The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research launched the National Summit on Foresight and Innovation for Sustainable Human Development.
The Summit, the first of its kind to be held in Sri Lanka, is expected to start a national dialogue on the importance of foresight and innovation as a value addition to traditional development planning to achieve sustainable human development and the 2030 development agenda. The two day Summit will take place on the 24th and 25th of May at Waters Edge, Battaramulla.
Speaking at the event, UNDP Country Director, Mr. Joern Soerensen stated foresight is an exemplary tool to help propel development, vision alternative futures and build resilient policies in Sri Lanka.
“As the development arm of the United Nations, we are extremely proud to be able to connect a diverse set of resource people internationally, and convene all key players of the development sector in Sri Lanka.” Mr. Soerensen noted.
The Summit will be graced by the Honourable Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and will connect many international resource people including those from the UN Pulse Lab - Jakarta, the UNDP Centre for Public Service Excellence - Singapore, Mind Lab - Denmark, GIZ –Germany, Superflux - UK, UNDP Kolba Lab – Armenia, UNDP MiLab - Moldova to name a few.
Addressing the gathering, the State Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs, Niroshan Perera stated that the government is quite pleased and thankful to UNDP for taking the lead and working closely with the Ministry to convene all relevant stakeholders for this important Summit.
"Sri Lanka is at a crucial juncture; we must now choose to look outwards and beyond the present context to create the future we want. Through this Summit we will develop and learn about foresight tools from a national planning and policy point of view, which will prove pivotal over the next 15 years as national and international contexts grow more complex and challenging.” Minister Perera said.
The Summit will introduce several foresight tools by looking at nationally relevant environmental, social and economic themes. Together with the private sector, a key component of the audience, the Summit will aim at producing a set of recommendations that will be implemented collectively following the event.
The Constitutional Council has approved four nominees, proposed by the President, to fill vacancies in the Court of Appeal.
The Election Commission has announced the plan for leave for both public and private sector employees for the upcoming presidential election on September 21, 2024, without loss of salary or personal leave.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will reduce fuel prices with effect from midnight today.
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