Bandaranaike International Conference Building, completed in May 1973 by the Chinese Government with gratuitous assistance to Sri Lanka, is located in the central area of Beta District, Colombo. It is one of the city's landmark buildings. It is mostly used for convening international conferences, opposite the Chinese Embassy. The building uses octagonal plane and 48 snow-white marble pillars to form an outer corridor, with large eaves and latticed transparent outer walls. It is light and cheerful, full of tropical architectural style and local characteristics. It has been built and put into use for more than 30 years and plays an important role in Sri Lanka's social life. Later, the commemoration of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Center and Bandaranaike International Research Center were completed in January and April 2003, respectively, with the assistance of the Chinese government. They form a unified whole with the building and are known as the "symbol of Sino-Sri Lankan friendship".