Conference Dates

February 20-23, 2017

Inauguration: February 20, 2017 in Colombo

Conference Sessions: February 21 -23, 2017 in Kandy
 

Host

Sponsors

Venues

Inaugural Ceremony

Cinnamon Grand Hotel
77, Galle Road,
Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
T: +94 112 437 437

Key Contact in Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo
Shane Hallock (+94 0773136796) email (shaneha@cinnamonhotels.com)

Conference Sessions

Grand Kandyan Hotel
89/10, Lady Gordon’s Drive
Kandy
Sri Lanka
Tel +94 81 2030400-6

Key Contact in Grand Kandyan Hotel, Kandy
Mr Ruwan Dharmapala, Front Office Manager. (+94 75993303)
email (resgrandk@gmail.com)

In-house Doctor :
Dr. Weerasekara (+94 718600478 )
Consultation fees to be borne by participants
 

Visa

1. Early bird option — Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
   • For those who submit their ETA application on or before January 31, 2017, arrangements are made through Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of Immigration and Emigration to process their visas locally.
   • Requirements :
     1. Duly completed ETA Application form 
     2. An invitation letter from the Govt. of Sri Lanka recommending the issuance of visa to the applicants.
     3. Valid passport with one unused visa page (passport should be valid for six months from intended the date of departure from Sri Lanka — after the intended visit) 
2. Through Sri Lankan Overseas Missions
   • For those applying after January 31, 2017, and those who wish to make their own arrangements may handover their visa application to the nearest Embassy of Sri Lanka as soon as possible. For facilitation in visa process, invitation letters are being issued by the MoF. Business ETAs are not available online. Participants must obtain business travel authorization either from the nearest Sri Lankan Embassy/ High Commissions or Consulate before arrival in Sri Lanka. 
   • Requirements: 
     1. Duly completed Business Visa application form 
     2. Two recent photographs optimistic — passport size — (Colour)
     3. Valid passport with one unused visa page (passport should be valid for six months from the date of departure from Sri Lanka — after the intended visit) 
     4. Following Documents should be submitted:
        • An invitation letter from the Ministry of Finance of Sri Lanka recommending the issuance of visa to the applicant
        • A request letter from the organization in the participants’ country recommending the issuance of visa and giving details of the status of the applicant, nature of visit for which the business visa is sought, i.e Participate in Conferences, Workshops and Seminars, duration of stay, availability of funds, and details of the party in Sri Lanka with whom the business is to be conducted.
        • Relevant Visa fees
3. Submitting an ETA Application at Port of Entry to Sri Lanka.
   • Participants who wish to visit Sri Lanka without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain ETA at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is available. Additional fees will apply.
   1. Steps to Follow:
      1. Upon arrival at the BIA, report to the ETA issuing counter and fill in the ETA application form and pay the relevant ETA processing fee only in US$. Only electronic payment cards (credit card/e-commerce enabled debit cards) and cash in US$ are accepted.
      2. If your application is approved, the ETA will be issued for up to 30 days.
         Receive your ETA approval notice or referral notice. If referral notice is served, you will be refused entry and returned to your original destination?
      3. Once you have received your ETA, please proceed to the Immigration Counter and submit your passport
      4. It is advisable to keep a copy of the ETA approval with you to be produced at the Immigration Counter at BIA. All ETA holders should produce the following requirements at the port of entry:
         • A passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
         • A confirmed return air ticket.
4. Self-sponsored participants are eligible to apply for tourist ETA. For further details, please visit http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/

At Cinnamon Grand, a room is exclusively booked for you on B/B basis. You are expected to arrive at the hotel by the evening of February 19, 2017, and check-out on the morning of February 20, 2017, prior to attending the inaugural session. Checked-in bags may be handed over to the designated Officer (details will be shared shortly) before 09:30hrs for transport to Kandy so that the Participants will have enough room. As the checked-in bags will be transported separately, you are requested to place the luggage tag provided to you at time of registration for identification purpose. Please ensure that you only carry a hand luggage with you.

All guest rooms will have complimentary WiFi connection.

Breakfast at Cinnamon Grand Hotel will be served at Taprobane Restaurant.
 

Conference Days: Breakfast, tea/coffee during morning and after breaks, lunch and reception/dinner will be arranged each day.

Non-Conference Days: Expenses on arrival in Colombo on February 19 and return to Colombo from Kandy before departure on February 23 and 24 on meals and any incidentals, such as drinking water and laundry, will be reimbursed by the sponsors against receipts up to a maximum of US$135.00.
 

The Inaugural Ceremony will be held at Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo and all sessions of the conference at Grand Kandyan Hotel, Kandy.

Day 2 Session: Royal Peacock (Level 1)
Day 3 Session: Conference Room (Level 4)
Breakout sessions: (level 4)

• Conference Room
• Thai Restaurant 
• Indian Restaurant
   

Transport to Grand Kandyan Hotel, Kandy

Transport to Kandy is arranged at 14:15 hrs from Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Staff assisting in the conference will direct you to the buses.

