Sri Lanka
Economic Summit
2024
Shaping Sri Lanka’s Future:
Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies
28th & 29th January 2025
@ SHANGRI-LA Colombo
About SLES
After two years of economic contraction, Sri Lanka is striving for a period of accelerated growth. With the conclusion of debt restructuring and the Presidential elections, it is crucial to set the foundation for a decade of sustainable and inclusive economic growth starting in 2025.
Sri Lanka’s economy is once again at an inflection point where it can either accelerate economic development or risk reverting to an IMF program for the 18th time and being a second time debt defaulter. To avoid this, an export-led investment model must be explored through leveraging its strategic location, access to fast-growing markets in the region, and domestic reforms to unleash export sectors. The foundation for this strategy will be stable monetary and fiscal policies to ensure the continuity of the IMF program. The summit will focus on the key growth levers and sectors that can drive transformational growth.
Organized by
Proposed Mode of Event: Hybrid
Theme: Shaping Sri Lanka’s Future: Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies
Sri Lanka Economic Summit
Programme of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit
Inaugural Session : Shaping Sri Lanka’s Future: Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies
Chief Guest
H E Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Opening Remarks and Welcome by Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa
Chairman, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Fireside Chat with the Chief Guest
(1) Fireside Chat with the Chief Guest Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (tbc)
(2) Moderated by Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Deputy Vice Chairman, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka
Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri
Deputy Vice Chairman, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka
End of Inaugural Session / Day 1 Networking & Cocktails
Registration/Arrival of Guests
Panelist
(1) Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya - Chief Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Digital Economy
(2) Moderator - Mr. Bhanuka Harischandra -Founder, Surge Global
Tea Break
Outline:
With economic stability restored and a solid foundation for growth in place, Sri Lanka now stands at the threshold of transformational progress. This session will explore how the nation can embark on a path of sustained growth, drawing lessons from countries like South Korea that have successfully navigated similar transitions. Discussions will delve into the benefits and challenges of adopting such strategies in Sri Lanka’s current context, and the critical roles the private sector and multilateral organizations can play in driving this agenda forward.
Keynote Speaker
(1) Dr. Kyungjin Song - Country Representative Korea, The Asia Foundation
Panelists :
(1) Mr. Takafumi Kadono - Country Director for Sri Lanka, Asian Development Bank
(2) Mr. Krishan Balendra - Chairman, John Keells Holdings
(3) Mr. Ali Tariq - Chairman/CEO, Unilever Sri Lanka
(4) Mr. Munish Kanwar - CEO, Colombo West Intl. Terminal
(5) Mr. Mattias Martinsson - Founder/Chief Investment Officer, Tundra Fund
(6) Moderator— Mr. Shiran Fernando - Chief of Economic Policy Advocacy, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Lunch Break
Session 03 : Breakout Sessions
3 parallel sector sessions running at the same time:
Breakout Session 1 - Transforming Productivity in Agriculture
(1) How do we improve productivity in traditional crops and advance potential in new crop varieties?
(2) What can we learn from country case studies in modernizing the agricultural sector?
(3) What sound policies will help with agriculture modernization and infusion of Agri-Tech?
(4) How do we increase Agri-based exports from 20% to 30% by 2030?
Panelists
(1) Mr. Harish Chandra - Executive Director, Deloitte Touche, Tohmatsu India LLP
(2) Mr. D.P. Wickramasinghe - Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation
(3) Mr. Aroshan Seresinhe - Group CEO, CIC Holdings PLC
(4) Mr. Harsha Subasinghe - Founder, HS Agro Exports Pvt Ltd.
(5) Mr. Manju Gunawardana - Group CEO - Research and Innovation, LOLC
(6) Moderator -- Mr. Rajeev Pandithage - Executive Director, Diesel & Motor Eng. PLC
Breakout Session 2 - Maximising Tourism Potential
(1) How does Sri Lanka achieve USD 8.5 billion tourist earnings by 2030?
(2) How can we improve our offering to increase average spend by tourists?
(3) What policies will help the growth potential of tourism?
