Sri Lanka economists’ annual gathering on Jan. 18-19
View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena, Central Bank Governor, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and World Bank Country Director Dr. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough are among the speakers at the inauguration of the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA)’s annual sessions next week.
This regular annual meeting will be held on January 18-19 at the Centre for Banking Studies Auditorium, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Rajagiriya.
The theme of the sessions is “Impact of Globalisation on Sri Lankan Economy: Challenges and Opportunities”.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough. The sessions are intended to provide a platform for those interested in reshaping the future economic policy of Sri Lanka to face the rising global challenges effectively.
A host of top policy makers, academics, economists and researchers, public and private sector taking part in addition to speaking at the sessions.
While January 18 is the inauguration, the technical sessions which encompass key components of the theme and will be held the next day from 8 am – 5.30 pm.
The main five sessions scheduled are “Setting the Stage, Services Sector and Trade Agreements”, “Human Capital”, “Financial Sector” and “Good Governance and Development”, to be addressed by eminent experts in the relevant sectors.
“Setting the Stage” comprises the topics ‘Towards a full employment production economy’ and ‘Trade liberalisation in Sri Lanka-Then and Now’ which gives the impetus to the remaining sessions.
Session II on “Services Sector and Trade Agreements” presents ‘Performance of the Services Sector’, ‘Services Sector and Regional Cooperation’ together with ‘Migration as an Economic Stimulant: Achievements and Challenges’.
Session III namely “Human Capital” includes ‘Trends in Population in Sri Lanka’, ‘Reforming Education to optimise the benefits of Globalisation’, ‘Poverty, Nutrition and Inequality’ and ‘Human Capital: Private Sector Perspective’.
Session IV on “Financial Sector” comprises ‘Sri Lanka’s increasing Integration with the Global Economy: Challenges and Opportunities’ and ‘Financial Sector in Sri Lanka in 2025’.
Session V concentrates on “Good Governance and Development” with the topics ‘Economy and Technology’ and ‘Future Prospects for Sri Lanka’.
The SLEA said in a media release that the proceedings of the “annual sessions will be of immense importance and of timely relevance in the interests of policy makers as well as economists, administrators, academics and the general public in the context of explicit aspirations and the concerted efforts in achieving the sustained high growth laid down in the economic agenda of the Government”.
Prof. Indralal de Silva, Dr. Nimal Sanderatne, Prof. W.D. Lakshman, Dr. Dushni Weerakoon Prof. S. S. Colombage, Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Dr. Indralal de Silva, Dinesh Weerakkody (private sector), Dr. Harsha Aturapane, Dr. Nisha Arunatillake, Samantha Ranatunga (private sector), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. C.P.J. Siriwardena and Dr. W.A. Wijewardena are among the panelists and moderators of the sessions.