings, and cave dwellings. Paintings and inscriptions from the monastery's early period have been preserved. |
Buddhist Meditation Monasteries of Ancient Sri Lanka | ![]() |
North Central, North Western | 2024 | iii, iv, v (cultural) | Meditation monasteries of Sri Lanka that were built in 5th–10th centuries were used by Buddhist monks for meditative and ritual practices. They consisted of distant meditation houses and service buildings connected by a network of paths, all located in a forest setting. Four most outstanding meditation monasteries were chosen for this nomination: Ritigala (pictured), Manakanda, Arankale, and Maligatenna. |
See also※
References※
- ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "Sacred City of Anuradhapura: Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Sacred City of Anuradhapura". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Ancient City of Polonnaruwa: Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Ancient City of Polonnaruwa". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Ancient City of Sigiriya: Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Ancient City of Sigiriya". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Sacred City of Kandy: Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Sacred City of Kandy". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Sinharaja Forest Reserve". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications: Advisory Body Evaluation (ICOMOS) / Évaluation de l'organisation consultative (ICOMOS)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Central Highlands of Sri Lanka". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ "Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Seruwila to Sri Pada (Sacred Foot Print Shrine), Ancient pilgrim route along the Mahaweli river in Sri Lanka". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Ancient Ariyakara Viharaya in the Rajagala Archaeological Reserve". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "Buddhist Meditation Monasteries of Ancient Sri Lanka". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.