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NATIONAL INVENTORY OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
OF SRI LANKA

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Compilation of the ICH Inventory commenced in 2008 by the National Library and Documentation Board with assistance from the UNESCO. A National Committee consisting of several scholars and Heads of several government institutions in relevant fields was set up for the purpose.

It is necessary to mention that although single common national inventory covering all domains of the island’s ICH is not available in Sri Lanka, different institutions dealing with different branches of cultural heritage; namely the National Museums Department, the Department of National Archives, the Department of Cultural Affairs have prepared their own inventories of intangible as well as tangible cultural heritage in their custody. Those inventories are used for efficient delivery of various purposes of those institutions.

The Main Categories of the National Inventory

For the purpose of inventorying Sri Lanka’s body of ICH elements, it was decided to follow the same classification used in the UNESCO Convention of 2003in identifying the domains of ICH. Accordingly, the National Inventory identifies the following five main categories as representing the entire corpus of ICH elements of Sri Lanka.

• Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage
• Performing arts
• Social practices, rituals and festive events
• Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
• Traditional craftsmanship