The Fifteenth Meeting of the Governing Board (GB) of the SAARC Cultural Centre was held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 19 to 20 August 2025.

Representatives from the esteemed Governments of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Republic of Nepal, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka attended the meeting in person, while representatives from the Republic of India, the Republic of Maldives, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan participated virtually.

The Chairmanship of the Governing Board was formally transferred from the outgoing Chair, Bangladesh, to Bhutan. Accordingly, Ms. Nagtsho Dorji, Director, Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, Royal Government of Bhutan, presided over the meeting as Chair. Representing the Secretary General of SAARC, Director Irosha Cooray attended the meeting on his behalf.

Addressing the Meeting on behalf of the Secretary General, Ms. Irosha Cooray emphasized the importance of continuing to empower and guide the Centre through the insights and vision of the esteemed Governing Board Members. She noted that their collective wisdom and strategic direction are vital in steering the Centre towards the full realization of its mission.

In her statement, the Chair reiterated the mandate entrusted to the SAARC Cultural Centre and sought the assistance of the Member States in navigating this process. Presenting the anticipated budget for 2026, Dr. KaushalyaKumarasinghe, Director of the SCC, briefed the Meeting on the progress of the 2025 Agenda, highlighted the challenges encountered, and sought the Board’s guidance and approval for the programme activities proposed for 2026.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the directives of the Fourteenth Governing Board to ensure that the Centre’s activities were in alignment with the objectives set in the previous year. Following comprehensive deliberations, the Governing Board finalized the proposed programmes and budget for 2026, with a focus on strengthening the Centre’s role in fostering cultural exchange and cooperation among SAARC Member States.

The Board also reviewed all administrative and financial matters of the Centre, including the audit report, thereby reinforcing its commitment to transparency and accountability in the Centre’s operations.

The two days of deliberations concluded successfully with several constructive recommendations, which will be submitted to the forthcoming Programming Committee Meeting in Kathmandu for consideration and approval.

These recommendations are aimed at further strengthening the Centre’s initiatives and ensuring the effective implementation of its programmes in the year ahead.