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2006-03-28

News Categories : News 

4th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians to be held in Colombo from 28th March to 3rd April 2006.

SAARC Speakers

Hon. Muhammad Jamiruddin Sicar
Speaker, Bangladesh

Hon. Dasho Ugen Dorje
Speaker,
Bhutan

Hon. Somnath Chatterjee Shekhawat
Speaker
Lok Sabha, India

Hon. Bhairon Singh
Chairman
Rajya Sabha, India

Hon. Ahmaed Zahir
Speaker, People’s Majlis, Maldives

Hon. Tara Nath Ranabhat
Speaker
House of Representatives, Nepal

Hon. Mohammad Mohsin
Speaker
National Council, Nepal

Hon. Mahmood Shujaat Hussain
Speaker
National Assembly, Pakistan

Hon. Shahiq Ahmed Khan
President
Senate, Pakistan

Hon. W.J.M. Lokubandara
Speaker, Parliament of Sri Lanka


Executive Committee Members
SAARC Parliamentarians Association
(Sri Lanka Branch)

Ex Officio

Hon. Speaker - President
Hon. Prime Minister - Vice President
Hon. Leader of the House - Vice President
Hon. Leader of the Opposition - Vice President

Executive Committee Members

1. Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP
2. Hon. Susil Premajayantha, MP
3. Hon. Felix Perera, MP
4. Hon. Douglas Devananda, MP
5. Hon. A.L.M. Athaulla, MP
6. Hon. S.B. Nawinna, MP
7. Hon. Tissa Karalliyadda, MP
8. Hon. S.M. Chandrasena, MP
9. Hon. Chamal Rajapakse, MP
10. Hon. Chandrasiri Gajadeera, MP
11. Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, MP
12. Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanne, MP
13. Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane, MP
14. Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, MP
15. Hon. Abdul Majeed, MP
16. Hon. (Mrs.) Sumedha G. Jayasena, MP
17. Hon. Jeewan Kumaratunga, MP
18. Hon. Sripathi Suriyaarachchi, MP
19. Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, MP
20. Mr. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, MP
21. Mr. Bandula Gunawardena, MP
22. Mr. Sarath Ranawaka, MP
23. Mr. Lakshman Seneviratne, MP
24. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, MP
25. Mr. John Amaratunga, MP
26. Mrs. Thalatha Atukorale, MP
27. Mr. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, MP
28. Mr. Mano Wijeyeratne, MP
29. Mr. Muthu Sivalingam, MP
30. Mrs. Padmini Sidambaranathan, MP
31. Mr. P.P. Radhakrishnan, MP
32. Ven. Kotapola Amarakiththi Thero, MP
33. Mr. Abdul Bais Kamardeen, MP
34. Mr. R. Chandrasekar, MP
35. Mr. Lakshman Nipunaarachchi, MP
36. Mr. Anura Dissanayake, MP
37. Mr. Mavai S. Senathirajah, MP

Hony. Secretary General & Treasurer
Mrs. Priyanee Wijesekera,
Secretary-General of Parliament

Agenda / Programme

Tuesday 28th March 2006
Arrival of Delegates
Wednesday 29th March 2006
1000 Inaugural Session ( Ballroom 2, Hilton Colombo )
- National Anthem
- Lighting of Traditional Oil Lamp
- Jayamangala Gatha
- Welcome address by the Hon. W.J.M. Lokubandara, MP, Speaker, Parliament of Sri Lanka
- Address by H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Tea break
- Address by Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, M.P.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka


- Addresses by Hon. Speakers of :
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- India
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan

- Vote of thanks by Mrs. Priyanee Wijesekera, Secretary General of Parliament of Sri Lanka

1215 Group Photograph
1230 Lunch
1400 Meeting of the SAARC Speakers Council at Amethyst 1
1500 Leave for Parliament, Sri Jayewardanepura, Kotte
1520 Parliamentary Visit
1645 Leave Parliament
1715 Arrive at Hilton Colombo
1930 Leave for the Dinner Hosted by the Hon.Ratnasiri Wickramanayake,MP, Prime Minister at Hotel Mount Lavinia
Night at Hilton Colombo

Thursday 30th March 2006

0900 First Session – Amethyst
“Parliament and Non-Governmental Organizations”

Presentation & Discussion

0915 Bangladesh
0930 Bhutan
0945 India
1000 – 1030 Tea break
1030 Maldives
1045 Nepal
1100 Pakistan
1115 Sri Lanka
1130 – 1215 Discussion
1215 – 1330 Lunch at Hotel
1330 Second Session – Amethyst
“Public Duty and Private Interests of MPP”
Presentation & Discussion

1345 Bangladesh
1400 Bhutan
1415 India
1430 Maldives
1445 Nepal
1500 Pakistan
1515 Sri Lanka
1530 – 1600 Tea break
1600 – 1700 Discussion
1930 Leave for the Dinner Hosted by the Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP, Leader of the Opposition at Waters Edge, Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte
Night at Hilton Colombo

Friday 31st March 2006

0900 Session Three - Amethyst
“Promotion of Inter Parliamentary Relations among SAARC Countries”

Presentation & Discussion

0915 Bangladesh
0930 Bhutan
0945 India
1000 – 1030 Tea break
1030 Maldives
1045 Nepal
1100 Pakistan
1115 Sri Lanka
1130 – 1215 Discussion
1215 – 1330 Lunch at Hotel
1330 Closing Session

Concluding Speeches
1345 Bangladesh
1400 Bhutan
1415 India
1430 Maldives
1445 Nepal
1500 Pakistan
1515 Sri Lanka
1530 Vote of thanks by the Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara, M.P., Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka

1545 – 1615 Tea break
1630–1700 Press Conference at Blue Elephant Hilton Colombo

1930 Leave for the Dinner Hosted by the Hon. W.J.M. Lokubandara, M.P., Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka at his official Residence, Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte.

