Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara

Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara is the Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, overseeing the price stability cluster. From January 2022 to February 2024, he represented the constituency comprising Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan as the Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prior to his IMF tenure, he was the Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Dr. Amarasekara holds a PhD and MSc in Economics from the University of Manchester and a BA in Economics from the University of Peradeniya. Additionally, he is a qualified attorney-at-law.

Session by Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara

Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake

Professor Lakshman Dissanayake is a former Senior Professor of Demography at the University of Colombo, where he has made significant contributions to research and education on population dynamics, fertility, mortality, aging, and migration. Prof. Dissanayake has held several key academic and administrative positions, including Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Rector, and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate studies and Director of the Colombo University Community Extension Centre. His research focuses on the socio-economic and cultural implications of demographic changes, particularly in South Asia, and he has been a vocal advocate for evidence-based policy-making in addressing population challenges. As an influential voice in his field, Prof. Dissanayake has published extensively in peer- reviewed journals and has presented his work at numerous international conferences. His leadership and academic contributions have earned him recognition both locally and globally, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in demography and higher education.

Session by Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake

Census department

Session by Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake

Professor Stephan Dercon

Professor Stefan Dercon is a prominent economist and development expert specializing in the intersection of economics, public policy, and international development. He is a Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and the Economics Department at the University of Oxford, where he focuses on designing and evaluating strategies to foster economic growth, reduce poverty, and build resilience in low-income countries. With a background in development economics, Dercon has advised governments, international organizations, and NGOs on evidence-based policy-making. He previously served as the Chief Economist at the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where he provided strategic leadership on development policy. His research spans a wide range of topics, including risk and poverty, the role of institutions in economic development, and the dynamics of inequality. Dercon is the author of several influential publications, including Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose. Known for his pragmatic approach, he bridges the gap between academic insights and practical solutions, making significant contributions to global development.

Session by Professor Stephan Dercon

Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy

Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy is a renowned Sri Lankan economist and policymaker with a distinguished career spanning several decades in public service, international development, and central banking. He served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 2016 to 2019, where he was instrumental in steering the country's monetary and financial policies through challenging economic conditions. Dr. Coomaraswamy holds academic qualifications from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sussex, specializing in economics and development. Before his tenure as Governor, he held senior positions at the Commonwealth Secretariat, focusing on economic development and governance, and served in Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance and Planning. Known for his expertise and pragmatic approach, Dr. Coomaraswamy has significantly contributed to Sri Lanka’s financial and economic stability. He is widely respected for his ability to blend academic insight with practical solutions to complex economic challenges.

Session by Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy

Mr. Ruchira Vithana

Sessions by Mr. Ruchira Vithana

Mr. Pushpike Jayasundara

Mr. Pushpike Jayasundara is the Director/General Manager of the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka, bringing over 29 years of experience in the banking and non-bank financial institution (NBFI) sector. He specializes in Business Process Reengineering (BPR), process transformation, digitalization, and office automation. Pushpike was a key figure in launching the leasing operations at Union Bank, where he played an integral role in developing the bank’s IT platform, which included an online credit approval system and a fully automated General Ledger (GL) module. As the head of the commercial credit department, he successfully managed a wide array of functions, including corporate banking, trade finance, operations, risk assessment, credit management, and recovery, building a highly profitable lending portfolio. He holds a Masters in Business Administration specialized in Finance from Sikim Manipal University and a finalist of Charted Institute of Management Accountants UK. He is also a member of Institute of Commercial Management UK and currently reading for his MPhil/PhD in Economics at University of Colombo.

Session by Mr. Pushpike Jayasundara

Mr. Maurizio Bussolo

Maurizio Bussolo, lead economist in the Chief Economist Office for South Asia, has been working on quantitative analyses of economic policy and development with research interests spanning both micro and macroeconomic topics. At the World Bank, he also worked in the Chief Economist Office for Europe and Central Asia and in the Development Economics Prospects Group; and he led operational teams in the aftermath of the 2008-09 crisis negotiating with Latin American and Caribbean governments the implementation of reforms to shield the most vulnerable. Before joining the World Bank in 2003, Bussolo worked at the OECD, at the Overseas Development Institute in London, and at Fedesarrollo and the Los Andes University in Colombia. He has extensively published in peer-reviewed journals on trade, growth, poverty and income distribution. Some of his recent publications include ‘Toward a New Social Contract’, ‘Golden Aging: Prospects for Healthy, Active, and Prosperous Aging’ and ‘The Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Poverty and Income Distribution’. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Warwick.

Session by Mr. Maurizio Bussolo

Mr. Sudharaka Ariyaratna

Sudaraka Ariyaratne is an economist presently reading for a PhD in Economics at Rice University. He holds a BA in Economics from New York University. Sudaraka has authored two comprehensive reports on the tea and gaming industries of Sri Lanka for Advocata Institute. His doctoral research focuses on the persistent developmental effects of historical agricultural institutions on the economic outcomes of Sri Lankans in the present day.

