President, top policy makers to address Economic Summit

Sri Lankan Government’s top policy makers led by President Maithripala Sirisena are slated to attend the upcoming Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2016 and will discuss how to ‘Focus.act.deliver’ to propel the nation’s economy to new heights.

The President will kick start the two-day event organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commercedelivering the inaugural speech, while Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake and the newly appointed Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomarasway will follow him, by delivering speeches at the first session of the summit focusing on how to accelerate economic growth.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama will speak on the session, ‘The Future of Public Enterprises. The duo would be joined by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramarathe and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva is also lined up to speak at separate sessions. Wickramaratne will speak on Public-private Partnership, while Dr. De Silva is expected to touch on how to leverage the locational advantage to develop the logistics sector.

EDB Chairperson Indira Malwatte will be the sole policy maker taking part in the panel, which will discuss the title of ‘Commercial Agriculture, Tackling the Competitiveness and Political Challenges’. Samantha Ranatunga, Chairperson of the CCC, will deliver the welcome address at the inauguration ceremony.

Hayleys PLC and Pyramid Wilmar are platinum sponsors of the event, while Sunshine Holdings and CIC has come forward as the Gold Sponsors. Dialog have signed in as the Silver sponsor and First Capital, Ironwood Capital Partners, and Lanka IOC are the strategic sponsors of the summit.