Saturday 1st April 2006

0700 Leave for Kandy
1000 Arrive at the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy
1100 Leave Temple of the Tooth Relic for Hotel Earls Regency, Kandy

1120 Arrive at Hotel Earls Regency for Lunch

1400 Leave Hotel Earls Regency for Kandalama
1600 Arrive at Hotel Kandalama
Dinner at Hotel
Night at Hotel

Sunday 2nd April 2006
0800 Leave hotel to tour archaeological sites in Polonnaruwa
0930 - 1130 Site seeing
1130 Leave archaeological sites in Polonnaruwa for Girithale Rest
1230 Lunch at Girithale Rest
1400 Leave Girithale Rest for Colombo
1830 Arrive at Hotel Hilton
Dinner at hotel
Night at hotel
Monday 3rd April 2006
Departure of delegates


Conference Arrangements

General Information
The 4th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians will take place at Hilton Colombo, Sri Lanka from 28th March to 3rd April 2006.

The opening ceremony will take place on 29th March 2006 at 10.00 a.m. The Sessions will be held on 30th and 31st March 2006.

At the commencement of each Session one member from each country will be given 15 minutes to speak on the relevant topic and this will be followed by a one hour discussion among the delegates.

The Secretaries to the delegations are requested to give the names of the members who are assigned to make the 15- minute speech at each Session, at the time of registration.

A two day excursion will be organized by the SAARC Sri Lanka Branch on 1st and 2nd April 2006.


Arrival & Departure
All delegates will be received at the Bandaranaiake International Airport by the Secretariat and accompanied to the Hotel on 28th March 2006 which is the Official arrival date.

In order to ensure an efficient reception service all participants are kindly requested to provide arrival & departure details well in time using the Travel and Accommodation Forms.

Official departure date of the delegates will be 3rd April 2006.


Information Desk
A Registration and Information Desk will be operated at the lobby of the Hotel for the Delegates on 28th March 2006 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

From 29th onwards the Information Desk will be operated at the Conference venue. All delegates are requested to collect the ID badges and other relevant documents from the Information Desk.


Accommodation, Meals & Transportation
Delegates will be accommodated at the Hotel Hilton Colombo.

Tel : 2437177 / 2544644 Fax : 2544662

During the official period (28th March to 3rd April) the SAARC Sri Lanka Branch will be responsible for the costs of Hotel accommodation, meals (excluding alcoholic drinks) and all transport pertaining to official functions of the conference.

Any other costs not mentioned above as well as the costs of private entertainment, private tours, all drinks (including mini bar items) other than those provided at the official functions, laundry & dry cleaning, telephone, fax or internet charges and other sundry expenses will be the responsibility of individual Delegates and should be paid (as incurred) or, in respect of costs incurred at the Hotel, prior to checking out.

VISA
Each delegate should have a valid passport and SAARC visa endorsement or valid visa issued by the Sri Lankan Mission in respective county to enter the Island.

LANGUAGE
English will be the working language of the Conference.

IDENTIFICATION BADGES AND SECURITY
It is important that the ID badges provided be worn at all times to facilitate security measures. All the necessary security measures will be taken by the local authorities to ensure the safety of the Delegates.

FIRST AID SERVICES
First Aid facilities will be available during any emergency at the Conference venue. However Delegates are advised to obtain an insurance cover for medical expenses.

CLIMATE
In March and April average temperature in Colombo will be 28 c and do expect scattered rains as well.

ACCOMPANYING PERSONS
Delegations which include accompanying persons are requested to inform their particulars to the Conference Secretariat early. A fee of US $ 500 will be charged for each accompanying person to cover accommodation and transport facilities.

Mails & Messages
Official Address :Conference Co-ordinator
4th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers & Parliamentarians
Foreign Relations & Protocol Office
Parliament of Sri Lanka Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.

Tel : ( + 94 11 ) 2777277 / 288
00 94 1 722273385
Fax: ( + 94 11 ) 2777275

e-mail : cpa@parliament.lk

Hotel : Hilton Colombo
No : 2,
Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha
P.O. Box. 1000,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka

Tel : (+ 94 11 ) 2437177 / 2492492

Fax : (+ 94 11 ) 2544662

Diplomatic Missions of the SAARC Countries in Sri Lanka

Bangladesh
H.E. Mr. A.M. Yakub Ali
High Commissioner
Tel : 2303943 / 44

Bhutan
Mr. Abbas Esufally
Tel : 2300001/2

India
H.E. Mrs. Nirupama Rao
High Commissioner
Tel : 2421605 / 2422788

Maldives
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Asim
High Commissioner
Tel : 5516302 / 03

Nepal
H.E. Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai
Ambassador
Tel : 5689656 / 57

Pakistan
H.E. Mr. Bashir Wali Mohmad
High Commissioner
Tel : 2696301 / 02

Important Telephone Numbers Office

Hon. W.J.M. Lokubandara, MP 2777223
Speaker- Parliament of Sri Lanka

Mr. M.W. Gunaratne 2777223
Co-ordinating Secretary to the Hon. Speaker

Mrs. Priyanee Wijesekera 2777228
Secretary General of Parliament

Mr. W.B.D. Dasanayake 2777229
Deputy Secretary General

Mr. Neil Iddawala 2777230
Assistant Secretary General

Mr. T.W.J. Jayaratne 2777277
Asst. Director (Foreign Relations) Mob : 0722273385
Hilton Colombo 2544644
Bandaranaike International Airport 2252861-5
Airport Duty Manager 2252344, 2252861


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