Sri Lanka to host SAES in September

Sara Pathirana

The South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) will be held for the first time in the country from September 2-4, since its inauguration six years ago in Sri Lanka. The summit is being hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a recognized and leading economic policy research organization in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Saman Kelegama of IPS receiving the CarbonNeutral certification from S. Wijeyeratne of Carbon Consulting.

This event would host a number of distinguished experts from academic backgrounds, civil society and the private sector related to this region of study. The main focus of this summit would be highlighted on decisive issues facing the current economies and people of the South Asian countries in relation with environmental and climate changes.

IPS worked in partnership with the Carbon Consulting Company (CCC) to obtain the 'CarbonNeutral event' certification from the CarbonNeutral Company, UK.

"When IPS approached us on this unique initiative, we immediately lent our support and this would be Sri Lanka's first CarbonNeutral Conference and demonstrates a real commitment to this agenda," Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, IPS said.

"This year's significance would be placed on the environmental realities being faced around us and focus would pertain to minimize the carbon footprint," Anushka Wijesinha, Research Economist, IPS acknowledged.

According to the Carbon Consulting Company, who is in alliance with the initiation of the event, as Sri Lanka was chosen to host this year's event as the country is focusing on good incentives of promoting MICE tourism, which attracts large groups of visitors towards an intensively planned event.

The concept of minimizing the carbon footprint is not being followed in the right framework. The South Asian region is the least economically integrated in the world. IPS was the first institute in the country to have brought forth the publication of climate change issues in Sri Lanka.

The summit theme for this year being "Towards a Stronger, Dynamic and Inclusive South Asia", the discussions during the three day event will showcase the significant aspects that the South Asian regions need to strengthen their economic growth prospects while managing risks and challenges.

The summit is expected to host around 120 foreign delegates from around the world and a televised debate on regional economic incorporation is scheduled. "This summit is of paramount significance and to make this international event a success, collaborative measures towards good standards are important.

Calculating an organizations carbon footprint is becoming more and more essential and Sri Lanka too has to be able to regionally accomplish such initiatives attentively," S. Wijeyeratne, Chief Operating Officer, Carbon Consulting said.

"Climate change is a critical issue for all countries in this region and and we are happy that the CCC is partnering with us to bring in a sustainability focus to this important event and certify it as CarbonNeutral," Kelegama added.

"We would be introducing an 'opt-in' scheme where foreign delegates could choose to contribute to offsetting their own carbon footprint as it is vital that we logically influence individuals who participate in international events like these to minimize their use of plastic and other stimulus that are potential attributes that make an environmental impact, through accommodation in hotels, domestic transportation and conference material," Wijesinha added.