Third PTB – SAARC workshop

The third PTB-SAARC Workshop on Regional Cooperation in Accreditation will be held from June 8-10 at the Galle Face Hotel. A national awareness program will be held at the same venue on June 9 to coincide with the International Accreditation Day. It is organized by the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).

In the framework of SAARC - PTB cooperation, two regional accreditation workshops have been realised to date. The first workshop was held in Dhaka in January 2008, where information on the status of national accreditation systems was shared and different models for regional approaches in accreditation were presented. During the second workshop, held in Delhi in

December 2008, a spectrum of potential regional activities were identified, based on a country- specific analysis of accreditation-related strengths and weaknesses.

To follow up on the results of the first two, the third workshop is being organized to coincide with the International Accreditation Day falling on June 9. As hosts of the event Sri Lanka will facilitate the attendance of high ranking representatives within the international accreditation circles.

The participants would represent SAARC National Accreditation Bodies as well as national representatives of industry from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The awareness-raising event on Accreditation Day on June 9 will commence at 9 a.m. with a gathering of 100 participants. Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitarana, will be the Chief Guest and Chairman, International Accreditation Forum Dr. Thomas Facklam, would also be present.