COLOMBO, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the UNESCO General Assembly held in Paris, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The island country was elected to one of the four seats available for the Asia Pacific. Sri Lanka will serve its term from 2018 to 2022.

"Sri Lanka recognizes that intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization, and that an understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps promote intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life," the ministry said.

"The decision to seek election to the Committee at this juncture is driven by the Government's commitment to the process of reconciliation in the country through which Sri Lanka endeavors to preserve and promote ancient traditions of all communities in the country while fostering respect and understanding of each other's ways of life, practices, customs and traditions," the ministry added.