Daily FT spearheads unique pre-Budget forum to shape policy

Wednesday, 19 October 2011 01:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Daily FT, the country’s only daily business paper, is spearheading a unique private-public sector forum aimed at shaping the thinking and policies ahead of the presentation of the Government’s 2012 Budget.

The forum titled ‘Speak Up Before the 2012 Budget’ tomorrow morning is in partnership with the MBA Alumni Association of the University of Colombo and will bring together select industry leaders and senior officials of the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Economic Development for a frank discussion on some of the pressing issues facing multiple business and economic activities in the country.

The forum, participation to which is only by invitation, will be chaired by Secretary to the two Ministries Dr. P.B. Jayasundera.

Over a dozen of private sector leaders representing key activities such as tourism, tea, plantations, dairy, apparel, shipping, IT and Telecom, healthcare, renewable energy, motor trade, construction and engineering, cement, ceramics and tiles, capital markets, insurance and education are expected to individually list three most crucial or pressing issues facing the relevant sectors, which if addressed by the Government could unleash rapid development.

Some of the private sector leaders to speak up will be CIC Managing Director Samantha Ranatunga, DIMO Chairman Ranjith Pandithage, Access Engineering Chairman Sumal Perera, Dialog Axiata CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Akbar Brothers Director Tyeb Akbarally, Holcim Lanka Chairman Manilal Fernando, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings Managing Director Malin Hapugoda, John Keells Holdings’ Vice President and SLASSCO Chief Sujeewa Dewarajah, Aitken Spence Shipping Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Watawala Plantations Director Dr. Dan Seevaratnam, Ceylinco Insurance Managing Director Ajith Gunawardena, Hemas Holdings Director Murtaza Esufally, Capital Alliance Holdings Managing Director Ajith Fernando, Lanka Tiles Managing Director Mahendra Jayasekara, Hemas Power CEO Krishantha Nanayakkara and Kotmale Holdings CEO Jude Fernando.

Officials representing the two Ministries include BOI Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando, Director General of Customs Ms. Sudharma Karunaratne, Director P.A. Dias, Finance Ministry Director Generals handling subjects such as fiscal policy R. Siriwardena, trade and tariff Dr. N Gunawardena, legal Shamalie Gunawardena and public enterprises S.R. Artigala, Inland Revenue Deputy Commissioner General Mallika Samarasekera, Advisor Dhammika Gunathilake, Exchange Controller, Import Controller as well as Director of the National Council for Economic Development Malika Samaraweera.