SOUTH ASIA IN THE ASIAN CENTURY (SAAC)

For a pragmatic strategic vision for south Asian prosperity through economic integration

The inaugural ceremony of the 12th South Asian Economic Student’s Meet hosted by the department of Economics, University of Colombo in collaboration with World Bank was held on yesterday (03/04/2016), in Committee room A, BMICH, Colombo. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau was co-sponsored the event providing a platform for ‘future economists’ in the region to enhance their understanding of the economic issues and problems of the region by interacting with their fellow undergraduates in the region.

Mr. Malraj Kiriella, Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority lighting the oil lamp at the inaugural ceremony of South Asian Economic Student’s Meet.

The South Asian Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM) is an annual regional ‘mini economic summit’ of Economic Undergraduates in South Asian countries. This conference is hosted by the department of economics of leading universities in South Asia: University of Delhi, University of Dhaka, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Thribhuwan University, Kabul University, Royal Thimpu College and University of Colombo. The event was attended by 250 undergraduate students from Sri Lanka (170) and other South Asian Countries (80). This year the conference activities were lined up under the theme of “South Asia in the Asian Century” addressing the future economists in the South Asian Region.

The distinguish guests of the conference lighting the traditional oil lamp.

The SAESM provides an invaluable opportunity for undergraduate scholars to meet their co-fellows from other South Asian countries, to interact with them and to learn from each other, in addition to building their capacity in research and conference presentations at an international level. The forum of economics undergraduates in South Asia will provide an opportunity for undergraduates to emerge as future leaders to manage development and co-operation in the region.

Foreign Students & lecturers of the South Asian Region participating the event.

Sri Lanka Tourism achieved a significant growth of 1.8Million tourist arrivals and stepping ahead in achieving 2.2 Million Tourist arrivals with 3.6 Billion US$ foreign exchange to Sri Lanka in 2016. An also the destination was recommended by many international institutes and societies as one of the best places to visit in the year 2016. Sri Lanka Tourism expects to address the future economist in South Asian Region along with the national stake holders and specially the investors to promote Sri Lanka during 2016 throughout this event.

Foreign participant addressing the forum in BMICH, Committee room A.

The University also collaborates with the World Bank – the Main Corporate Sponsor of the event. The co-sponsors include organizations from the public and private sectors as well as the University of Colombo and its students. The event will be continued till 05^th April 2016.