Living Heritage Trust

Kudimbigala: inhabitable cave used by meditators since pre-Christian era. Drip-ledge includes ancient inscription in Brahmi script.

The Living Heritage Trust (LHT) is a private sector NGO dedicated to the conservation of Sri Lanka's unique cultural heritage and traditional wisdom, incorporated in May 2000 under the Companies Act No 17 of 1982, and registered in August 2003 as an NGO under the Voluntary Social Services Organizations (Registration & Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980 as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1998.

Living Heritage Trust is also a coalition of NGOs; the Cultural Survival Trust (CST) and the Kataragama Devotees Trust (KDT) are its NGO affiliates. The promoters of LHT have a unique record in the field of traditional studies and cultural preservation extending over two decades.

By harnessing Sri Lanka's cultural heritage, LHT seeks convert it into a source of wealth through sustainable development. We aim to create a development model that equates a traditional lifestyle with an intelligent choice and quality standard of living. In highly developed societies, people move from the city back to the country, but with city amenities. LHT seeks to create this option in Sri Lanka, without going through the historical development cycle, with its massive urban immigration, and concomitant destruction of the social fabric and environment.