### GCF and SLEA Partner for 2026 Economic Policy 📈

The Gamani Corea Foundation (GCF) and the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) have officially announced a strategic collaboration for 2026 to drive national economic discourse and policy development. • Conference Kick-off: The partnership commenced with the SLEA’s Annual International Conference on February 6, focused on the theme _"Transforming the Services Sector for Economic Recovery in Sri Lanka."_ • Sector Focus: Discussions centered on the services sector, which contributes over 60% of Sri Lanka’s GDP, emphasizing its role in value addition, employment, and foreign exchange generation. • Institutional Synergy: As part of the agreement, SLEA council meetings will be hosted at the GCF (Horton Lodge), reviving the tradition of the late Dr. Gamani Corea in hosting intellectual forums for policy reform. • Strategic Objective: The collaboration aims to function as an independent think tank, translating empirical research into actionable policy briefs for the government’s 2026-2030 Public Investment Program. • Historical Links: The partnership reinforces a long-standing connection; Dr. Gamani Corea was the Founder President of SLEA, and prominent economists like Dr. Nimal Sanderatne and the late Dr. Saman Kelegama have led both institutions. _Summary based on official announcements as of February 16, 2026._