President, PM to address corporate chiefs at Economic Summit, just days before Aug. 17 poll

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is among a host of top Government politicians billed to speak at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2015 on August 4-5 at the Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo, just days before parliamentary polls.

Though not planned but rather coincidental, government leaders get a rare opportunity to address an independently, organised business forum on economic policy and corruption, and reveal new economic plans for the future just 10 days before one of Sri Lanka's most crucial parliamentary elections.

Some of the country's top business leaders billed to attend are likely to be whom those who are financially supporting different political parties.

Barring the President, all the other Government speakers - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Dr. Harsha De Silva - Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Affairs and Eran Wickremaratne - Deputy Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion, represent the cream of the United National Party which is staking a claim to control parliament after the August 17 poll, for the first time in 14 years after winning the 2001 poll contesting at that time too as the United National Front coalition (the name for the current combination). President Sirisena, despite being leader of both the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the UPFA, has said he would stay neutral in election campaigning.

Conference organisers Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said in a media release that the 2-day top forum will consist of eight sessions, covering the most important economic sectors of the country with Government policy makers, top economists, sector based professionals, both from the public and the private sector, political leaders and academics joining as resource persons.

They will deal with areas such as 'National Vision: Policy Implementation and Perspective,' 'A New Global Economic Strategy for Sri Lanka', 'Driving Exports - Use of Social Media and Technology', 'Challenges In and Opportunities For Financing of Exports', 'Championing Value Addition in Agri Exports', 'Sustainability Led Export Growth', 'Going Up the Value Chain - Export of Knowledge Services' and will conclude with a CEO's forum.