Panelists
(1) Mr. Anand Jha - Vice President, Head of Government Engagement for India and South Asia, Visa
(2) Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism
(3) Mr. Henry Fitch - CEO, Teardrop Hotels
(4) Mr. Mikael Svensson - CEO, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
(5) Moderator – Mr. Dhananath Fernando – Chief Executive Officer - Advocata Institute
Breakout Session 3 - Driving Growth in Value-Added Export Manufacturing
Explore Thailand's integration into global and regional value chains and its role in driving export-led investment growth. How can Sri Lanka Improve productivity, cost of doing business, labour laws, innovation that are constraints presently to driving value-added exports
Panelists
(1) Ms. Parima Damrithamanij - Senior Manager, Global Trade Advisory, Deloitte
(2) Ms. J.M.T. Jayasundara - Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneureship Development
(3) Mr. Suren Fernando - CEO, MAS Holdings PLC
(4) Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan - Executive Director, Hayleys Group and MD, Haycarb
(5) Moderator – Mr. Yohan Lawrence - Secretary General, JAAF and Chairman, EASL
Tea Break
Session 4: Plan for Economic Transformation
This final session will focus on crafting a pragmatic action plan to propel Sri Lanka onto a transformational growth trajectory. Building on insights from previous sessions, it will bring together key policymakers overseeing portfolios such as Finance, Entrepreneurship, SME Development, Investment, Exports, and State-Owned Enterprises to articulate a cohesive strategy for sustainable economic progress.
Panelists :
(1) Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma – Hon Deputy Minister, Finance & Planning
(2) Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
(3) Mr. Arjuna Herath - Chairman, BOI
(4) Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe - Chairman, EDB
(5) Moderator: Ms. Kasturi C. Wilson - Board Member, CCC
Closing Session – Summary of Summit findings
Close of Summit
Outline:
(1) Have top executives from the parent company of different sectors to ask them what would commit their organization to invest more in Sri Lanka in a panel discussion
Presenter
(1) Mr. Warrick Cleine - Chairman and CEO | Managing Partner – Deals, Tax & Legal, KPMG in Vietnam
(2) Dr. Kyungjin Song - Member of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Panelists :
(1) Mr. Krishan Balendra, Chairman, John Keells Holdings PLC
(2) Mr. Munish Kanwar, Chief Executive Officer, Colombo West International Terminal (Pvt) Ltd.
(3) Mr. Mattias Martinsson, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Tundra Fund
(4) Mr. Ali Tariq, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Sri Lanka
(5) Moderator : Mr Nisthar Cassim, Editor, DailyFT (tbc)
We Are Excited to Announce Some
of the Confirmed Speakers
Session 01
(0900 – 1000 hrs)
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya
Chief Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Digital Economy
Mr. Bhanuka Harischandra
Founder,
Surge Global
Session 02
(1030 – 1230 hrs)
Dr. Kyungjin Song
Country Representative Korea
The Asia Foundation
Mr. Takafumi Kadono
Country Director for Sri Lanka,
ADB
Mr. Krishan Balendra
Chairperson – CEO
John Keells Holdings PLC
Mr. Ali Tariq
Chief Executive Officer
Unilever Sri Lanka
Mr. Munish Kanwar
Chief Executive Officer,
Colombo West International Terminal
Mr. Mattias Martinsson
Chief Investment Officer /
Founding Partner
Tundra Fonder
Mr. Shiran Fernando
Chief – Economic Policy Advisor
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Session 03 : Breakout Session 01
(1330 – 1500 hrs)
Mr. Harish Chandra
Executive Director,
Deloitte Touche, Tohmatsu India LLP
Mr. D. P. Wickramasinghe
Secretary
Ministry of Agriculure
Mr. Aroshan Seresinhe
Group Chief Executive Officer,
CIC Holdings PLC
Mr. Harsha Subasinghe
Founder,
HS Agro Exports Pvt Ltd
Mr. Manju Gunawardana
Group CEO,
Research and Innovation, LOLC
Mr. Rajeev Pandithage
Group Executive Director,
Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC
Session 03 : Breakout Session 02
(1330 – 1500 hrs)
Mr. Anand Jha
Vice President,
Head of Government Engagement for India and South Asia,
Visa
Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe
Hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism
Mr. Henry Fitch
Chief Executive Officer,
Teardrop Hotels
Mr. Mikael Svensson
Chief Executive Officer,
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena
Joint Deputy Chairman & Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC
Mr. Dhgananath Fernando
Chief Executive Officer, Advocata Institute
Session 03 : Breakout Session 03
