Gamini Sarath Godakanda

As the development strategy under the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Mahinda Chintana election manifesto is primarily based on the implementation of the five-hub programme, the Pathfinder Foundation has organized its 22^nd Public Sanvada on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Fiscal Policy and Finance Sector Reform: Towards Making Sri Lanka a Financial and Commercial HubƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This public seminar will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on the 29^th of July 2010 from 2:30 p.m. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 5:30 p.m. The main presentation will be made by Mr. W A Wijewardena, former Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Development of Sri Lanka as a Financial and Commercial Hub.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ His presentation will mainly focus on the policy reforms required to make Sri Lanka attractive to foreign capital and financial institutions.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The other interventions include, financial sector specialist Mr. Murtaza Jafferjee, President of Chartered Finance Analyst of Sri Lanka and CEO of JB Securities Ltd on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Need to Focus on Total Factor Productivity in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, and Mr. Nisthar Cassim, Editor of the Daily FT on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-A Perspective from the Financial Press.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Following these presentations Dr. Anura Ekanayake, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will present the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Private Sector PerspectiveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ on driving Sri Lanka towards a regional financial and commercial hub.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ After these presentations the floor will be open for an in depth discussion on relevant issues and policy recommendations to be made to the government. This session will be chaired by Mr. W A Wijewardena himself.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Pathfinder Foundation requests interested participants to register with them in advance through e-mail to pm@pathfinderfoundation.org or phone 2 596281 due to limited seating capacity.