Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Friday, 20 October 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Hiruni Dabarera
The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) yesterday announced its annual session themed ‘Modernisation of Agriculture and Industry: Challenges for Sri Lanka’ in a bid to boost the country’s agricultural sector.
“The sector experiences very low levels of productivity,” expressed SLEA President Upananda Vidanapathirana. He claimed that the percentage of agricultural contribution to GDP has gone down from 30% to 9%. The session will feature pioneers in the agricultural business and will look to tackle many problems pertaining to lack of innovation, efficient utilisation of land and lack of labour force in this sector.
The decline in Sri Lanka’s economic progression since independence was also acknowledged as a result of the country’s growth not being supported by the Real sector in agriculture and business like other countries in Asia.
The sessions will kick off on 27 October at 4.00 p.m. by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and will be graced by other dignitaries like Special Projects Minister Sarath Amunugama and Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy. The technical sessions will commence on 28 October under the themes ‘The Sri Lankan Economy: Achievements, Prospects and Policy Issues’, ‘Agricultural Sector: Issues and Challenges’, ‘Commercialization of Agriculture/Agri Business’, ‘Industrial Evolution and Composition’ and ‘Industrial Restructuring to Meet Global Standards’. They will be conducted by experts in their relevant fields.
The sessions will take place at the auditorium of the Centre for Banking Studies, Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Registration is priced at Rs. 6,500 per local participant and $ 150 per foreign participant.
This event will also mark the launch of the book ‘The Sri Lankan Economy: Charting a New Course’ which is published by the Asian Development Bank.
SLEA, Sri Lanka’s premier economic association, was established in 1985 by prominent economists like S. Indraratne, Gamini Corea, Jayantha Kelegama and H.N.S. Karunathilaka. It was incorporated by an Act of the Parliament in 2011. The association’s membership exceeds 800 at present. It has gained world recognition and it is a member of the International Economic Association. During previous years it held sessions on the themes of macroeconomic issues, public debt and fiscal deficit.
This year’s session expects close to 100 participants for the technical sessions.
The registration fee is Rs. 6,500 per participant (for SLEA members Rs. 5,000) which includes lunch and refreshments. Foreign participation is at $ 150 per participant.
Cheques should be drawn in favour of the ‘Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA)’.
Those who havee registered are invited to attend the inaugural session followed by the reception.
Registrations received before 20 October are entitled to a discount of Rs. 250.
The registration desk is open at the SLEA Office OPA Building, Floor 2, No.275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 7
For further information and registration details contact the administrative officer by calling 0112559478 or email [email protected].
