45th anniversary of Non-Aligned Summit 1976 held at BMICH

The opening ceremony graced by 96 heads of state. Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike is in the centre flanked by Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi (left) and President of Egypt Anwar al Sadat

The BMICH, Sri Lanka’s iconic landmark, was proud to host its first international conference, the 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference, 45 years ago in mid-August 1976 at which 96 heads of state/government and their country delegations participated.

They consisted among others Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, President of the Republic of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda, Field Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia, President of Cuba Fidel Castro, President of Libya Colonel Gaddafi, Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios, etc.

Considered as one of the largest and most high-profile conferences, this event was groundbreaking for the BMICH pioneering its journey of hosting numerous international and local conferences, exhibitions, and events for over 48 years emerging as the leader in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region.

BMICH, as the host venue was honoured to be featured on one side of two commemorative coins in the denominations of Rs. 5 and Rs. 2 issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference. Several commemorative stamps too were issued by Sri Lanka Postal Department as well as by Postal Departments of member countries depicting the BMICH. 

Opened in 1973, the BMICH was an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People’s Republic of China in memory of late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.      

Set in a sprawling 36-acre landscaped gardens with 15 well-laid-out and spacious car parks that can accommodate 3,000 vehicles at a given time and boasting 32 indoor and outdoor venues, the BMICH is Sri Lanka’s largest and Asia’s very first purpose-built convention centre with ultra-modern facilities which has been presented with multiple global awards in the recent past.