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From floors to ceilings: Rs 2 b refurbishment of BMICH nears completion for CHOGM 2013
The more than Rs 2 billion refurbishment project of the Bandaranaike International Memorial Conference Hall (BMICH) initiated in 2010, is nearing completion, BMICH Director General Bandula Ekanayake said. “This is first time the BMICH is going through a major refurbishment, since its construction in 1973. Basically, we are renovating everything from floors to ceilings,” he added.
The committee room gets a facelift
The work was undertaken following a request made by Mr Ekanayake to the government of China and is expected to be completed by the third week of October.The newly refurbished BMICH will be the main venue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in November.
Part of the refurbishment project was to make the entire BMICH premises accessible to the differently-abled, with the addition of separate elevators, toilet facilities in all committee rooms and in the main hall. “We have installed an elevator near the stage of the main hall, to facilitate access to the stage for differently-abled persons” Mr Ekanayake added.
Getting set for CHOGM:From new elevators to tuning up the sound system. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
While the cost of the project was budgeted at Rs 1.2 billion, Mr. Ekanayake stated that the actual cost up to now has exceeded Rs. 2 billion. He explained that all project costs are incurred by the Chinese government. “The mechanism of implementation is such that Sri Lanka does not incur the project’s direct costs, but the BMICH administration has to provide accommodation to the workers,” he said.
Mr. Ekanayake said that all material used for the project are directly imported from China, and the project conducted in consultation with the Beijing International Architectural Institute. “Our know-how and inputs are also taken into consideration when carrying out the project,” he explained.
All technical systems of the BMICH have been upgraded to state-of-the-art Tiden wireless sound and interpretation and lighting systems. Mr Ekanayake further added that, as a part of landscaping, a water screen will be built on the main pond in front of the main hall, as a novel feature that will add colour to the premises.
Asked about the increment of fees charged for BMICH facilities after the upgrading, Mr Ekanayake said that there will be a reasonable increase in the fees charged. “We will not overcharge anyone, but there will be a reasonable fee for the facilities provided. However, there are four to five different categories of rates. For example, there is a special rate for academic functions such as convocations and school prize-givings and government functions” he said.
He requested the public to use the venue with care. “This is a national monument and a widely used facility, hence we must consider it our own and protect it,” he concluded.
Media ministry gears to host 1000 scribes amidst hostile publicity
By Aanya Wipulasena
The Ministry of Media and Information is gearing itself to host over 1000 local and foreign journalists who are expected to cover November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka. Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath said that it is expected around 500 international journalists and 500 locals would cover the CHOGM events.
“We are hosting CHOGM at a very important time and we were developing infrastructure of the country to meet the high standards required when hosting an international event of this nature,” the Ministry Secretary said.
Bandula Ekanayake
Dr. Herath said that media pooling arrangements are also made by the host broadcaster as access for media in the main venues are limited. The Ministry has taken steps to build a state of art media centre within the BMICH with live feeds from the conference venues.
He also added that even though the work is proceeding smoothly at present, the Ministry has been faced with many challenges. “One challenge was to deflect the negative propaganda about the country especially abroad. Anti- Sri Lankan campaigns are being conducted around the world to create a wrong impression of our country and say we are not ready to host this prestigious event,” he said.
“We have demilitarised, developed and democratised ourselves during the past few years and reconstruction work is taking place in many parts of the country,” he said.Dr. Herath said that the upcoming CHOGM is not an expense but an investment in many ways. “We will be able to develop our tourism industry and even get business opportunities through it,” he said,
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