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Sri Lanka © UNESCO/Laurent Hervé |
The United Nations, at its General Assembly held in 1993, has proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day. On this day, the nations of the world reassert the fundamental principles of press freedom and pay tribute to journalists who have sacrificed their lives, their freedom or placed themselves at risk, in the exercise of their profession.
Each year, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organizes the following major events to mark this special day:
Venue
The venue of all the official events of World Press Freedom Day Celebrations 2006 is the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH), Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka, in view of its excellent conference accommodation and support facilities. The BMICH was built to honour the memory one of the foremost statesman, Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956-1959).
Schedule
The Inaugural Session of the two day Conference on Media, Development and Poverty Eradication will take place at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 1 May 2006, at Committee Room A of the BMICH.
The Award Ceremony of the UNESCO – Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Price will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 May 2006, at the Main Hall of the BMICH.
The detailed schedules of all events are provided separately.
Language
The working language of the meetings is English.
Communications
Information related to the Conference and Awards Ceremony is shown in the UNESCO website (www.unesco.org/webworld/wpfd/2006). Any further information requests concerning to the Conference and Awards Ceremony should be addressed to Ms. Sylvie Coudray, Programme Specialist, Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris (tel: +33.1.45.68.42.12, e-mail: s.coudray@unesco.org), with a copy to the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, 163 Kirulapona Avenue, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka (fax: 94 11 2513365, e-mail: smininfm@sltnet.lk).
Any communications which are expected during the conference should be directed to the following address:
Ms Sylvie Coudray
Programme Specialist, UNESCO Secretariat
BMICH Committee Romm “E”
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Telephone/Facsimile +94 11 2697420
Attendance Information
A completed Attendance Information Form for each participant must be sent to the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris before 15 April, to enable the UNESCO Secretariat to make necessary follow up arrangements with the officials of the host country.
Travel
Delegates are expected to contact UNESCO for travel arrangements to and from Colombo. Airline bookings for flights to and from Colombo are likely to be heavy at the time of the conference and it is recommended that confirmed reservations be made as early as possible.
Visas
For entry into Sri Lanka a valid passport with a visa is required. The Sri Lankan Government is instructing its missions abroad to issue visas promptly for the delegates. Delegates in countries not having Sri Lankan mission should contact the closest mission for their visa applications.
If visa assistance is required, the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris, should be informed before 15 April with full particulars including, Name, Sex, Date and Place of Birth, Nationality, Passport Number, Date and Place of Issue and Expiry Date of Passport to enable to arrange Entry Visa on Arrival at the Colombo International Airport.
Airport Reception
The participants will be received on arrival at the Colombo International Airport.
Local Transport
Transport will be provided for the participants on arrival from the airport to the hotel, the hotel to the conference hall and back and on departure from the hotel to airport.
Hotel Accommodation
Arrangements have been made to accommodate participants in the Hilton Colombo Hotel, No.2, Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo (Tel. +94 11 2437177 or 2492492 Fax +94 11 2544662, e-mail: Colombo@hilton.com, website: www.hilton.com) which is a five-star international tourist hotel. Single Room accommodation will be provided on bed and breakfast basis (checking in/out time is 12.00 noon). The concessionary room rates, for those who make reservations through the UNESCO, are as follows.
A Conference Secretariat will be established at the BMICH. The offices and other meeting services will be open from 30 April to 4 May. Room and telephone numbers will be given in the Directory which will be available at the Conference.
Registration
Delegates are requested to register as early as possible at the registration desk located in the following places.
The Hilton Colombo Hotel (Lobby) Sunday, 30 April 2006, 9.30 Hours to 10.00 Hours
BM ICH (Committee Room A Lobby) Monday, 1 May 2006, 8.00 Hours to 15.00 Hours
BMICH (Committee Room A Lobby) Tuesday, 2 May 2006, 8.00 Hours to 15.00 Hours
Identification badges entitling the holder to attend the sessions of the conference will be issued upon registration. Identification badges should be worn at all times at official events. For security reasons, participants are requested to register in person after identification.
