HYDEPARK

As the 2024 Presidential election approaches, ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte' featured Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer from the University of Jaffna and a renowned expert on Sri Lanka's political economy, to explore the critical economic policies Sri Lanka must adopt to navigate the country’s worst economic crisis since independence. Dr. Kadirgamar discusses the root causes of...

The Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indra Mani Pandey says the seven member states of the association are collectively working towards realizing their Sustainable Development Goals. Joining this week's episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte' the Secretary General of BIMSTEC, discussed the importance...

Joining this week's episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte' the World Bank's Chief Economist for South Asia, Franziska Ohnsorge discussed key indicators outlined in the recent release of the Sri Lanka Development Update, titled "Bridge to Recovery”. She highlighted several positive developments, such as easing inflation, increased revenues due to new fiscal policies and a...

Dr. Pramod Varma, Co-Chair of the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure in India, explains the fundamentals of a Digital ID, which Sri Lanka also plans to introduce. He spoke of how the Indian government streamlined the process of providing government aid to the general public through the digital ID. Joining ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, Dr. Varma, who led India’s ‘Aadhar’ Digital ID p...

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Eran Wickramaratne says the main opposition is ready for any election, and commended the President's statement on holding Presidential election first. Commenting on possible alliances, MP WIckramaratne said that the SJB is continuing discussions with all interested stakeholders. Joining 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, MP Wickramaratne said that a merger wit...

I STAND FOR A UNITED, UNDIVIDED INDIVISIBLE SRI LANKA - M A SUMANTHIRAN 'AT HYDE PARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE' MP of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi M.A. Sumanthiran, says that his party is ready to work with any President in office but, solving the Tamil national question will remain a priority. Joining 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte,' MP Sumanthiran discussed at length the ongoi...

In this episode of 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte, Carol Spahn, the Director of Peace Corps, who is in Sri Lanka, to oversee the swearing in of 20 Peace Corps Volunteers from the United States discuss the educational program that is set to be implemented in the country. The 25th group of Peace Corps volunteers are set to embark on a two-year service journey as English teachers in the Cen...

Veteran cinematographer Chandran Rutnam asserts that the film industry is one of the top five revenue generators globally and that it can be a major source of income for Sri Lanka, if essential infrastructure facilities are in place. Joining 'At HydePark' with Indeewari Amuwatte, the filmmaker highlighted that, Sri Lanka must promote and invest in iconic locations of the country featured i...

Joining ‘At Hydepark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki says his country expects an early conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on debt treatment between Sri Lanka and the Official Creditor Committee - co-chaired by Japan, France, and India, adding that debt restructuring is a crucial step for Sri Lanka to restore the island nation’s debt sustainab...

Former Foreign Secretary of India Ambassador Shyam Saran explained that India’s support rendered towards Sri Lanka's economic recovery has no strings attached adding that "what India offers to Sri Lanka is either on grant or credit at low rate". Speaking to Indeewari Amuwatte during the current affairs programme ‘At HydePark’ on Ada Derana 24 during his visit to Sri Lanka in ... 2023...

Public Policy Analyst and President of the Institute for 21st Century Questions Dr. Irvin Studin pointed out that the closure of schools in Sri Lanka during the period of the COVID_19 pandemic, was one of the longest in the world, Sri Lanka should ensure that schools are run with high energy. Speaking to Indeewari Amuwatte during the current affairs programme 'At HydePark' on Ada Derana 24...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark', officials of the International Monetary Fund on a staff visit to Sri Lanka, joined Indeewari Amuwatte for an exclusive discussion on Sri Lanka’s crisis recovery process and beyond. IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Peter Breuer said the macro-economy is showing signs of recovery, however the current stability in the Sri Lankan economy is yet to reach the...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, veteran civil servant Austin Fernando discusses the crucial incidents leading to an escalation of the civil war in Sri Lanka and the historic events of the country's political landscape. Elaborating on the social unrest that began with the passing of the Official Language Act of 1956 and the 1983 Black July riots, the former public admi...

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe highlighted the importance of restructuring the country's debt, noting that it paved the path for lower debt servicing obligations by the government, thereby enabling the private sector to have more access to credit and resources essential for growth. During his first interview with Indeewari Amuwatte 'At HydePark' following the IMF's...

SRI LANKA MUST HAVE INNOVATIVE EDUCATION - DR. BANDULA WIJAY ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’ On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, Sri Lanka's Ambassador for Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Bandula Wijay discussed how entrepreneurship and innovation can support Sri Lanka's progress and path to recovery. Dr. Wijay said, the main change must take place in the...

INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER GOPAL BAGLAY JOINS ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’ On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, outgoing Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay discusses the vision for the advancement in bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India, with the anticipated economic growth of India. Indian envoy to Sri Lanka says India does not have any strings attached t...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, former Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund to Sri Lanka, Dr. Nadeem Ul Haque and Professor in Economics at University of Colombo, S. P. Premaratne discuss Sri Lanka’s ongoing debt restructuring process, tax reforms and how the economy should modernise to face challenges of the future “. Former IMF Resident Representat...

On this episode of 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte', an eminent panel of experts on Taxation discuss how Sri Lanka’s tax policy should be structured. Principal of the Tax & Regulatory Division of KPMG Suresh Perera points out that Sri Lanka must address tax policy and differentiate taxes according to an industry priority mechanism to reap the best tax income for the government, wi...

FORMER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA DR. ROSHAN PERERA WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE ‘AT HYDEPARK’ ON ADA DERANA 24 The Former Director of the Central Bank, Dr. Roshan Perera supports the view that Sri Lanka’s Budget 2024 mainly focuses on continuing the macroeconomic stability that Sri Lanka has achieved over the past few months. Dr. Perera also noted that through the proposed budget, the gover...

Member of the Federal Parliament in Nepal and Economist Dr. Swarnim Waglé commended measures taken by Sri Lankan authorities to engage bilaterally with countries outside the South Asian Region to gain preferential trade access. During his visit in Sri Lanka, Dr. Waglé joined a discussion with Indeewari Amuwatte on the current affairs programme 'At HydePark’ on Ada Derana 24 where he outlined t...

On this episode of 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte', World Bank's Director for South Asia Regional Integration and Engagement Cecile Fruman, Former Foreign Secretary of India Shyam Saran and Group CEO of Hemas Holdings Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson, discuss Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis and Opportunities in South Asia. The former Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was of the view...

SRI LANKA AIR FORCE COMMANDER AIR MARSHAL UDENI RAJAPAKSA WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE 'AT HYDEPARK'    Sri Lanka's Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa confirmed that the air force will start commercial manufacturing of drones by next year as an alternative method to bring in more revenue to the country. He further said that the force has collaborated with the Arthur C Clark In...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris (PC) and Media Analyst Nalaka Gunawardene discuss a gazette issued in Sri Lanka on the Online Safety bill and how it may affect free speech and investments to the Information Industries in Sri Lanka.   President's Counsel Saliya Pieris said, the gazetted bill will restri...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange Dilshan Wirasekara, Member of the State Owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit Mangala Yapa and Former CEO of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Manjula De Silva discuss Sri Lanka’s ongoing SOE divestment process and the way forward. CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara, explaining the creation of a separate listing...

On this episode of ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, Chairman of the Export Development Board Dr. Kingsley Bernard and President of the Coconut Milk Manufacturers’ Association Randeewa Malalasooriya discuss Sri Lanka’s export potential and opportunities for the coconut industry. EDB Chief Dr. Kingsley Bernard pointed out that Sri Lanka is opening up new market opportunities for exporters thro...