‘India Calling’ forum set to unlock bilateral trade and investment barriers

Monday, 20 July 2026 05:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In a major push to redefine economic ties between Sri Lanka and India, the Lanka India Business Association (LIBA) has announced the highly anticipated corporate forum, ‘India Calling.’

Scheduled for 6 August at Taj Samudra, Colombo, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, the full-day event is designed to bridge commercial gaps, unpack regulatory friction, and establish a framework for shared cross-border prosperity.

The LIBA is hosting the forum to actively catalyse deeper private sector integration, moving bilateral talks from policy theory into actionable investment corridors. The event arrives at a critical juncture as Sri Lanka actively recalibrates its macroeconomic framework and eyes stronger integration with the Indian market.

The forum boasts an extraordinary line-up of keynote speakers flying in from India to address critical facets of the economic relationship:

Montek Singh Ahluwalia: The former Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission and a key architect of India’s 1991 economic reforms, Ahluwalia will discuss India’s massive economic transformation, and the specific structural lessons Sri Lanka can adopt to drive its own recovery.
Professor C. Raja Mohan: One of India’s leading foreign policy strategists and academics, Prof. Mohan will present on the geopolitical necessity of “shared prosperity” as a sustainable, long-term strategy for regional stability.
Devdutt Pattanaik: The renowned mythologist, author, and corporate consultant will offer an unconventional perspective, breaking down the “Monsoon Market Myth” to explain how deep-rooted cultural narratives shape consumer behaviour and market dynamics in South Asia.

The media landscape will also be represented by leading Indian journalists. These include Asian News International (ANI) Editor-in-Chief Smita Prakash, known for her extensive political reporting, and WION Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, who has covered global geopolitics and foreign affairs extensively.

Beyond the headliners, the forum will feature an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan and Indian panellists, combining the practical grit of corporate lawyers, diplomatic tact of former ambassadors, strategic vision of political leaders, and sharp insights from think-tank scholars and media professionals. Discussions will also explore the role of youth in regional integration, the current investment landscape, and practical ways to reduce bureaucratic and economic barriers to trade.

Tickets are limited and expected to sell out quickly. Corporate delegates and interested professionals can reserve their seats and purchase tickets directly through the official booking link: https://indiacalling.rush.lk/.