About

Harvard University’s Center for International Development has done an initial growth diagnosis on Sri Lanka and has identified the following key areas they believe are important to support sustained and inclusive long-term growth.

  • Macroeconomic and Fiscal Stability
  • Structural Transformation and Competitiveness
  • Urbanization and Development
  • Regional Development and Social Inclusion

    • This economic forum is structured around these key areas of risk and opportunity, with several internationally-respected thought leaders invited to share their perspectives with the Government of Sri Lanka

    Schedule

     

    Arrival and registration of invitees 08:15 AM - 08:45 AM

    Invitees take their seats 08:45 AM

    Arrival of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the Guests of Honour Mr. George Soros and Prof. Joseph Stiglitz 09:00 AM

    National Anthem 09:05 AM

    Welcome Address and Introduction by Hon. Niranjan Deva Adithya, Member of the European Parliament 09:10 AM

    Outline of vision by the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 09:15 AM

    Address by His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka 09:30 AM

    Initial growth diagnosis and introduction of key topics Ricardo Hausmann 09:45 AM

    The Global Setting: A panel discussion Prime Minister Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mr.George Soros and Prof.Joseph Stiglitz


    moderated by Ricardo Hausmann     10:15 AM

    Tea break 11:15 AM

    A Million New Jobs (with Good Wages): What options do governments have for overcoming macroeconomic vulnerabilities and fiscal imbalance? What interesting policies have been used elsewhere to transform comparative advantage, developing industries that can expand while paying higher wages? Christopher Woodruff, Robert Conrad, Ljubica Nedelkoska, Sean Turnell. Sirimal Abeyratne, W.A. Wijewardena


    Moderator: Murtaza Jafferjee         11:30 AM

    Panel discussion: Opportunities and Challenges for Inclusive Growth: How has the urbanization process been organized in other places to develop cities that are sustainable, competitive and productive? What can governments do to ensure that all regions and social groups contribute to and benefit from the growth process? Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Alan Hirsch, Erion Veliaj, Frank Neffke, Nishan de Mel, Muttukrishna Sarvananthan


    Moderator: Razeen Sally         12:45 PM

    End of forum followedf by lunch 14:00 PM

    In-depth government policy discussions (closed room private sessions) Cinnamon Grand, Cedar Room

    Macroeconomic Strategy - Arjuna Mahendran, Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka 15:30 PM

    Panel responses to presentation & open discussion with policymakers Prof.Joseph Stiglitz, Filipe Campante, Sean Turnell, Robert Conrad 16:15 PM

    Concluding remarks / Plans for Day 2 17:30 PM

    Arrival and registration of invitees 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

    Welcome Speech Dr. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 11:00 AM

    Address by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 11:15 AM

    Address by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz 11:45 AM

    Interactive Question & Answer Session Moderator: Dr. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. George Soros may also be in attendance 12:15 PM

    Lunch at atrium 13:15 PM

    OUR SPEAKERS

    presentations

    PRESENTATION OF NOBEL LAUREATE PROFESSOR JOSEPH E. STIGLITZ AT
    THE SRI LANKA ECONOMIC YOUTH FORUM ON 8TH JANUARY 2016

    PRESENTATION OF PROFESSOR HAUSMANN AT
    THE SRI LANKA ECONOMIC FORUM ON 7TH JANUARY 2016

    Image Gallery

    News

    Sri Lanka's Rebirth - www.project-syndicate.org

    COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has been deservedly praised for the progress it has made since the end of the war against the separatist Tamil Tigers in 2009. The economy has grown at an average annual rate of 6.7%, and education ...

     

    25th Jan 2016
    Sustainable and inclusive development take center stage at SL Economic Forum - newsfirst.lk

    The Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016 began in Colombo on Thursday (Jan. 7th) with the aim of formulating a policy for long term economic growth. The forum themed...

    07th Jan 2016
    Stiglitz urges Sri Lanka to cut its foreign debt - www.sundaytimes.lk

    World-renowned economist and Nobel laureate Prof Joseph Stiglitz on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to tackle its foreign debt crisis which was impeding growth...


    07th Jan 2016
    Billionaire George Soros wants to invest in Sri Lanka - www.sundaytimes.lk

    Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros on Thursday exuded confidence in Sri Lanka and said he wanted to invest in the once, war-torn country. Taking part in a high-level economic forum in Colombo...

    07th Jan 2016
    "Don't rest on your laurels" - George Soros warns business community - www.sundaytimes.lk

    Sri Lanka is in a prime postion for investment at the moment but its important to confront the onging harsh realities of crisis faced by global markets, billionaire George Soros told an economic forum...

    07th Jan 2016
    Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016 – Steering Sri Lanka towards Sustainable & Inclusive Development - Media Release

    On the threshold of entering into an era of unprecedented economic growth, spotlight falls on Sri Lanka in 2016 with the much awaited Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016 Under a theme of "Steering Sri Lanka towards Sustainable...

    08th Jan 2016
    Soros sows hope of fresh start - www.ft.lk

    World famous philanthropist and investor George Soros (centre) speaks at Sri Lanka Economic Forum as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and Director of the Center for International Development and a Professor of the Practice of Economic Development at the John F. Kennedy School of ...

    08th Jan 2016
    Soros rings word of caution - dailynews.lk

    The world economy is very hostile and Sri Lanka is faced with an uphill task to swim upstream, international economist and investor George Soros said. He said that in addition to several unsolved problems in Sri Lanka, the imbalances in the world economy too will create problems for the forward march of Sri Lanka...

    08th Jan 2016
    Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016 - www.dailymirror.lk

    Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016, sponsored by the Open Society Foundations of the international investor and philanthropist George Soros, commenced yesterday at Cinnamon Grand Colombo with the attendance of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe...

    08th Jan 2016
    'Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016' to be held on Jan.7-8 with Soros, Stiglitz and many other top speakers' - www.dailymirror.lk

    'Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016,' a forum organized in Colombo under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to take place with the...

    04th Jan 2016
    Sri Lanka Economic Forum on Jan 7-8 - www.dailynews.lk

    The Sri Lanka Economic Forum under the theme Steering Sri Lanka towards Sustainable and Inclusive Development will beheld on January 7 and 8 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo

    In addition to the two day event a ...

     

    04th Jan 2016

    Contact Us

    • Supreme Global Holdings Ltd.
      #33, West Tower World Trade Center
      Colombo 01 – Sri Lanka
    • +94 11 2434000
    • +94 11 2434049
    • slef2016@supreme.lk