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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12-14 September 2006

28 July 2006

ATTENTION: News Desk and Financial Editors

Note on Media Accreditation

Sri Lanka will host the annual meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers from 12 to 14 September 2006.

The meeting, to be held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, will bring together ministers and delegates from 53 member countries.

One of the key sessions of the meeting, which takes place just before Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, will be on the theme 'An Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods.' Ministers are expected to explore different ways and means of promoting inclusive growth, which generates livelihoods and reduces poverty. They will discuss the need to give countries the opportunity to develop their own policies for economic progress rather than having prescriptive solutions imposed upon them.

Participants will also discuss current trends in the world economy including high oil prices and how they can affect member countries; IMF World Bank issues; progress in implementing the debt write-off initiative; and the special challenges facing small vulnerable economies.

The arena of international aid will also feature on the Meeting's agenda with senior officials looking closely at the effectiveness of the current international aid architecture from the perspective of developing countries.

Journalists wishing to cover the meeting should complete the attached accreditation form and return it to the Communications and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat by Friday, 1 September 2006.

For information please contact:

Contact Persons:

London

Ms Minelle Fernandez
Communications Officer
Communications and Public Affairs Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
London SW1Y 5HX
UNITED KINGDOM

Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6383
Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
E-mail: m.fernandez@commonwealth.int

Colombo

Mr A. Abeygunasekara
Additional Director-General
Department of External Resources
Ministry of Finance and Planning
Colombo Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA

Tel: +94 (0)112484712/ 484847
Fax: +94(0)112447633
E-mail: abey@erd.gov.lk

Accreditation

Media representatives wishing to cover the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting must be accredited in order to have access to the meeting venue and facilities. Applications for accreditation must be made on the attached form or copies made from it. Two passport sized photographs must be included with the application.

Applications must be accompanied by a hardcopy letter on an original company letterhead indicating your role, signed by an Economics Editor, News Editor or equivalent senior editor, and confirming the applicant has been assigned to cover CFMM 2006. Completed applications should be sent to the CFMM Accreditation, Communications and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, by Friday, 1 September 2006. Representatives of media organisations based in the Sri Lanka should submit their applications to Mr Anusha Pelpita, Director Information, Ministry of Mass Media and Information, 163 Kirulapone Road, Polhengoda, Colombo 5.

Accreditation Passes for international media can be collected at the accreditation desk located at the lobby of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, from 11 September. Media in Sri Lanka can collect their passes from the Government Information Department by 7 September.

Immigration
All persons entering Sri Lanka are required to have a valid passport and a return airline ticket. Further information on entry requirements can be found on the website of the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: www.immigration.gov.lk .

Accommodation
Media representatives are responsible for their own accommodation; that is, each person must make his/her own reservation, and is responsible for all charges pertaining to accommodation.

Media Centre
Located at the meeting site, the Media Centre will be equipped with computers with internet access, printers, facsimile and telephones. These facilities will be available for use by accredited media professionals covering the meeting

Medical Arrangements
Media personnel should make appropriate arrangements for insurance to cover emergency medical, surgical and hospital expenses.

Currency Regulations
The national currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs). Rs1 = 100 cents.
The country is served by two state banks and a number of local and international commercial banks. Cash dispensers are widely available and major credit cards and travellers' cheques are accepted by most hotels, restaurants and shops.

Download the CFMM Media Accreditation Form (PDF)

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int