Positive Sri Lanka initiative aims to jumpstart economy
View(s):
Panellists at the discussion
Bringing together the community to collaborate in a unique initiative, the campaign, Positive Sri Lanka, is urging businesses, big and small, to participate in generating positive momentum in the economy.
Initiated by a group of like-minded private citizens coming together to address the needs of this economic crisis, the Positive Sri Lanka campaign was launched on June 20 at the Galle Face Hotel, in the presence of Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and other prominent business leaders including CEOs, CFOs and CMOs of potential retailers, trade bodies, leisure sector, bankers, FMCGs and MNCs.
A media release by the organisers said that a panel discussion was held at the event by high profile personalities, namely, Dr. Coomaraswamy; Asanka De Mel – Lovi; Ms. Alyna Haji Omar CEO – JWT and Mr. Deshal de Mel – Ministry of Finance. The moderator for the discussion was Aritha Wickramasinghe.
“The panel debated the worrisome economic consequences of the Easter Sunday attacks and their impact on livelihoods of thousands of people and the future of many businesses. The business objective of this not-for-profit campaign is to generate Rs. 90 billion worth of revenue inside the country over a short period of two months in a bold bid to jumpstart the economy once again, with proactive participation across retail, consumer goods, sports and entertainment, leisure, travel and hospitality, education, health, culture and heritage, art, fashion and connectivity sectors,” it said.
Commenting on the campaign, Alyna Haji Omar, CEO of JWT said: “Positive Sri Lanka is a campaign that motivates businesses to take ownership for creating change, without leaving it to others, or staying on the sidelines overcome by fear and uncertainty. We invite businesses of all kinds to shoulder this responsibility and to join in to create a reason for people to go out and spend, enjoy time with their families and friends and stimulate the economy once again. The future of the country is at stake and we, as the business community, need to join hands and make this happen in an urgent manner.”
Partners in this campaign are the Retail Association of Sri Lanka, Bar & Restaurant Association, SLAITO and CIMA as the main bodies bringing their retail locations on board.
Adding further, Asanka de Mel, LOVI, explained, “The Positive Sri Lanka campaign is leveraging the voice and the power of the business community to take charge of the narrative about Sri Lanka, turnaround the economy and generate a positive sentiment about business in quick-time – by offering deals, discounts and free products as a mega shopping festival. Every second we waste doing nothing to change the current status quo costs millions of losses to businesses.”