(1330 – 1500 hrs)
Ms. Parima Damrithamanij
Global Trade Advisory
Deloitte
Ms. J. M. T. Jayasundara
Secretary
Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
Mr. Suren Fernando
Chief Executive Officer,
MAS Holdings PLC
Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan
Executive Director,
Hayleys Group and MD, Haycarb
Mr. Yohan Lawrence
Secretary General,
JAAF and Chairman, EASL
Session 04
(1530 – 1730 hrs)
Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma
Hon Deputy Minister, Finance & Planning
Mr. Chathuranga Abeysinghe
Hon Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
Mr. Arjuna Herath
Chairman,
Board of Investment of Sri Lanka
Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe
Chairman,
Sri Lanka Export Development Board
Ms. Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson
Board Member, CCC
Our Corporate Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Knowledge Partner
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Strategic Partner
Session Sponsor
Logistics Partner
Telecommunication Partner
Television Partner
Communications Partner
Hospitality Partner
Digital Communications Partner
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for the Summit?
Click on the “Register Now” button. This action will take you to the Registration Form.
Fill in the required participant information, including:
- Organization Name
- Title
- Participant’s Name
- Designation
- Contact Details
- Email Address
- Mobile Number
SLES is a hybrid Summit. You have the flexibility to choose between two options:
Online Option: This allows you to participate in all sessions online or select specific sessions of your choice.
In-Person Option: Select this option if you wish to attend the Summit in person at the Shangri-La Colombo.
Next, you will be prompted to indicate whether your organization is a member of the Chamber. Chamber members are eligible for a discounted participation fee. Please specify your membership status accordingly.
Cost of participation is given below :
- Members – Online LKR 4,000 per session
- Members – In-Person LKR 30,000
- Non-Members – Online LKR 5,500 per session
- Non-Members – In-Person LKR 35,000
To add multiple participants from your company, please follow these steps:
Click on the “Add Participants” button to include their contact details. Please provide unique Mobile Numbers and Email addresses for each participant, as the registration platform identifies participants by their Mobile Numbers. Note that the same Mobile Number cannot be used for more than one participant.
To settle your participation fees, you have two options:
Online Payment: Select the “PAY NOW” button to make an online payment. You will be directed to the Internet Payment Gateway, where you can use a Credit/Debit card to complete the payment.
Pay Later: If you prefer to pay at a later time, choose the “PAY LATER” button. However, please be aware that if you select this option, you must ensure that the participation fees are settled within 4 working days of the registration. Payment can be made in cash to the Cashier located on the 2nd Floor of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce or by forwarding a cheque drawn in favor of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
After you have successfully settled the participation fees:
For In-Person participants, a system-generated link will be sent to you. This link will allow you to download a QR Code, which you should present at the event venue’s entrance.
Participants who have chosen the Online option will receive a link to join the Sessions 24 hours before the Summit begins.
Once you have completed the registration and payment process, you should expect to receive a confirmation email or message. This communication will serve as proof of your registration and may contain additional event details, including the QR Code link for In-Person participants.
Prepare for the Event: After registering, be sure to mark the event dates on your calendar to ensure you don’t miss any important sessions or activities.
We look forward to welcoming you at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023.
What do I need to attend the Summit?
In person participants needs to produce the QR Code saved on your mobile phone, i-Pad or a printed copy at the Entrance to the Summit Venue.
How can I ask a Question at the Summit?
Instructions for submitting questions on Day 2 of the Summit will be provided later.
Who do I contact for Questions?
We are glad to assist you, if you need any further clarifications. Please forward us with an E-mail – events@chamber.lk or call us on 011 5588852 or 011 5588882