New Delhi, 23 December 2014 : Kalinga Lanka Foundation (KLF), the Delhi/NCR based cultural organization founded by like-minded people from Odisha and Sri Lanka launched its official website www.kalingalankafoundation.org in the recently convened meeting of its Governing Body.
In order to promote the objective of the Foundation among the young generation, it was decided that KLF will reach out to the Universities to enrol ‘Student Volunteers’ without charging any fees from them. It was also decided that membership would be offered gratis to the clergy from various religious communities and organizations. The Governing Body also agreed that Honorary Membership may be offered gratis to distinguished persons from various fields.
Kalinga Lanka Foundation will offer life membership in three different categories –Single Individual, Corporate and Institutions-with one time payment of membership fees of Rs 5000/-, Rs 500000/- and Rs 100000/- respectively. Membership application will be available with the existing life members of the Foundation as well as in the website which can be downloaded. Applicants have to be recommended by an existing member before final induction into the Foundation on approval of the President.
Secretary,
Kalinga Lanka Foundation
New Delhi
23rd December 2014
New Delhi, 19th August, 2014 : A delegation of Kalinga Lanka Foundation, on the first-ever meeting with its new ex-officio Patron-in-Chief, H.E. Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne, High Commisioner of Sri Lanka in India, raised 5-key issues of mutual cooperation between Odisha and Sri Lanka. The delegation led by Mr Debi Prasad Bagchi, Former Chief Secretary of Odisha, apprised the High Commissioner with the opportunities in Odisha and highlighted five areas of common interest i.e. Cooperation in Tourism Promotion, Education & Skill Development, Joint Research in Buddhist Heritage of Ancient Kalinga, Trade Relations in Textile, Gems & Jewellery and Encouraging Development of Art & Culture.
The other members of the delegation are Mr Jatin Das, Distinguished Painter, Mr Roshan Wijesekara, Former Country Manager of Sri Lankan Airlines, Ms Alpana Nayak, Odishi Guru & Dance Exponent, Mr Harihar Patra, leading Hotelier and Mr Sameer Kumar Das, PR & Travel Consultant.
Kalinga Lanka Foundation, the Delhi/NCR based cultural organization, was launched on 29th May 2014 by H.E. Mr Prasad Kariyawasam, the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India ( presently the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in USA) and Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary of India who is also the Founder President of the organization. Founded by like minded people from Odisha and Sri Lanka, the objective of Kalinga Lanka Foundation is to revive the ancient trade and cultural linkages between the two regions. The Foundation intends to open its branches at Bhubaneswar and Colombo.
Secretary,
Kalinga Lanka Foundation
New Delhi
19th August 2014
New Delhi, 29th May 2014 : In recognition of the historical links that span over two millennia and to celebrate the common heritage between Kalinga (present day Odisha and beyond) and Lanka (present day Sri Lanka), a group of friends of Odisha and Sri Lanka have taken the initiative to establish the “Kalinga Lanka Foundation”. The Foundation was launched at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, in the presence of several dignitaries and well wishers of the Foundation. Former Foreign Secretary of India Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, who is leading this initiative, High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam and several others spoke at this occasion.
In his welcome address, High Commissioner Kariyawasam said that as revealed in the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka and proven by the archaeological evidence, the ancient people of Kalinga and Lanka, through each other’s advanced sea fairing abilities, have enjoyed a strong sense of connectivity. The transfer of Lord Buddha’s tooth relic to Lanka, by Kalingan King Guhaseeva, through his daughter Hemamala and son-in-law Dantha, still venerated by the Buddhists in Sri Lanka is a manifestation of this strong bond. The objective of the Kalinga- Lanka Foundation is to re-discover and reinvigorate this rich historic connect by way of multi-faceted initiatives for promotion of modern day people to people contacts, re-establishment of links in arts and culture, education, skills development, science and technology, tourism and business. The Foundation would promote studies of the Kalinga – Lanka shared history and culture as well as academic cooperation between institutions of the two regions. The establishment of the Foundation will further promote already existing close and vibrant India-Sri Lanka relations that span across historic links Sri Lanka enjoy with many other regions of India.
In his remarks Ambassador Lalit Mansingh spoke of the special niche which Kalinga-Lanka relations enjoyed in the larger context of the close historical and socio-cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. Recent historical research, supported by archaeological evidence, suggested a close and continuous relationship between the two regions from the 6th century B.C.E. to the 14th century A.D.
The objective of Kalinga-Lanka Foundation was not only to revive and rejuvenate this special relationship but to look at the new areas of cooperation in the future. Both regions are richly endowed with natural resources and human capital. Both are strategically located in the Indian Ocean, with easy access to the expanding markets of South East Asia and East Asia. Promoting joint ventures and facilitating tourism and religious pilgrimage had rich potential benefits for both regions.
Ambassador Mansingh thanked High Commisioner Kariyawasam for his strong support and encouragement for the establishment of the foundation. He conveyed his best wishes to him for a very successful tenure as Sri Lanka’s next Ambassador to the United States.
Ambassador Mansingh will be the founder President of the Foundation while the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India will be the ex-officio Patron-in-Chief. Prominent civil servants and distinguished personalities who hail from Odisha as well as Sri Lankans living in India are among the founding members of Kalinga-Lanka Foundation.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
29 May 2014