AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000489

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/P/C-MARIA P. KOUROUPAS/GRACHEL KUBAITIS;
SA/PPD-SHARON E. HUDSON-DEAN

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: ECIN KPAO OEXC SCUL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION
FY-2005 CALL FOR PROPOSALS - SRI LANKA AND THE MALDIVES

REF: STATE 007969


A. Post Submits two proposals, one each from Sri Lanka and
the Maldives for the FY-2005 Ambassador's Fund for Cultural
Preservation Program.


B. Proposal from the Republic of Maldives:

Title: Restoration and conservation of Eid Mosque
Male', Republic of Maldives


1. Contact:

Philip Frayne
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy, Colombo
Tel: +94 11 242 1264
Fax: +94 11 244 9070
E-mail: fraynepa@state.gov

Angela Gemza
Cultural Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy, Colombo
Tel: +94 11 242 1271
Fax: +91 11 244 9070
E-mail: gemzaa@state.gov





2. Grantee:

National Council for Linguistic and Historical Research.
The NCLHR is responsible for the management and maintenance
of all cultural heritage sites in the Maldives.


3. Summary:

This project is aimed at conserving and restoring the 18th
century Eid Mosque in Male', the capital of Maldives. Due
to time and lack of proper maintenance, the building has
deteriorated. The mosque is a mandate of the National
Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research that is
responsible for the management of all Heritage in Maldives
and has set 1st of June 2005 as the commencement date for
the project. The preservation and restoration will take
approximately 6 months. The project consists of three
components: survey and photo-documentation of the mosque;
restoration and preservation of the mosque; and devising a
management plan and a scheme of work required for continued
maintenance (in conjunction with Supreme Council). An
approximate total of 22,000 US Dollars is estimated for the
entire project.


4. Description of the project and participants, including
time frame:

Project:
The Eid Mosque is one of the oldest in Mal. It is made of
a unique combination of wood and coral stone. It also
shows signs that a rare combination of coral and sand stone
was used in its construction. The coral stones on the
exterior feature intricately hand carved designs. Wood
beams, interior pillars, struts, ceilings, doors and
windows feature these carvings and beautiful lacquer work.
Time, heat, humidity, sun and lack of attention to
preservation have taken their toll on these unique coral
and wood carvings. This project will repair the damage to
the mosque and conserve it for future generations. The
NCLHR will work with the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs
to develop a plan for the continued maintenance of the
building after it returns to service as a functioning
mosque.




Participants:

Mohamed Thariq; Project Director, National Center for
Linguistic and Historical Research. He will oversee the
actual day-to-day work of the restoration and preservation.
See C.V. below.

Abbas Ibrahim; Chairman, National Center for Linguistic and
Historical Research, will play a vital role in negotiating
details and ensuring the project remains on track.

Ahmed Thorlal; Research Officer, National Center for
Linguistic and Historical Research, will research and
document the historical significance of the mosque.


Mohamed Waheed; Special Advisor, National Center for
Linguistic and Historical Research, oversees the Heritage
section of the Center and will be responsible for the
procurement of goods.
Timeframe:
Total Project: Approximately 6 months.
Survey and photo-documentation of the mosque - 1 week
Restoration and preservation of the mosque
Coral restoration - 4 months
Timber restoration - 6 weeks
Devising a management plan for continued maintenance -
Concurrently with restoration.


5. Importance of the collection:

The Eid Mosque was constructed by Sultan Hassan Nurud-din
in the late 18th century. An inscription at the site is
attributed to Sultan Mukaram, which pre-dates the current
structure.

Additionally, the Eid mosque is just one of a few surviving
mosques of the type of architecture called "Monsoon
Architecture". These traditional wood and coral stone
buildings are a vital and significant link between past and
present. It not only stands as evidence of beautiful
craftsmanship and design, it also epitomizes the strong
Islamic faith in the Maldives after the 12th century.
Additionally, there is a shortage of land in Mal and
historical landmarks compete for valuable space. The site
is currently threatened by pollution and humidity needs
urgent conservation. Following the completion of the
project, the NCLHR will submit the mosque to UNESCO's World
Heritage Site register.


6. Urgency of the project:
Years of deterioration have threatened the mosque's
continued viability. The coral stone and wood
construction of the building has taken a strong beating
from the elements, including from the recent tsunami. The
Mosque's continued usage as a prayer house makes this
project important to the entire society.


7. Impact of the U.S. contribution to the preservation
project:
The recent tsunami has caused the GORM to shift priorities
away from cultural preservation. The U.S. contribution will
enable the restoration to begin without further delay.


8. Benefit to the advancement of U.S. foreign policy:
Build the foundation of trust and mutual respect and
emphasize the positive history and current status of U.S.-
Maldivian bilateral relations. (an MPP goal).
Demonstrate the United States' commitment to and respect
for Islamic culture, religion and heritage. This will
resonate loudly in this 100% Muslim country.


