Venue:
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 Sri Lanka. Tel: (94 1) 69 1130 (94 1) 69 6489 Fax: (94 1) 69 7710 Email: bmich@slt.lk
Preparatory Segment 16 - 17 Oct. 2001.
High Level Segment 18 - 19 Oct. 2001.
Other Meetings
Registration for Participants - Fill in the Registration Form
Useful General Information for Visitors to Sri Lanka
Visas
Nationals of the following countries coming to Sri Lanka as bona-fide tourists, do not require entry visas for a period of 30 days.
Albania, Armenia , Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium., Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Rep Of, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.A.E, UK, Ukraine, U.S.A, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
.Arrangements also have been made to issue Visa on arrival at the airport for those nationals coming from countries, where Sri Lankan diplomatic missions are not available. Such participants are requested to send their Passport details not later than 15th September 2001, so that the immigration authorities could be kept informed. These participants are requested to report to the Immigration Desk the 13th MOP, located at Colombo International Airport.
Click here to download and print the Application for a Visit Visa form
Guidelines for Foreign Media Personnel
1. The focal point/the local coordinators will have to provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the list of observers of the seminar along with their personal details such as the names, designations, passport numbers and their arrival/departure dates.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to intimate these details to the respective Sri Lanka Missions (with a copy to the Publicity Division) requesting the Missions to issue necessary visas for these journalists once they approach the missions. It would be most appropriate, if the participants could produce the letter of invitation received from the host country, which would further prove the identity.
3. It also has to be mentioned that if these journalists intend to do filming in Sri Lanka they will have to contact the Sri Lanka Missions and obtain from them the necessary guidelines to be followed in order to get prior approval for the filming.
4. The journalists/delegates should get in touch with the Director/Publicity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once they arrive in Sri Lanka. They should once again produce their passports and letter of invitation received from the local sponsors. Once the Director/Publicity is satisfied with the bona-fides of the journalists/delegates, a letter of recommendation will be issued requesting Director/Information to grant the press accreditation.
5. The journalists/delegates will have to be present at the Department of Information, No. 163, Kirulapone Avenue, Colombo 5, in order to obtain the Press Accreditation Card. They will have to furnish the following documents to obtain the press accreditation: -
1. Letter of recommendation by the Publicity Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Three (03) stamped size photographs.
3. Original passport.
How to get there
Sri Lanka is well connected with the rest of the world by air and sea. Mostly the visitors arrive by air. A number of major international airlines operate through Colombo, Sri Lankan. Flights either originate or routes through many Asian destinations, Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the airlines are Sri Lankan airlines (national carrier of Sri Lanka) Official Airline for the meeting, Indian airlines, Thai International ,Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air- Maldives, Balkan, LTU, Balair, Lauda-Air, Gulf air, Qatar Airways, air Europe, PIA, Cathay pacific AOM French Airlines, Aeroflot, Kuwait Airways, MEA, Royal Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
What to wear
Light cotton dresses of the drip-dry washout and wear variety and lightweight suits are the most comfortable year-round attire. A wide-brimmed beach hat and sun-glasses are recommended, as well as comfortable shoes or sandals. Medium weight slacks and pullovers will be necessary in the hill country where the temperature can go down as low as 100C.
Visitors to places of worship should be suitably attired. Footwear and headgear must be removed before entering a place of worship of the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religions.
Duty Free Allowance
Baggage of a tourist will exempt from import duty, if the Customs Department is satisfied that the tourist will re-export the articles comprising his baggage (other than tobacco, spirits and "eau de tollette" brought within the allowance) on his leaving the island or within a period of one month from the date of his arrival in the island, whichever is earlier.
200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 375 grams. of tobacco or an assortment of these products are permitted, as long as their total weight does not exceed 35 grms. Two regular size bottles of wine and 1 1/2 litres of spirits.
Duty Free Shops
For the convenience of incoming visitors there are duty free shops at the Airport.
Transport
Air-conditioned limousines are available for hire at most hotels in the city. Radio cabs are also available in Colombo.
Time difference -Mean Time
Sri Lanka is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
(see our web site
www.soslanka.com)Telephone, Telegraph and E-Mail/ Internet Facilities
International direct Dialing, Fax, Internet, E-mail, Postal and Telegraphic facilities are widely available
Your Money's Worth.
Foreign currency rates of exchange are announced in the press daily. These rates can be obtained from banks, hotels and money changers (see our web site
www.soslanka.com)Currency
One Sri Lankan Rupee is made up of 100 cents.
Banking Hours
Normal banking hours are 0900 hrs to 1500 hrs from Monday to Friday
Credit Cards.
Reputed credit and charge cards are widely accepted by tourist establishments in Sri Lanka.
Electricity
Voltage - 230-240 volts 50 cycles A.C.
Embarkation Tax
Rs. 1000/- Colombo Airport, Katunayake (These taxed are subject to change).
Tea
A tourist is permitted to take 6 kilos of tea out of the country on departure.
Medical Facilities
Sri Lanka has modern facilities under the management of state and private sector. Most of these hospitals are equipped with all modern facilities to meet any emergency. Sri Lanka Ozone Secretariat will provide a special Medical Unit at the Venue of the Meeting.
Import or Export of Plants and Animals
Import or export of plants and animal without a permit is prohibited under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka.
Special offer by Sri Lankan Airlines
25% discounted tickets are offered on the individual Economy Class Market Practice Fare, to all participants and accompanying persons travelling from all Sri Lankan Airlines on-line points except South India.
Accommodation for Delegates attending the 13th Meeting of Parties To The Montreal Protocol, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Colombo has many international star class hotels operated by recognized hotel chains. These hotels offer exclusive facilities and are staffed with warm and friendly Sri Lankans, who will make your stay a memorable and pleasant experience.
A selection of hotels of varying categories in Colombo, are listed below and have been arranged to provide accommodation.
Click here for List of Hotels in Colombo- Sri Lanka
315, Vauxhall Street
Colombo 02
Sri Lanka
Tel: 0094 1 300589
0094 1 300590
0094 1 331817
Fax: 0094 1 331816
E-Mail: acetrvl@eureka.lk
acetravels@aitkenspence.lk
A special Immigration counter will be arranged for issuing a visas at the airport for the delegates of the conference.
A team from Ace Travel & Conventions will meet and assist delegates on arrival at the lobby and will provide group transfers to the above listed hotels. The transfers will be provided free of charge if accommodation is booked through the Conference Organizers.
Return shuttle transfers will be provided on a daily basis to attend conference sessions and to all social functions. This service will be available only for the delegates who book accommodation through the Conference Organizers.
Hospitality . Information Desks will operate in all main hotels for the convenience of the delegates.
For all delegates who have booked accommodation through the Conference Organizers, the departure transfer to Airport will be offered free of charge.