Launch of the Report and Discussion on ‘More and Better Jobs in South Asia: Sri Lankan Perspectives’

Launch of the Report and Discussion on ‘More and Better Jobs in South Asia: Sri Lankan Perspective took place on 1st March 2012 at the IPS Auditorium. The event was jointly organized by the World Bank and IPS.

Dr.Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, IPS, delivered the Welcome Remarks. Introductory Remarks were made by Diarietou Gaye, Country Director (Sri Lanka), World Bank. Chief Guest at the occasion was Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation. Reema Nayar, Lead Economist, South Asia Region, World Bank made a keynote presentation on “More and Better Jobs in South Asia”.

There were two sessions to the discussion. Session I was on ‘More and Better Jobs in Sri Lanka: Creating a Better Business Environment’, chaired by, Anushka Wijesinha, Research Economist, IPS.

Panelists were Suresh De Mel, Entrepreneur, and Immediate Past Chairman, Business for Peace Alliance (BPA), Anura Ekanayake, Immediate Past Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Governing Board Member, IPS, B.M.S. Batagoda, Director General, Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance and Planning .Session II on ‘More and Better Jobs in Sri Lanka: Creating Better Labour Market Conditions’ was chaired by Susan Razzaz, Senior Country Economist, WB. Panelists were Ravi Peiris, Director General, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Leslie Devendra, General Secretary, Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, W.A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sunil Wijesinha, Chairman, Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC.

Closing Remarks were made by Kalpana Kochhar, Chief Economist, South Asia Region, World Bank. This programme was streamed live via ips.lk.

PDF : Programme

Highlights in the Media

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120311/BusinessTimes/bt20.html
http://www.ft.lk/2012/03/12/more-and-better-jobs-policy-prescription-for-south-asia/
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=47202
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120129/BusinessTimes/bt08.html