On November 2, 2022, the Globalisation and Development (GAD) Programme, in the context of the Department's "Social Sciences for the Globalised and Digital World Lecture Series", had the honour of hosting the lecture of an internationally renowned guest - Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, former Governor of the Sri Lankan Central Bank (2016-2019).

During this special event, which saw the participation of many students and faculty members - including Dr. Edoardo Monaco (GAD Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Social Sciences) who facilitated and moderated the event - Dr. Coomaraswamy presented the audience with a uniquely comprehensive and highly informative first-hand analysis of historical root causes, proximate causes and effects of the recent Sri Lankan economic crisis.

Dr. Coomaraswamy highlighted the role that structural macro-economic reforms would need to play in the country's road towards a sound and sustainable recovery, as well as the importance of multilateralism, globalisation and market openness in favouring consistent growth in both Sri Lanka and across the Global South as a whole.

He also stressed the crucially beneficial role that, in particular, Chinese investment has been playing in the country, expressing the wish that this would continue and even grow further in the future.

He provided attendees with precious first-hand insights and interesting anecdotes emerging from a long career spent in policymaking and in providing economic advisory services at national and intergovernmental levels within the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance, the Sri Lankan Central Bank as well as the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Students and faculty members attending the event asked various questions during the Q&A session, including Dr.Selçuk Çolakoğlu (GAD Associate Professor)、Chaofan Chen (GAD year-4 student) 、Hongshang Liang (GAD year-3 student)、Jiawei Chen (GAD year-4 student) and Yuguo Wang (GAD year-1 student). Facing enthusiastic questions from students, Dr. Coomaraswamy graciously extended so as to accommodate the audience's fervent curiosity.

The GAD Programme and the Department of Social Sciences as whole wish to thank Dr. Coomaraswamy, a highly sought-after public speaker, for taking the time to address our academic community.