SLEA Annual Session to feature Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery Strategy at virtual event

Featuring the long tradition of advocating on most vital and current economic issues, the 33rd annual session of the Sri Lankan Economic Association (SLEA) is scheduled to be held on November 12th and 13th through Zoom platform.

Multi-disciplinary panel of speakers will feature in this years’ annual session on the theme of ‘Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery Strategy’. 

At present, Sri Lankan economy is going through a rough patch. Long run inevitable challenges including fiscal and monetary imbalances, weak institutions, policy inconsistency and implementation gaps, and other causal factors were affecting the economy in recent years. Moreover, COVID-19 related shocks have aggravated this situation.
Despite the uncertainty in the global environment, both advanced and emerging economies are eager to set their policy measures aiming at pre-pandemic growth levels. Once these changes work their way through multiple channels, it would have multiplayer effects on the national economy. 

In this background, SLEA annual session is being held with an emphasis to consider the potential pathways to overcome economic disturbances.

The inaugural session will be held on November 12th. The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Howard Nicholas, Erasmus University and the Presidential address will be delivered by Dr. Upananda Vidanapathirana, President of SLEA. 

Professor W. D. Lakshman, Emeritus Professor and former vice chancellor at University of Colombo, former Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) will be the chief guest while Krishan Balendra, Chairman of John Keells Holdings PLC will be the guest of honour.

The technical sessions, based on four sub-themes, will take place on the 13th of November. Technical session-I is based on the theme of Macroeconomic environment. Key topics and presenters will be: “Fine tuning of monetary policy” by Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara; Director of Economic Research at CBSL, “Sustainable fiscal policy” by Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne; professor in economics at university of Colombo, and “Structural reforms for inclusive growth” by Dr. Dushni Weerakoon; Executive Director of IPS. The technical session-I will be chaired by Dr. Lloyd Fernando and the discussant will be Prof. Sirimevan Colombage. Technical session-II is based on the theme of External Sector. Key topics and presenters will be: “On the Proper Path to Export Promotion for Sri Lanka: a Reconnaissance and Recommendation” by Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana; former adviser to World Bank and Dr. Dayaratna Silva; International Trade Economist, “Promoting FDIs” by Prof. Anoma Abhayaratne;  professor in Economics at University of Peradeniya, “Financial Flows of Sri Lanka: Causes and Effects” by Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra; Additional Director of Economic Research at CBSL, and “Promoting Inward Remittances” by Prof. H.D. Karunarathne; Professor of Business Economics at University of Colombo. The technical session-II will be chaired by Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean and the discussant will be Prof. O.G. Dayaratna.  

Technical session-III is based on the theme of Reviving Production Sector. Key topics and presenters will be: “Rejuvenate the Industry” by Prof Ajith de Alwis; University of Moratuwa, “Energizing the Plantations” by Dr. Roshan Rajadurai; Managing Director of Plantations Hayleys Group PLC, and “Modernization of Domestic Agriculture” by Dr. Wasanthi Wickramasinghe; President of Sri Lanka Agriculture Economics Association. 
The technical session-III will be chaired by Prof. Danny Atapattu and the discussants will be Prof. Sunil Chandrasiri and Dr. Anura Ekanayake.

Technical session-IV is based on the theme of Resuscitation of Services. Key topics and presenters will be: “Streamlining Banking & Financial services” by Lakshman Silva; CEO of DFCC Bank, “Reactivating Tourism Industry” by Prof. Suranga Silva Professor in Economics at University of Colombo, “Rational Development of Renewable Energy: Technical and Commercial Reality” by Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya; Managing Director of Resource Management Associates (Pvt) Ltd. The technical session-IV four will be chaired by Chandrasena Maliyadde and the discussants will be Dr. W.M. Hemachandra, and  Malraj Kiriella.

The deliberations will encompass deeper insights into prevailing contextual challenges and further recommendations to strategize Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

For more details of the event and for registrations, contact [email protected]