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Sri Lanka

Culture

Kulturarbeit in Sri Lanka © Goethe-Institut

Culture

The Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka encourages cultural collaboration across Sri Lanka, Germany and the South Asian region by organising programmes of events and making contributions to various festivals and exhibitions in the fields of film, dance, music, theatre, literature and translation. We aim to paint a contemporary portrait of Germany, while promoting international discourse on the key concerns of what is becoming an increasingly global society.

Focus

Elemental Imprints – Bio Design Lab South Asia © Goethe-Institut

OPEN CALL
 Elemental Imprints: Bio Design Lab South Asia

Sri Lanka Lab - Seaweed: Fronds for Thought
18–29 May 2026 | Valaippadu, Kilinochchi | Based in Jaffna

An immersive research residency exploring seaweed as a sustainable, living material for design. The lab brings together designers, scientists, and interdisciplinary practitioners to experiment with seaweed through growing, shaping, and material exploration.

Focusing on biodesign and ecological thinking, the project investigates how seaweed can support regenerative, low-impact production systems and offer alternatives to resource-intensive materials. Through collaboration with local communities and ecosystems, participants will develop innovative, context-driven approaches that rethink the relationship between nature, design, and technology.

Student Exchange

Student Exchange Kalpitiya / Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

Between October 27 and November 07 2025, students from Berlin and Kalpitiya will come together in Sri Lanka to exchange ideas on pressing topics such as ocean protection, waste reduction and recycling to develop joint strategies für a sustainable future.

Monthly Podcast
 The Popcast: Latest music from Germany

Rock, pop, hiphop, electro: at the beginning of every month we shine our search beacon into the Germany's studios and clubs from up North to the South. 

Arts and Exhibitions

Colomboscope 2024 Save the Date © Colomboscope

Way of the Forest
 Colomboscope 2024

The eighth edition of Colomboscope was held from 19 to 28 January 2024, bringing together interdisciplinary artistic approaches from around the island, South Asia and beyond in characteristic venues of Colombo.

Critical Zones © Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka

In Search of a Common Ground
 Critical Zones

For a long time the reactions of Earth to our human actions remained unnoticed, but in recent times with the protest movement Fridays for Future climate crisis has moved into public consciousness. The thought exhibition »CRITICAL ZONES« invites us to deal with the CRITICAL situation of the Earth in various ways and to explore new modes of coexistence between all forms of life.

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Film, Media and Digital Culture

Person sitting behind a television with static noise; arms loosely draped over the screen. © Nick Fancher, Unsplash

Goethe on Demand
 Watch films online

The Goethe-Institut presents a carefully curated collection of German films, available to stream for free. Discover award-winning festival hits, exciting new voices in German cinema and legendary film classics – and find your own personal favourites. Sit back, make yourself comfortable and… action!

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Music

Literature and Knowledge

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