Reviving the engine: SLEA international conference to chart path for services-led growth

THE Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) is set to host its Annual International Conference on 6-7 Februar.

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This landmark event, themed 'Tansforming the Services Sector for Economic Revival in Sri Lanka,' comes at a critical juncture as the country moves beyond stabilisation towards a phase of long-term structural transformation.The inauguration of the conference will take place at 4 p.m. on 6 February at the Jasmine Hall, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest, joined by Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe as the Guest of Honour, University of Colombo Vice Chancellor Prof. Indika Mahesh Karunathilake as the Special Guest, and a distinguished gathering of policymakers, academics, and researchers. The technical sessions, featuring in-depth scholarly presentations, will follow on 7 February at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo.

In recent years, the services sector has proven to be the most resilient component of the Sri Lankan economy, contributing over 60% to the GDP. However, as global markets evolve through digitalisation and shifting trade patterns, the SLEA identifies an urgent need to modernise this sector. The conference aims to serve as a high-level platform where academia, policymakers, and industry leaders can converge to redefine the services landscape.

Under the leadership of SLEA President Rev. Prof. W. Wimalaratana, the Association has fostered a strategic collaboration with the Department of Economics at the University of Colombo and Siam University, Thailand.