Session by Mr. Sudharaka Ariyaratna

Mr. Senura Abeywardena

Session by Mr. Senura Abeywardena

Mr. Arun Ashok

Session by Mr. Arun Ashok

Mr. Jiffry Zulfer

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of PickMe, Jiffry Zulfer is a startup entrepreneur with a background in information communication technology (ICT), Business, and Accounting. With a proven track record for establishing and successfully running several technology-based ventures, Zulfer has earned himself a name as a respected peer amongst the experts of Sri Lanka’s ICT scape. As a young professional, he was the recipient of the FCCL Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2004 and the ICTA Young IT Professional Award in 2006. Proving his knowledge and expertise in Business Zulfer Jiffry marked a significant milestone in his career, launching Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PVT) Ltd. — PickMe, Sri Lanka's first app-based ride-hailing platform in 2015, becoming the company’s Founder and CEO. In recognition of his talent as a driving force in technopreneurship, he was awarded a Silver under the Extra Large Category, at the FCCISL Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2018. The overall Silver & Gold Award in the e-commerce category - BestWeb.lk 2012, for Anything. lk and overall winner - BestWeb.lk 2013 - for Anything. lk, and recognition at the Great CISO awards 2013 is among the many accolades he has won.

Session by Mr. Jiffry Zulfer

Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya

Session by Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya

Dr. Jan Mischke

Dr. Jan Mischke is a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey’s business and economics research arm, based in Zurich. Since 2010, he has led MGI’s research on productivity and prosperity. This includes topics ranging from regional and country competitiveness and growth, particularly in Europe, to infrastructure, construction, and real estate, to global wealth and balance sheet health. Jan is a frequent speaker on these topics as well as on broader global trends. Most recently, he is the co-author of Investing in productivity growth, an MGI report published in March 2024.

Session by Dr. Jan Mischke

Mr. Charitha Subasinghe

Charitha Subasinghe is responsible for the Retail industry sector of the John Keells Group which includes supermarkets, Office Automation and Automotive industries. He has been with the John Keells Group since 2003. He was the Sector Financial Controller of the Supermarket business, before being appointed as the CEO in 2005. He was also employed at Aitken Spence Hotel Management as the Sector Financial Controller before moving over to John Keells. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) as well as a Diploma Holder of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). He also holds an MBA from the University of Colombo. Charitha is a Non-Executive Director of Nations Trust Bank PLC and is also the President of the Sri Lanka Retail Association.

Session by Mr. Charitha Subasinghe

Mr. Hishan Singhawansa

Session by Mr. Hishan Singhawansa

Mr. Miller Alexander Rajendran

Miller Rajendran, a computer science graduate from the University of Jaffna, is a tech enthusiast and an entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of SenzAgro Solutions, an internationally recognized agritech company based in Sri Lanka. SenzAgro has transformed traditional farming practices by leveraging locally developed, cutting-edge technology to enhance productivity and sustainability. Miller is a passionate advocate for startup ecosystems, social enterprises, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). He is highly regarded for his efforts in advancing SDG initiatives and nurturing entrepreneurial spirit among students at schools and universities across the country. His groundbreaking work in sustainable agriculture has garnered numerous international honours, including the SLUSH Global Impact Accelerator (GIA) award, recognition from Climate Launchpad, and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Land Restoration award. In 2021, Miller was named a Youth Climate Ambassador for the World Bank Group. He also represented the Youth Impact Panel at the FAO World Food Forum in Rome in 2024, highlighting his unwavering commitment to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.

Session by Mr. Miller Alexander Rajendran

Eng. Dhammika Deshapriya Silva

Eng. Dhammika Deshapriya Silva is the General Manager and Head of Structural Designs at Access Engineering PLC, Sri Lanka. With over 20 years of experience in civil and structural engineering, he specializes in designing bridges, flyovers, high-rise buildings, and marine structures, leveraging expertise in value engineering, FEM analysis, CAD, and BIM modeling. He has collaborated with contractors and consultants from more than 12 countries and has contributed to major private and government sector projects. A graduate of the University of Moratuwa with a BSc. Eng (Hons) and MSc in Structural Engineering, he is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (FIESL) and an International Professional Engineer (Int. PEng. SL). Eng. Silva has served on professional panels and earned recognition, including the "Most Outstanding Employee" award at Access Engineering PLC, for his leadership in delivering complex engineering projects.

Session by Eng. Dhammika Deshapriya Silva

Anna Twum

Anna is an economist with the World Bank Group working in South Asia. Anna worked most recently in the East Asia Pacific and West Africa regions where she has worked on a broad array of economic policy issues. Prior to joining the World Bank as a Young Professional, Anna worked on trade, industrial and tax policy specifically looking at ways regional and global trade linkages and policies can support export-oriented growth. Notably, Anna worked as a Country Economist at the International Growth Center (IGC) working on trade and industrial policy. Prior to the IGC, she worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where her work focused on macroeconomic economic analysis and capacity development. Anna has also worked on projects with the Brookings Institution and the United Nations Economic Commission. She holds an MPA (Economics and Public Policy degree) from Princeton University and has published in the World Trade Review and Africa Journal of Economics.

Session by Eng. Dhammika Deshapriya Silva