Documents
Documents pertaining to items on the agenda will be given to participants in advance of the conference. The relevant documents are available at the UNECCO web site www.unesco.org/webworld
Social Events
The Programme of social events, including a day’s excursion on Thursday, 4 May, is arranged. The schedule of Social Events is provided separately.
Telecommunication Facilities
Local and international direct- dial telephone, facsimile services and e-mail facilities will be available at the Hotel and the conference venue at participants’ expense. Internet Cafe facilities in the conference venue are provided free of charge for the delegates.
Medical Facilities
A Medical Center is located at the BMICH .The Hotel also has its own Medical Unit.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign travelers bringing foreign exchange exceeding US Dollars 10,000.00 or its equivalent into or out of Sri Lanka have to declare at the Colombo International Airport. In the case of non convertible currencies, a declaration has to be made, irrespective of the amount.
Unspent Rupee balances may be reconverted into foreign currency notes only at the exit point of the airport.
Most foreign currencies and types of travellers cheques may be exchanged at commercial banks, hotels and the airport. Normal commercial banking hours are Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Major international credit cards are honored in most hotels, restaurants and shops.
In Sri Lanka the basic unit of currency is Sri Lanka Rupee which is divided into 100 cents. The current approximate exchange rates against major currencies are as follows:
Prohibited Items
The attention of the foreign participants is drawn to the Sri Lanka Customs Regulations regarding the items which are prohibited / restricted to bring into Sri Lanka.
Climate
The temperature in Colombo in early may usually ranges from 27°C to 33°C.
Time Zone
Sri Lanka is 6 hours ahead of Co-oriented Universal Time that is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+6).
Electric Current
Power supply in Sri Lanka is 230/240 Volts AC. 50 Hertz.
Business and Shopping Hours
Sri Lankan offices and Business are generally open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Shop hours vary. Most shops are open form 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday. In Colombo, some shops are open on Saturdays and Sundays.
More information on Sri Lanka is available at: www.srilankatourism.org
- An International Conference on a key subject related to press freedom. The theme for this year is Media, Development and Poverty Eradication.
- An Award Ceremony of the UNESCO – Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
Venue
The venue of all the official events of World Press Freedom Day Celebrations 2006 is the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH), Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka, in view of its excellent conference accommodation and support facilities. The BMICH was built to honour the memory one of the foremost statesman, Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956-1959).
Schedule
The Inaugural Session of the two day Conference on Media, Development and Poverty Eradication will take place at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 1 May 2006, at Committee Room A of the BMICH.
The Award Ceremony of the UNESCO – Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Price will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 May 2006, at the Main Hall of the BMICH.
The detailed schedules of all events are provided separately.
Language
The working language of the meetings is English.
Communications
Information related to the Conference and Awards Ceremony is shown in the UNESCO website (www.unesco.org/webworld/wpfd/2006). Any further information requests concerning to the Conference and Awards Ceremony should be addressed to Ms. Sylvie Coudray, Programme Specialist, Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris (tel: +33.1.45.68.42.12, e-mail: s.coudray@unesco.org), with a copy to the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, 163 Kirulapona Avenue, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka (fax: 94 11 2513365, e-mail: smininfm@sltnet.lk).
Any communications which are expected during the conference should be directed to the following address:
Ms Sylvie Coudray
Programme Specialist, UNESCO Secretariat
BMICH Committee Romm “E”
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Telephone/Facsimile +94 11 2697420
Attendance Information
A completed Attendance Information Form for each participant must be sent to the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris before 15 April, to enable the UNESCO Secretariat to make necessary follow up arrangements with the officials of the host country.
Travel
Delegates are expected to contact UNESCO for travel arrangements to and from Colombo. Airline bookings for flights to and from Colombo are likely to be heavy at the time of the conference and it is recommended that confirmed reservations be made as early as possible.
Visas
For entry into Sri Lanka a valid passport with a visa is required. The Sri Lankan Government is instructing its missions abroad to issue visas promptly for the delegates. Delegates in countries not having Sri Lankan mission should contact the closest mission for their visa applications.
