Govt. appoints 16-member advisory committee to assist Economic Council

•  Consists of corporate leaders, academics, economists and tax experts

The Cabinet nod was given this week to appoint a 16-member advisory committee consisting of corporate leaders and intellectuals to assist the 11-member Economic Council appointed last week.

The Cabinet of Ministers this Monday approved President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s proposal to appoint the 16-member advisory committee.

According to Co-Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana,  the Committee consists of Colombo University Vice Chancellor Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Executive Director, Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, businessman Dhammika Perera, JKH Chairman Krishan Balendra, Brandix Group CEO Ashroff Omar, Axiata Group Bhd. 

Group Executive Vice President & Telecommunications Business CEO Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Vish Govindasamy, Commercial Bank CEO S. Renganathan, GRI Tires Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe, Cargills CEO Ranjit Page, Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage, Softlogic Chairman Ashok Pathirage, Export Development Board Chairman Suresh De Mel, Ceylon Chamber Vice Chairman and Senior Partner and Head of Tax at Ernst & Young Duminda Hulangamuwa, and PwC Sri Lanka CEO Sujeewa Mudalige.

Last Week, Cabinet approval was granted to establish a 11-member Economic Council chaired by the President with the objective to guide the country out of the on-going economic crisis, which has hit multiple sectors.

The other members of the Economic Council are: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardhana, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, . Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Plantations Minister Ramesh Pathirana, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nirvad Cabraal, Secretary to the President Gamini Senerath, Secretary to the Treasury S. R. Attygalle and Central Bank Deputy Governor Dhammika Nanayakkara.

According to the Government information Department, the Cabinet of Ministers also allowed the Economic Council to invite intellectuals/experts in respective fields as required for the weekly meetings to obtain recommendations and advice.