Saturday Oct 17, 2026
Saturday Oct 17, 2026
Saturday, 17 October 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL) has organised a two-day undergraduate seminar titled “Sri Lanka and the Belt and Road Initiative: Building Synergies for Sustainable Development” to be held on 19 and 20 October at Amari Colombo.
The seminar will bring together 25 undergraduate students from the University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and University of Kelaniya, representing the disciplines of Economics, Business Economics, International Relations, and International Studies.
The initiative aims to deepen students’ understanding of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its implications for Sri Lanka’s economic development, and emerging opportunities in trade, investment, infrastructure, connectivity, and international cooperation.
The two-day program will feature discussions led by distinguished academics, diplomats, and development experts, including Professor Sirimal Abeyratne, Dr. George I. H. Cooke, Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage, Dr. Palitha T. B. Kohona and Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara.
BRISL Director Maya Majueran will deliver a presentation titled “High Quality BRI and Sri Lanka: Unlocking New Pathways for Sustainable Development.”
The sessions will explore the historical and diplomatic dimensions of the BRI, Sri Lanka’s strategic autonomy in the Indian Ocean, development financing, debt restructuring, economic opportunities, and human resource development.
A key feature of the seminar will be educational visits to Huawei Technologies Lanka, Port City Colombo, and Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), offering participants firsthand exposure to digital technologies, major infrastructure investments, port operations, and Sri Lanka’s evolving role as a regional trade and logistics hub.
The program is designed to bridge academic learning with practical experience while encouraging informed discussion of both the opportunities and challenges associated with the BRI.
Participants will be nominated by their respective universities based on academic merit, ensuring meaningful engagement among undergraduate students.
The seminar will conclude with a certificate presentation and closing dinner on 20 October, attended by representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka.
Through this initiative, BRISL seeks to strengthen academic engagement, encourage knowledge sharing, and provide young Sri Lankans with greater exposure to international economic cooperation and sustainable development opportunities.
This version is written as a pre-event news release, since the seminar is scheduled for 19–20 October. It also makes clear that participation is through university nominations rather than public registration.