9. Resume of Project Director:
Mohamed Thariq, Senior Research Officer, National Center
for Linguistic and Historical Research
Education:London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Examination
Male', Republic of Maldives, 1987
Junior School Certificate Examination
Male', Republic of Maldives, 1985
985
Training:Training in Conservation & Book Binding
Conducted by Department of National Archives, Colombo,
Sri Lanka
August - October 1999
Orientation Workshop on Care & Maintenance of Museum
Materials, Lucknow, India
1998
Course on Conservation & Reprography, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
1997
Asian Archeological Congress
Male', Republic of Maldives, 1993
Workshop on Conservation of Museum Objects, Male',
Republic of Maldives
1990
Experience:Conservation work on the restoration of an
old mosque in
Fenfushi, 2001
Implemented & monitored construction of a sea wall to
protect archaeological sit in Gan Atoll, 2000
Excavated archaeological site on Kashidhoo, 1998


10. Detailed Budget:
Chemicals and preservatives(used in cleaning &
preservation)$ 3,500
E.g. Acetone, Ammonia solution, Barium hyroxide,
Ammonium Bicarbonate, etc.
Materials$ 8,600
E.g. High pressure pumps, new timber and
coral stone, paint
Electrical Rewiring$ 1,300
Some of the wiring will need to be upgraded
wiring will need to be upgraded
in order to keep it a working mosque.

Stipend/salary for four workers$ 1,900
Includes Medical Insurance

Accommodation & Foods$ 3,600
Provide for workers brought from outside Mal'
for project

Local Transport$ 100
To bring workers in from outside Mal

Two night watchmen$ 3,000
Needed to protect supplies after hours

Total $ 22,000


11. Other potential funding sources:
Although no other funding has been guaranteed, the NCLCH
can potentially receive funding from:
The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs: The Supreme Council
supervises the functionality of all mosques in the Maldives
and it is this government council that will be looking
after the mosque once the conservation is complete.

The Government of the Republic of Maldives: GORM does
support cultural heritage preservation projects but the
tsunami of December 26, 2004 has strained the already

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limited resources of this developing country.



C. Proposal from Sri Lanka:

.



C. Proposal from Sri Lanka:

Title: Survey of the Cultural Properties Affected by
Tsunami on December 26 Inside Dutch Fort and at

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Kumaranatunge Mawatha, Matara


1. Contact:

Philip A. Frayne, (PAO)
Phone: (94-11) 242-1624; Fax: (94-11) 244-9070
e-mail: FraynePA@state.gov

Angela L. Gemza (CAO),
Phone: Phone: (94-11) 242-1271; Fax: (94-11) 244-9070
e-mail: GemzaAL@state.gov


2. Grantee:

Sri Lanka National Committee of the International Council
on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Sri Lanka)


3. Summary:

Matara is a coastal city 160 km. South of Colombo. As the
city developed over the centuries, it respected its
historical and cultural traditions. The earliest dating of
the city of Matara is recorded in the 13th century.
However, its strategic importance was recognized only in
1595, when the Portuguese built a camp for the
concentration of their infantry. Sometime after 1640, the
Dutch built fortifications and developed their city within
the fortifications.



After 1815, the British developed the structures further by
introducing their own civil administrative buildings.
These were later adopted by Sri Lankans since independence
in 1948. Within these fortifications are a selection of
buildings that span over four centuries.

In addition, there are manor houses belonging to the
wealthy merchants and the nobility of the local community
along the road (Kumaranatunge Mawatha) parallel to the
river on the northern bund. Thus, in this study area is a
unique selection of buildings formed under the influences
of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, and
alongside buildings reflecting the local vernacular
architecture.

Some of these buildings were affected by the recent
Tsunami, which came in not only from the sea but also via

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the river, past the river's mouth. This proposal is for
ICOMOS Sri Lanka to carry out a survey of the building
stock in this area and make recommendations as to how they
could be conserved in order to preserve the nation's
cultural heritage. This is an extension to the survey of
the coastal belt of the country that was carried out by
ICOMOS Sri Lanka soon after the December 26 Tsunami. In
some instances it may be possible to recommend adaptations
of the buildings for alternative uses, optimizing the
potential to preserve the stock. This will enable the
planners working on post-Tsunami development to integrate
these buildings and groups usefully in their urban designs.
With the revitalization of this area after the Tsunami in
progress, this survey would be vitally important for the
planners to include these heritage properties in their
development proposals.

4.Description of the project and participants, including
time frame:

Project:

The Project Implementation is divided into three phases,
sometimes running concurrently:

Phase 1:Initial survey of the history of the buildings
and the socio-cultural environment;

Phase 2:Detailed survey of individual buildings including
ng
measure drawings, photographs, illustrations and a survey
detailing the damage to the buildings after the Tsunami;

Phase 3:Recommendations for conservation of individual
buildings (with approximate costing) and the preparation of
an urban conservation plan and program for the entire study
area. This will include a summary sheet of the experiences
and lessons learnt during the study because it will be the
first such experience, particularly for the university
students hired to carry out the survey .

