Gamani Corea Foundation (GCF) was set up by the late Dr Gamani Corea on February 10, 2000, as a foundation to take further his passion for development globally, with particular emphasis on Sri Lanka. The GCF is an autonomous non-profit institute that aims to promote development-related economic research, while being open to research from other social sciences, especially from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Its mission is to contribute to the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka and other low-income and middle-income countries through informed, independent and high-quality research. GCF perceives research as being more than a mere academic exercise; it is primarily a catalyst for the tangible socio-economic transformation of countries and societies.

Sri Lanka Economic Association
https://www.slea.lk/

The Gamani Corea Foundation and the Sri Lanka Economic Association jointly organized a public lecture titled “Sri Lanka’s Current Macroeconomic Policy Directions in the Context of Global Volatility” on 8 May 2026 at the Lighthouse Auditorium. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara, who presented an overview of Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic conditions, examining where the economy stood during the recent crisis period and its current trajectory toward stabilization and recovery. He also discussed prevailing global economic conditions and outlined the country’s current macroeconomic policy directions in the face of global volatility. The lecture was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Nisthar Cassim, Editor and CEO of the Daily FT. The panel featured Prof. O.G. Dayarathna Banda, Senior Professor in Economics at the University of Peradeniya and Director General of the National Institute of Education; Manjula de Silva, Honorary Board Director of the Gamani Corea Foundation and former CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; and Arani Rodrigo, Head of the Business Intelligence Unit of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The awards ceremony of the GCF Research Awards 2025–2026 Part II was held on 8 May 2026 at the Gamani Corea Foundation. The event marked the second set of awards presented under the current award cycle. Four research teams received research grants in recognition of their promising research proposals. The awards are intended to support research that contributes to Sri Lanka’s economic and social development through evidence-based policy insights and innovative ideas.

The Gamani Corea Foundation (GCF), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA), held the second seminar in their joint series on April 23, 2026, at the GCF headquarters. The session focused on a research study conducted under the GCF Research Awards 2024–2025 (Team Grant 02), examining the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of establishing a Special Economic Zone in Sri Lanka’s Northern Region. The research paper was co-presented by Prof. O.G. Dayaratna Banda, Senior Professor in Economics, and Dr. Malini Balamayura, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, from the University of Peradeniya. The discussion highlighted key structural and policy-related barriers to establishing an SEZ in the Northern Region, while also outlining the potential economic gains. The seminar brought together a diverse audience of academics, researchers, economists, and practitioners, facilitating a productive exchange of ideas and contributing to ongoing dialogue on strategies for inclusive and sustainable economic development in Sri Lanka.