A Dialogue on Sustainable Development, led by the internationally renowned economist and Nobel Laureate, Sir James Mirrlees,will be held at the Auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute on Thursday, 25^thFebruary 2016.

Sir James will be speaking at the invitation of the Chairman and Members of the Board of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. The present Chairman of the Institute is the Minister of Foreign Affairs,Hon.Mangala Samaraweera. The Dialogue will be moderated by Dr. IndrajitCoomaraswamy.

The event is organised by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in partnership with the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and John Keells Holdings PLC. The creative agency Holmes Pollard & Stott is the communications partner.    

Sir James Mirrleeswas awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1996 in recognition of his contributions to the economic theory of incentives under asymmetric information. He was knighted in 1997. He was a Professor for many years each atthe Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and is presently based at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Sir Jameswill deliver his presentation to an audience of 120 invitees, followed by an interactive discussion and Q & A. The invitees will include members of government, senior policymakers, business leaders, scholars, selected students and civil society.

The high-level dialogue has 3 main objectives – (1) broaden awareness and raise the standard of discussion in Sri Lanka on sustainable development, (2) deepen knowledge of recent global developments, including the landmark Paris Agreement and United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015, and (3) brainstorm on how Sri Lanka can become an international benchmark for its sustainable cities, industries and communities, and develop as a leader of sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region.   

This is expected to be the first of a series of dialogues with Nobel Laureates organised by the LakshmanKadirgamar Institute, launched this year to celebrate its 10^th anniversary. Subsequent dialogues will focus on Justice, Peace and Prosperity, within the context of Sri Lanka’s international relations and strategic interests.