📈 SLEA International Conference to Chart Path for Services-Led Growth

The Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) will host its Annual International Conference on February 6-7, 2026, focusing on "Transforming the Services Sector for Economic Revival." The event aims to transition Sri Lanka from basic service delivery to high-value, knowledge-based exports. • Sector Impact: The services sector contributes over 60% to Sri Lanka's GDP and is identified as the primary driver for value addition and economic restructuring. • Key Focus Areas: • ICT/BPM & AI: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to modernize traditional service models and enhance global competitiveness. • Tourism & Hospitality: Shifting focus to "Tourism Economics" to increase value-per-visitor and ensure equitable wealth distribution to the rural economy. • Finance: Proposing resilient frameworks for banking and regulatory governance as debt restructuring reaches advanced stages in 2026. • Education: Addressing the skills mismatch in Human Capital to prepare the workforce for a globalized, modern services economy. • Strategic Goal: The conference will produce actionable policy briefs to guide the Government’s Public Investment Program (PIP) for 2026–2030, leveraging current macroeconomic stability for an export-oriented recovery. • Event Details: Inauguration at BMICH (Feb 6) featuring PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; technical sessions at the University of Colombo (Feb 7).