UNESCO has officially added two significant Sri Lankan cultural records to its Memory of the World Register — the Trilingual Inscription and documents related to the Panadura Vādaya (The Great Debate of Panadura).
The Trilingual Inscription, a joint submission by Sri Lanka and China, is a stone slab engraved with texts in Chinese, Tamil, and Persian, paying homage to Buddha, Vishnu, and Allah. It was originally erected by Chinese Admiral Zheng He in 1409 and discovered in Sri Lanka in 1911 by a British engineer.
Today, it is housed at the Colombo National Museum, with a replica displayed in Galle. According to UNESCO, it is the only known inscription featuring these three languages, representing diverse cultural and geographical regions.
Also recognized are four historical documents linked to the Panadura Debate of 1873, preserved at Rankot Viharaya in Panadura. These include letters exchanged between Christian and Buddhist leaders and a full transcription of the 27.5-page interfaith dialogue, handwritten in ink.
The debate took place during a period of religious tension and is celebrated for fostering mutual respect and understanding between the two faiths. Its English translation later influenced religious scholars and reformers in Europe and the United States, contributing to Buddhism’s global recognition.
UNESCO emphasized the importance of safeguarding such fragile yet vital records that reflect humanity’s shared memory. With these latest entries, the Memory of the World Register now holds 570 documentary collections from around the world, covering diverse themes such as scientific achievements, women’s history, and major global developments.
Launched in 1992, the Memory of the World Programme works to preserve and provide universal access to important documentary heritage, supporting regional and national registers across over 100 countries.
