The conference was held on 7th and 8th May at Cinnamon Grand was organized by Centre for Poverty Analysis in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and ODI Global. The conference featured 18 thematic sessions that explored a broad range of development challenges and policy issues shaping Sri Lanka’s future.
Discussions covered economic systems and policy, systemic resilience, poverty and political economy, macro governance, social protection, climate systems, climate and livelihoods, gender and youth agency, trade liberalisation and free trade agreements, educational inequality, artificial intelligence, technology and digital inclusion, urban poverty, food security and sustainable agriculture, employment and livelihoods, governance gaps, social vulnerability and policy, and skills for the future.
The conference also provided a platform for emerging scholars through the Young Researchers’ Platform (YRP), which showcased research on economic growth, transformation, and community impact. Together, these sessions fostered interdisciplinary dialogue and generated insights to inform more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development pathways.