Students of State universities pursuing economics and international relations are getting key insights to China’s Belt and Road Initiative via an ongoing forum in Colombo this week.

Organised by the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), an education and consulting platform, the forum titled “BRI and a better future for Sri Lanka” kicked off on Tuesday and concludes today at the Galle Face Hotel.

BRISL invited 25 students from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. University of Ruhuna; Department of Economics, Faculty of Commerce and Management, Eastern University of Sri Lanka; Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University of Sri Lanka; Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo; Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya; and Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna. After confirming, students of Jaffna University had excused themselves on orders from superiors.

The students are benefitting from an expert panel of lecturers including Prof. Samitha Hettige, George Cooke, Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara, Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Umesh Moramudali, Thilina Panduwawala, Kanishka Chathuranga and Cheng Huaqiang.

Issues taken up include China’s Development in the Modern Era and Diplomatic Relations with Sri Lanka; China Gifted Projects and Aid in Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka’s Potential for Trade and Investment with China; and Chinese Lending to Sri Lanka: Separating the Myth from Reality.

The program also includes field visits to Huawei Sri Lanka, Port City Colombo, Colombo Lotus Tower and the Colombo International Container Terminal.

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