In Kandy, if time permits, a short visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic has been organised before reaching the hotel. It is the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site and houses the sacred tooth of the Lord Buddha. All Participants are kindly requested to be dressed in light coloured attire preferably in long pants and skirts. Footwear and headwear must be removed before entering.
 

For those who are leaving on the evening of February 23, 2017, changing rooms will be arranged at the Cinnamon Grand hotel and all others will be booked in at Cinnamon Grand hotel.

Depending on your flight schedules, arrangements are made for airport transfers 5 ½ hrs ahead of the scheduled flight time in order to avoid long queues and delays at BIA due to runway closure.
 

Upon return, the nominated participants need to submit the original copy of invoices and boarding passes to the concerned WB CO staff.

The invited guest speakers need to submit the original copy of invoices and boarding passes to Plamen Stoyanov Kirov, WB.
 

Additional Information

Time and Weather

Sri Lanka is 05:30 hours ahead of GMT.

Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate. Coastal or upland areas benefit from the sea breezes or cool mountains all year round. The average maximum temperature in Colombo during month of February is 23-31 ℃ while 19-23℃ in Kandy with occasional showers. Nights are cooler than the normal day temperature. Delegates are recommended to bring light summer clothes preferably cotton, light jacket or sweater and an umbrella or raincoats

Banking and Currency
The official currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR), which is currently exchanged at approximately LKR. 148.28 to 1 US Dollar. Most international currencies and travelers cheques can easily be exchanged at commercial banks, hotels and the international airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Many hotels, restaurants and shops accept reputed visa and Master Cards. No surcharge should be permitted for its use. Cash advances are possible against Credit Cards in certain banks.

Electricity supply in Sri Lanka is 220-240 volts, 50-hertz.

Telecommunication and internet services: IDD and international roaming facilities are available in Sri Lanka. If you would rather not use your own mobile phone on roaming but still want to be contactable, the cheapest alternative is to get a mobile phone connection with one of the major mobile operators — Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalt and Airtel. All these phone companies have a pay-as-you-go plan where you can buy a local SIM card for around LKR. 200/- at the airport.

Essential Numbers, in case of emergency
Police 119
Fire and Ambulance 110
National Help Desk 118
Accident Service General Hospital, Colombo + (94) 11 2691111 Crime + (94) 11 2691500
Teaching Hospital, Kandy - +(94) 81 2222261

Health Precautions
Sri Lankan physicians, though, many of whom have trained in the West, are particularly experienced in dealing with locally occurring diseases.

1. Welcome Remarks by the host (Mr. Priyanga Algama)
2. Remarks of the current Chair (Mr. Md. Faruque Hossain) and handing over of Chairperson-ship to the New Chair
3. Remarks by Sponsors
   • The World Bank — Ms. Idah-Z-Pswarayi-Riddihough, Country Director for Sri Lanka
   • Asian Development Bank — Ms. Sri Widowati, Country Director for Sri Lanka 
   • Islamic Development Bank — Mr. Issa Modi Ide, Head of Delegation
4. Remarks by Special Guests 
   • Secretary to the Treasury — Dr. R.H.S.Samaratunga
   • Hon. Minister of Finance — Mr.Ravi Karunanayaka
   • Hon. Prime Minister — Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe
5. Inauguration of Conference by H.E. the President Maithreepala Sirisena
    

Session K1 — E-GP — Chair: Hiro Maruyama

Panelists: K.S. Raghavan, Mr. Prasad, Ms.Usha Saxena, Md. Mosharraf Hussain, Alejandro Susel, and Md. Faruque Hossain  

09:30– 01:00 PM 

(15-minute coffee/tea break at 10:00 to 10:15 AM)

South Asia Innovations Award Ceremony

• Presentations by Award Winners
• Presentation of awards
• Newsletter
   

Session K3 — 2 Other Topics of Interest — Chair Panelists: Zafrul Islam, Rajneesh Kapoor, Hunt La Cascia

02:15– 05:15 PM

(Coffee will be available during group discussions)
 

Group Work

Participants break into three groups and will be assigned the themes as follows:

1. Group 1 – What are the main challenges of e-GP in SAR countries and how these can be met?
2. Group 2 – How to make effective use of e-GP to transform service delivery?
3. Group 3 – How South Asia Region Public Procurement Network can be made effectively operational and sustainable?
    

Chair explains the objective of group discussions and provide guidelines.

Participants join their respective groups. A list of members of each group will be made available.

Each group will elaborate some practical regional actions on effective use of e-GP.

Each group discussion will be supported by facilitators and rapporteurs to be identified.

Each group will present 3 to 5 key actions to be included in the action plan of the Fourth Conference.