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Overview of Event Why you should Join
Sri Lanka’s first “reset” economic conference drawing a panel of international and local experts who have guided countries through turmoil to prosperity.
Buy TicketsSessions Breakdown
Spanning across 2 days - we break down the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the reforms that can be implemented to overcome it.
01
Great Speakers
The panel of international and national experts who have guided countries through turmoil to prosperity.
02
Networking
Having exclusive access to closed-door sessions at the #ReformNow Conference will open doors for myrade of networking opportunities with fellow like-minded participants. 03
Your Ideas Matter!
Contribute your ideas for a greater course in changing the system. All participants will be given time in sessions where they will be able to voice their ideas and get involved!
04Listen to the Keynote Speakers
Dr. Veerathai Santiprabhob
Former governor of the Bank of Thailand
Dr. Veerathai Santiprabhob
Former governor of the Bank of ThailandDr. Veerathai Santiprabhob, was the former governor of the Bank of Thailand from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2020. He is a macroeconomist and a financial professional, with more than 20 years of experience in economic policy design, commercial banking, and capital markets.
Session by Gayani Hurulle
Day 1
10.30 - 11.30 amResetting Samurdhi: Social Safety Nets
Prof. Premachandra Athukorala
Professor of economics, Australian National University (ANU) and Senior Advisor to Advocata Institute
Prof. Premachandra Athukorala
Professor of economics, Australian National University (ANU) and Senior Advisor to Advocata InstituteProf. Prema-chandra Athukorala is a Professor of Economics at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. He is an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the School of Environment and Development and the University of Manchester.
Session by Prof. Premachandra Athukorala
Day 1
10.30 - 11.30 amDebt Crisis, Structural Adjustment and Trade Policy
The Context Why #ReformNow
Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis since independence. Lengthy queues to purchase fuel, daily blackouts, and sharp shortages of essentials now marks the everyday reality of Sri Lankans. Especially the poor. Given this context, the Advocata Institute has organised Sri Lanka’s first ever reset economic conference prioritizing economic recovery and growth.
Schedule Details Information of Event Schedules
A two-day conference, taking place at BMICH (Lotus Hall), Colombo 07 from 9.00 AM - 4.30 PM - with a panel of international and national experts who have guided countries through turmoil to prosperity. The event schedule is subject to change.
8.30 AM
Registration begins
BMICH Lotus Hall, Colombo 07
9.00 -9.10
Introduction to the #ReformNow Conference
Advocata Institute
9.10 -9.40
Special Keynote (TBC)
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Minister of Finance
9.40 -10.40
Session 1
Learning from Thailand’s reform experience after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997
A fireside chat with Dr. Veerathai Santiprabhop (former Governor of the Bank of Thailand) and Murtaza Jafferjee (chairperson of Advocata Institute)
10.40 - 11.00
Tea Break
11:00 - 12:00
Session 2
Air India Privatisation – takeaways for Sri Lanka
Panel Discussion
A presentation showcasing the Air India privatisation and a discussion thereafter drawing parallels for a potential privatisation of Sri Lankan airlines, with Ashwini Phadnis, Thilan Wijesinghe and Akhilesh Tilotia
Moderated by Aneetha Warusavitarana
12.00 - 01.10
Session 3
Resetting Samurdhi: Social Safety Nets
Panel Discussion
A presentation on Sri Lanka’s current social safety net by Gayani Hurulle and a discussion on how it can be improved going forward, with Dr Ganga Tilakaratna, Dr. Stephen Kidd and Gayani Hurulle.
01:10 - 2:00
Lunch Break
02.00 - 03.00
Session 4
Taxation, Stability and Growth
Panel Discussion
A presentation by Dr. Roshan Perera, outlining the country’s current tax system followed by discussion on how it can be improved going forward with Dr.Mick Moore.
