GENERAL INFORMATION

Regional Forum on ‘ Financing Micro Small and Medium Enterprises: Solution for Missing Middle ’ and 70th APRACA EXCOM meeting and 20th General Assembly Colombo, Sri Lanka during 8-10 October 2018

1. Host Organization:

BANK OF CEYLON (BOC) "BOC Square"; No: 01 | Bank of Ceylon Mawatha; Colombo 01; Sri Lanka T :+94 112386856; M:+94 777306192; Fax:+94112446826; Web: www.boc.lk 2. Dates:

The activities will be held during 8-10 October 2018, excluding travel dates (arrival 7 October and departure 11 October 2018).

3. Venue of the meetings:

Hotel Hilton, Colombo No 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha; Colombo 02; Sri Lanka; Tel : +94 11 2544 644; Mob : +94 773 311381; Fax :+94 11 249219; 4. Accommodation: Name of the Hotels (address details with telephone, fax and Room Type and Tariff * Email of contact person is given in the Annex) Standard Deluxe Rooms with Breakfast Hotel Hilton, Colombo (Venue for the Programme) Single Occupancy: 135 USD/night Address : No 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha; Colombo +Taxes @30.28% 02; Sri Lanka; Tel : +94 11 2544 644; Mob : +94 773 311381; Fax Double Occupancy: USD155/night+ :+94 11 249219; Taxes @30.28%) Email: [email protected];Website:www.hilton.com The Kingsbury Hotel; 48, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01, Single Occupancy: USD145/night Sri Lanka; Tel :- +94 ( 0) 112 421 221 ; Mob :- +94 (0) 774 782 (including Taxes ) 028; Fax :- +94 (0) 112 447 326 Email :- Double Occupancy: USD155/night [email protected] (including Taxes ) Web :- www.thekingsburyhotel.com Cinnamon Lakeside Hotels ; 77,Galle Road Colombo 03, Sri Single Occupancy: 134 USD/night Lanka; Tel : +94 (0) 11 2437437 / Ext. 7228; Mob : +94 (0) 77 +Taxes @30.28% 7557903; Fax : +94 (0) 11 2449283; Email Double Occupancy: USD143/night+ :[email protected]; Taxes @30.28%) Web : www.cinnamonhotels.com * Special room rates are negotiated and offered until 25 September 2018. Early booking be advised. Note: All reservation issues are advised to contact the hotel directly and refer “BOC Conference”

5. Airport Reception and Send-Off:

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) will organize the airport reception and send off for the confirmed delegates. It is strongly advised that the delegates need to provide the flight details to the host well in advance on or before 10 September 2018 to avail this facilities of smooth logistical arrangements.

It is strongly advised that the delegates need to provide the flight details to the host well in advance on or before 10 September 2018 for smooth arrangements.

6. Language:

The English language will be used as medium of presentation in the forum, which refers to all presentations, materials and discussions. .

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7. Delegates: The Forum is open to all APRACA member institutions, APRACA partner agencies, UN organizations, Bilateral Donor agencies, local financial institutions, government and non- government agencies and finance – related institutions. Note: During the 70th EXCOM meeting, the members of the APRACA Executive Committee will represent and the other interested members may attend as observers. During the 21st General Assembly, all APRACA members are invited to participate and other interested non-members and invited guests may join as observers.

8. Registration and Participation Fee:

Registration will be open from 13.00 pm–20:00 pm on 7 October 2018 and 8.00- 9.00 am on 8 October 2018 at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo (Venue of the meetings). The customary participation fee of USD250/person for the foreign delegates shall be collected in CASH by Bank of Ceylon at the Registration desk to help defray the administrative expenses. The participation fee for the accompanied guests is USD200/per person which will also be collected at the time of registration. Bank of Ceylon may collect the registration fees from the local participants. Note: The Chairman of APRACA, invited speakers and the Staff members of APRACA Secretariat/APRACA agencies are exempted from paying Registration fees.

9. Meals during the conference:

The organizers will cover the followings: - Lunch and snacks during all the three days of the event (8-10 October 2018); - 2 official dinners during 7 and 8 October 2018;

Dates of official Dinners/High Tea Venue High Tea/evening snacks on 7 October 2018 Welcome dinner, 8 October 2018

10. Field trip:

♦ A special Colombo City Tours have been organized by Bank of Ceylon for the delegates who are not attending the morning sessions of 70th EXCOM meetings on 9 October 2018. The detailed of the Colombo city tour will be notified later. ♦ The field trip to visit Agribusiness and the historical/cultural places in Sri Lanka will be organized by Bank of Ceylon on 10 October 2018. The delegates are requested to check the Registration form and confirm participation in the field trip. Transportation, entry tickets, water, food etc. will be provided by the organizers.

11. Visa for the foreign delegates:

Visa to enter Sri Lanka can be applied electronically (e-visa) through the following link: https://www.srilankaevisagov.com/. This facility is available for ordinary passport holders of all approved countries as per the list available in the website. We request you to please check the application procedures by visiting the link https://www.srilankaevisagov.com/apply-visa.

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) will organize the invitation letter and visa facilitation letter to the confirmed foreign participants attending the policy forum, 70thE XCOM and 21st GA meetings. The final list of the participants along with filled in registration form and copy of the passports need to be sent to the contact persons in Bank of Ceylon well in advance so that they will prepare the invitation letter.

Visa applicants are requested to provide the copy of Passport as well as specific information including surname, given name, position, gender, nationality, passport number, entry date and the place to apply the visa.

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12. Medical and Travel Insurance:

All delegates are advised to arrange for their own medical and travel insurance coverage, prior to their trip to Sri Lanka.

13. Weather Clothing:

The first month of the northeast monsoon season in Sri Lanka starts in October and you may expect some rains during your stay during 1st & 2nd week of October 2018. The temperatures may ranges from 24 to 31 °C (with average being 28 °C). The delegates are advised to be prepared accordingly.

14. Registration Deadline:

The delegates are requested to submit their respective registration forms through email on or before 10 September 2018 for smooth processing of logistical arrangements and visa facilitation.

15. Identification

All delegates will be issued with a personal identification badge, which must be worn at all times for their identity.

16. Programme details:

Detailed programme of the Regional Forum, 70th EXCOM meeting and 21st General Assembly have been provided in a separate attachment. The detailed regarding the field trip and cultural visits will be provided soon.

17. Contact Persons:

Sl # Contacts in NABARD Contacts in APRACA 1. Mr. C. Amarasinghe Ms. Thanawan Ampaipanvijit DGM (Sales & Channel Management), Administrative Officer, APRACA Secretariat Bank of Ceylon ; Colombo 01 ; Sri Lanka ; Tel: (662) 280 1524 (direct), 282-0693 T :+94 112386856 |M:+94 777306192| E-mail: [email protected] Fax:+94112446826 ; E-mail: [email protected] 2. Mr. D. M. L. B. Dassanayake, Ms. Sofia Champanand DGM (Retail Banking Range I), Bank of Ceylon ; Publication Assistant, APRACA Secretariat T :+94 11 2335280; M: +94 773539943; Tel : (662) 280 1524 (direct), 282-0693 E-mail:[email protected] E-mail : [email protected] 3. Mr. Senarath Bandara, CEO and GM, Bank of Dr. Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General, Ceylon ; E-mail : [email protected] APRACA; E-mail: [email protected]

Please Submit the Registration forms within 10 September 2018 for smooth Logistics

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