'Hanging' puppets inside backstage before a performance © A.M. Dharmasiri Adikari, Sri Lanka, 2013

Chaired by Mr Punchi Nilame Meegaswatte (Sri Lanka), the sixteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (16.COM) will be held in at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, from 13 to 18 December 2021.

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present uncertainties, the Bureau of the Committee invited all members of the Committee to express their opinion on whether the 16.COM should be held in person in Colombo, Sri Lanka or Paris, France. In line with the results of this consultation, the Bureau decided on October 14th that the 16.COM will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France from 13 to 18 December 2021.

Whilst the meeting won’t be taking place in Sri Lanka, UNESCO Secretariat joins the Members of the Committee to express sincere gratitude for their generous offer to host and their continued involvement in the preparatory process ahead of the Committee session.