Sri Lanka Economists’ Annual Conference on 8-9 Dec.

Wednesday, 6 December 2023 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Economic Association President Prof. Rev.

W. Wimalaratana

The Annual International Conference of the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) is scheduled to be held on 8 and 9 December at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) Auditorium in Colombo.

While the conference theme of the year is “Transforming Agriculture for Economic Revival in Sri Lanka,” the inaugural address will be delivered by World Bank Senior Agricultural Economist John Keyser.

Among the distinguished guests attending the inauguration of the conference Agriculture and Plantations Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, as the Chief Guest, and SANASA Founder and SANASA Campus and Wayamba University Chancellor Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya, as the Guest of Honour, will also address the gathering.

The conference comprises eight technical sessions: (1) Structural change and macro stability; (2) Technology change and productivity growth in agriculture; (3) Agricultural trade policy; (4) Institutions and agricultural development; (5) Agricultural policy debate; (6) Agro-industries, agro-tourism, and poverty reduction; (7) Agricultural modernisation and rural development; and (8) Food crop production and animal husbandry. Both Sri Lankan and foreign scholars from Australia, China, India, the UK, Nigeria, and Vietnam will be participating at the conference and presenting research papers.

Given the current economic crisis of the country, the SLEA, in its annual conferences this year and in the coming years, is expected to focus on the agriculture, industry, and services sectors, providing research-based, in-depth analysis on their contribution to economic recovery and growth. While achieving macroeconomic stability is important, that stability needs to be managed, and progress towards a prosperous future for the nation needs to be ensured only with economic growth emanating from production sectors. Accordingly, this year’s conference is expected to shed light on the agriculture sector in order to bring out a research publication that is important for academics, policymakers, and students engaging in various dimensions of agricultural development.

The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) is a professional body of Sri Lankan economists, established in 1985 and incorporated in 2011 by a Parliamentary Act. For nearly four decades, SLEA has been contributing to contemporary economic discussions and debates through its conferences, policy dialogues, and seminars. Apart from that, SLEA has been involved in disseminating research-based outcomes through various publications, including the association’s biannual flagship periodical, Sri Lanka Economic Journal.

SLEA strives to be the independent economic think tank of Sri Lankan economists. Its mission is to be a centre of excellence in economic policy discourse by facilitating objective discussions on economic issues to assist in the formulation of effective policies for the wellbeing of the people.

(The writer is the current President of the Sri Lanka Economic Association, a Professor in Economics, and the Vice Chancellor of the SANASA Campus, Kegalle.)