3:00- 3:10
Launch of Advocata Institute’s latest policy product tracking the performance of State Owned Enterprises
Presentation by Ravi Rathnasabapathy
3:10- 3:30
Tea Break
3:30 – 4:30
Session 5
Centralizing the State’s Ownership Functions
Panel Discussion
Currently SOEs are gazetted under various ministries which is fraught with inherent conflicts for the respective ministries are policy makers and in some instances the regulator. Should SOEs be managed and owned under a government owned conglomerate like structure to improve performance, capital allocation and governance.
Speakers: Daniel Alphonsus, Panellists Professor Rohan Samarajiva and Ajit Gunawardena
End of Day 1
9.00 - 10:15
Session 1
Debt Crisis, Structural Adjustment and Trade Policy
Keynote Speech and Panel Discussion
A keynote speech followed by a panel discussion on policy solutions on how to expand Sri Lanka’s openness to trade and improve national productivity. Speaker: Prof. Premachandra Athukorala, Panellists : Dr.Sarath Rajapatirana, Dr. Asanka Wijesinghe, Prof. Premachandra Athukorala. Moderator: Ravi Ratnasabapathy
10:15 - 10:25
Context setting - Labour market
10.25 - 11.25
Session 2
Labour market reforms for more inclusive growth
Panel Discussion
A panel discussion on necessary labour law reforms to improve labour market flexibility and productivity. Panellists Dr.Ramani Gunatilake, Shyamali Ranaraja Moderator: Amita Arudpragasam
11:25 - 11:40
Tea Break
11:40 – 12:40
Session 3
Termination vs Resuscitation
Panel Discussion
The current economic crisis has or will lead to a record number of businesses being insolvent. Does Sri Lanka have a robust resolution framework to resuscitate these businesses?
Speaker Dilshani Wijayawardana, Panellist Harsha Cabral, Nirosh De Silva, Dilshani Wijayawardana. Moderator: Chanaka Wickramasuriya
1:00 - 1.50
Lunch Break
1:50 – 2:00
Session 4
Unlocking land for development – current land utilization Panel Discussion
2:00 – 2:45
Agricultural land
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion on agricultural land will focus on the existing laws on the ownership, allocation and use of agricultural land, and the reforms necessary to make the sector more efficient and productive.
Speaker: Roshan Rajadurai. Panellist: S. D. A. B. Boralessa, Indrajith Fernando. Moderator : Sudaraka Ariyaratne
2:45 – 3:30
Unlocking urban potential
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion on urban land potential will discuss reforms necessary to make urban land more efficient and productive.
Speaker: Nayana Mawilmada. Panellist: Dimantha de Silva. Moderator : Sathya Karunarathne
3:30 – 4:15
Session 5
The case for private industrial zones – Lessons from the Dominican Republic
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion on private industrial zones will discuss the importance of industrial zones for economic growth and lessons that can be learnt from the Dominican Republic.
Speaker: Mr. Juan Jimenez. Panellist : Thilan Wijesinghe. Moderator: Murtaza Jafferjee
4:15 – 4:35
Tea Break/End of Day 2
Get your Ticket
5000LKR
This ticket will give you access to the full conference (both days) and a one month subscription for the Advocata media monitor.
Benefits
- Access to exclusive closed-door discussions
- Lunch provided
- Receive media monitoring on economic news on every weekday
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Reach us Get Directions to the Venue
Lotus Hall, BMICH, Colombo 0070
Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
Colombo 00700
Tickets info
Name: Sumhiya Sallay
Phone: +94 77 981 3394
Email: sumhiya@advocata.org
Programme Details
Name: K D Vimanga
Phone: +94 77 957 7140
Email: kdvimanga@advocata.org
Day 1
05th August (Friday)
9.00 AM - 4.30PM
Day 2
6th August (Saturday)
9.00 AM - 4.35 PM
Get Directions
Contact us
Name: Avishka Jayaweera
Phone: +94 77 042 2462
Email: avishka.advocata@gmail.com
