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Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Executive Director at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), was recently invited to moderate the two scene-setting sessions on the opening day of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit (SLES) 2019.

The first session entitled ‘Global Dynamics in the Next Decade,’ explored changes in the global financial market dynamics, transformations in the technology landscape, changing dynamics in the labour markets, and the shift of power in manufacturing and service industries amongst others, and the implications for Sri Lanka. Other panellists included Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chairman, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Dhammika Perera, Co-Chairman (Non-Executive) Hayleys PLC and Chairman and Managing Director of Vallibel One PLC; and Mr. Vish Govindasamy, Group Managing Director, Sunshine Holdings PLC.

The second keynote session entitled ‘Recalibrating Sri Lanka’s Economic Trajectory’ featured Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Minister of Finance Hon. Mangala Samaraweera. The speeches were followed by a panel discussion featuring Shri Suresh Prabhu, the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Civil Aviation of the Government of India, and MPRS and PM’s Sherpa G20 and G7; Mr. Nirukth Sapru, CEO Vietnam and ASA Cluster Markets, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Mangala Yapa, Chairman of the Board of Investment; and LKI’s Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja.

The SLES 2019 was a two-day event under the theme ‘Re-calibrating Sri Lanka’s Economic Trajectory Towards 2025,’ aimed at guiding Sri Lanka’s journey towards development and prosperity. The event drew over 450 local and international participants, including business leaders, policymakers, and academics.

Image Credit: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce