Riding the Indian Wave: World’s Fifth Largest Economy on Sri Lanka’s Shores

A conference titled “Riding the Indian Wave: World’s Fifth Largest Economy on Sri Lanka’s Shores” was held at ITC Ratnadipa Hotel, Colombo.

Verite Research hosted the conference with the support of the High Commission of India, Colombo, and Hayleys Advantis.

In its three sessions, the day-long conference explored how Sri Lanka can strategically leverage its proximity and connectivity to India — an emerging global economic powerhouse — to enhance exports, attract investments, and drive sustainable economic recovery.

Setting the stage, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, delivered the welcome remarks, highlighting how India’s multi-sectoral advancements can contribute to regional prosperity.

He underlined the ‘India Opportunity’ for Sri Lanka, particularly in technology, logistics, and skill development.

This was followed by the keynote address by Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, who emphasized the special bonds between India and Sri Lanka as a unique strength for Sri Lanka to ride the wave of India’s emergence. Proposing joint ventures as the way forward, he identified entrepreneurs and innovators leading this shared pathway.

The hybrid conference saw over a hundred participants, including senior policymakers, industry leaders, economic experts, members of think tanks, and the media community from Sri Lanka and India.

The conference is another initiative by the High Commission of India to encourage and promote conversations at Track 1.5 and Track 2 levels further to enrich the canvas of the India-Sri Lanka partnership, engage the community on both sides in formulating the future roadmap, and enhance mutual trust and goodwill between the people of the two countries.