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 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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