Participants:

Project participants include the following:

The Project Director - A Conservation Architect Planner
Two conservation architects
A civil engineer
An architectural historian
A GIS specialist
A quantity surveyor/building economist
A team of architectural students from the Faculty of
Architecture at University of
Moratuwa; and students from the Department of Archaeology
from the University of Ruhuna at Matara

Timeframe:
Since university students will be called upon to work
during their vacation as on the job training, the project
could be completed in five calendar months. This could be
broken down to stages as follows:
Phase 12 weeks
Phase 23 months
Phase 36 weeks, part of which will run
concurrently with Phase 2


5. Importance of the Project:
The selected study area consists of a mixture of
administrative and ecclesiastical buildings built or
modified to live in over four centuries. It forms a unique
confluence of buildings varying from Portuguese, Dutch and
British influences to the Sri Lankan vernacular
architecture. The area represents a vivid picture of the
mutual heritage of a nation that experienced foreign
domination for over 450 years.


6. Urgency of the Project:
The government is preparing development plans for all areas
affected by the Tsunami. It is important that cultural
properties such as these are identified and the information
fed into the central planning system so that the planners
can take into account such sensitive sites.

ve sites.


7. Impact of the U.S. contribution to the preservation
project:
This project runs a serious risk of not being funded at all
if the U.S. does not help with financing since the central
government is currently devoting all its resources and aid
money to the urgent need of temporary housing and restoring
livelihoods. Should the USG fund this project, not only
will it -- with proper publicity provided by the mission's
PA section - reflect well on U.S. - Sri Lankan relations,
but it will serve as a model for similar surveys to be
undertaken on other parts of the island. The training and
hands-on experience the students will receive should also
result in more such projects as these students spread their
knowledge in their home communities.


8. Benefit to the advancement of U.S. foreign policy:
Any contribution to this project by the U.S. Government
will undoubtedly enhance bilateral relations since the U.S.
will be seen not only helping to preserve cultural
heritage, but also contributing to the revival of the city
of Matara after it had suffered considerable damage in the
tsunami. The project should also provide a natural entre

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for mission officers to meet a new group of university
students, thereby expanding the number of "next generation"
contacts. (MPP Goals 2 and 3)


9. Resume of the Project Director:
The Project Director
Arch. Plnr. Pali Wijeratne, Conservation Architect Planner
Dip.Arch. (Abdn.); Dip.T.P. (London); M.A. Cons. (York);
FIA SL; FITP SL; RIBA

Pali Wijeratne is the only Sri Lankan architect and town
planner with postgraduate qualifications in conservation of
monuments and sites. He has over 35 years experience in
architecture, town planning and conservation of historic
monuments. He has held positions of responsibility in both
Sri Lanka and in United Kingdom.

He worked as the Director of Conservation on the Sigiriya
Project from 1980-86, under the UNESCO- Sri Lanka Cultural
Triangle Program and was instrumental in the project's
winning the PATA Gold Award in 1986. Mr. Wijeratne
prepared the master plan for the Sigiriya Project as well
as the 'Conservation and Development Plan for Galle Fort'
(a World Heritage City) in 2002. This was accepted by the
UNESCO and is at present the working document for both the
Urban Development Authority and the Department of
Archaeology. Other main conservation projects undertaken
include the restoration of the Treasury Building used by
the Ministry of Finance in Colombo.

As a planner Mr. Wijeratne has been a project leader/member
of planning teams in the preparation of regional physicals
plans as well as development plans for several districts,
provinces and urban areas including the development plan
for Greater Matara Urban Development Area in 2001. In all
these projects, he personally handled conservation of the
cultural property.

Mr. Wijeratne is the current President of ICOMOS Sri Lanka,
a member of the Galle Heritage Foundation and a consultant
to the Mutual Heritage Center. He is an executive Member
of the International Scientific Committee on Conservation
of Structures of ICOMOS and has presented papers in
seminars and workshops in USA, Belgium, Spain, Italy,
Pakistan, India, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Japan and in Sri
Lanka. In addition, in February 2005, he conducted a
workshop in Lahore, Pakistan as a resource person from
UNESCO on the World Heritage Convention.
He is also an external examiner for the University of
Moratuwa and Colombo School of Architecture.


10. DETAILED BUDGET:

Request to Ambassadors' Fund
Team Leader - 2.5 man months @ Rs. 150,000Rs. 375,000.00
Two Architects - 5 man months @ Rs.125,000Rs. 625,000.00
Civil Engineer - 1 man month @ Rs.125,000Rs. 125,000.00
Architectural Historian - 1.5 man months @ Rs.100,000Rs.
150,000.00
GIS Specialist - 1 man month @ Rs. 125,000 Rs. 125,000.00
Quantity Surveyor/Building economist 1.5
1.5
man months @ Rs.80,000Rs. 120,000.00
Field Staff: 15 students for three man
months each @ Rs.10,000Rs. 450,000.00
Traveling and SubsistenceRs. 60,000.00
Stationary and Printing Rs. 55,000.00

TOTAL: Rs.2,085,000.00
U.S. $ 20,934 @ today's rate (US$ 1.00 = Rs. 99.6)


11.Other Potential Funding Sources:
Any shortfall on the funding might be met with a grant from
the University Grants Commission, which helped with with
the original survey.

D.Please advise.
Lunstead

D.Please advise.
Lunstead