If visa assistance is required, the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of the UNESCO Secretariat, Paris, should be informed before 15 April with full particulars including, Name, Sex, Date and Place of Birth, Nationality, Passport Number, Date and Place of Issue and Expiry Date of Passport to enable to arrange Entry Visa on Arrival at the Colombo International Airport.
Airport Reception
The participants will be received on arrival at the Colombo International Airport.
Local Transport
Transport will be provided for the participants on arrival from the airport to the hotel, the hotel to the conference hall and back and on departure from the hotel to airport.
Hotel Accommodation
Arrangements have been made to accommodate participants in the Hilton Colombo Hotel, No.2, Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo (Tel. +94 11 2437177 or 2492492 Fax +94 11 2544662, e-mail: Colombo@hilton.com, website: www.hilton.com) which is a five-star international tourist hotel. Single Room accommodation will be provided on bed and breakfast basis (checking in/out time is 12.00 noon). The concessionary room rates, for those who make reservations through the UNESCO, are as follows.
- Single room – US$ 70.00
Double room – US$ 83.00
Suite – US$ 200.00
A Conference Secretariat will be established at the BMICH. The offices and other meeting services will be open from 30 April to 4 May. Room and telephone numbers will be given in the Directory which will be available at the Conference.
Registration
Delegates are requested to register as early as possible at the registration desk located in the following places.
The Hilton Colombo Hotel (Lobby) Sunday, 30 April 2006, 9.30 Hours to 10.00 Hours
BM ICH (Committee Room A Lobby) Monday, 1 May 2006, 8.00 Hours to 15.00 Hours
BMICH (Committee Room A Lobby) Tuesday, 2 May 2006, 8.00 Hours to 15.00 Hours
Identification badges entitling the holder to attend the sessions of the conference will be issued upon registration. Identification badges should be worn at all times at official events. For security reasons, participants are requested to register in person after identification.
Documents
Documents pertaining to items on the agenda will be given to participants in advance of the conference. The relevant documents are available at the UNECCO web site www.unesco.org/webworld
Social Events
The Programme of social events, including a day’s excursion on Thursday, 4 May, is arranged. The schedule of Social Events is provided separately.
Telecommunication Facilities
Local and international direct- dial telephone, facsimile services and e-mail facilities will be available at the Hotel and the conference venue at participants’ expense. Internet Cafe facilities in the conference venue are provided free of charge for the delegates.
Medical Facilities
A Medical Center is located at the BMICH .The Hotel also has its own Medical Unit.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign travelers bringing foreign exchange exceeding US Dollars 10,000.00 or its equivalent into or out of Sri Lanka have to declare at the Colombo International Airport. In the case of non convertible currencies, a declaration has to be made, irrespective of the amount.
Unspent Rupee balances may be reconverted into foreign currency notes only at the exit point of the airport.
Most foreign currencies and types of travellers cheques may be exchanged at commercial banks, hotels and the airport. Normal commercial banking hours are Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Major international credit cards are honored in most hotels, restaurants and shops.
In Sri Lanka the basic unit of currency is Sri Lanka Rupee which is divided into 100 cents. The current approximate exchange rates against major currencies are as follows:
| Currency | Buying (S.L.Rs.) | Selling(S.L.Rs) |
| US Dollar | 101.55 | 102.70 |
| Pounds Sterling | 180.30 | 183.20 |
| Euro | 122.35 | 124.65 |
| Yen | 0.85 | 0.87 |
| Swiss Franks | 78.45 | 77.80 |
| Australian Dollar | 75.90 | 77.85 |
Prohibited Items
The attention of the foreign participants is drawn to the Sri Lanka Customs Regulations regarding the items which are prohibited / restricted to bring into Sri Lanka.
Climate
The temperature in Colombo in early may usually ranges from 27°C to 33°C.
Time Zone
Sri Lanka is 6 hours ahead of Co-oriented Universal Time that is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+6).
Electric Current
Power supply in Sri Lanka is 230/240 Volts AC. 50 Hertz.
Business and Shopping Hours
Sri Lankan offices and Business are generally open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Shop hours vary. Most shops are open form 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday. In Colombo, some shops are open on Saturdays and Sundays.
More information on Sri Lanka is available at: www.srilankatourism.org
