SLEA/OPA seminar on Budget 2007

SEMINAR: The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) will hold its annual seminar on the Government Budget jointly with the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka at the OPA Auditorium from 5.00 p.m. on November 20.

SLEA and OPA have jointly organised the Seminar so that distinguished speakers will review the Budget 2007 from several different perspectives. The Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Chairman of Hatton National Bank Rienzie Wijetilleke and the Chairman of DSI Group of Companies Kulatunga Rajapakse will be the main speakers.

Economics Consultant Dr. Harsha de Silva, will be the discussant. The seminar will be chaired by President of SLEA Prof. A. D. V. de S. Indraratna.

The seminar is expected to examine whether the budget has addressed the major problems faced by the economy, such as inadequate growth, unemployment and inflation, on the internal front and the burden of external debt, growing debt service ratio and the current account deficit, on the external front, in order to direct the economy to achieve sustained economic development and the alleviation of poverty.

The presentations will also examine the implications of the Budget 2007 on macro-economic stability including fiscal and BOP deficits, promoting capital accumulation and growth, private sector investments, reduction of regional disparities, accelerated development of infrastructure, raising labor productivity and the elaboration of policy agenda for carrying out urgent reforms needed to accelerate growth.

The review of the Government Budget 2007 has been structured to benefit professional economists, research students both graduate and undergraduate and the public having an interest in economics and the political economy. This seminar is the third in the series of public lectures and seminars planned to be conducted by SLEA under its programme of events calendar for 2006/2007.

The number of participants will be limited to 125, and registration will be on a first come first served basis.

Enquiries from Administrative Officer, Sri Lanka Economic Association, SLAAS Building, 120/10 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.