Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka economists’ annual gathering on Jan. 18-19

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President Maithripal­a Sirisena, Central Bank Governor, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswa­my and World Bank Country Director Dr. Idah Z. PswarayiRi­ddihough 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. PswarayiRi­ddihough. 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 Sander at ne, Prof. W. D. La kshm an, Dr. Du sh ni We era koo nProf.S.S. Co lomb age, Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Dr. Indralal de Silva, Dinesh Weerakkody ( private sector), Dr. Harsha Aturapane, Dr. Nisha Ar una til lake, 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.

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.

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