HYDEPARK

HYDEPARK

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HYDEPARK episodes

  • PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST DR. IRVIN STUDIN WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE ‘AT HYDEPARK’ ON ADA DERANA 24

    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, Dr. Studin was of the view that government has to take necessary measures to rectify the education loss due to the pandemic by considering the education of children as a national mission.
    This episode of 'At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte' was aired on Ada Derana 24 on 9 November 2023.

    29 min
  • RICH MUST PAY MORE TAXES, IMF’S PETER BREUER & SARWAT JAHAN ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’

    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 broader population.
    While highlighting the agreements reached in principle with China’s EXIM bank and the Official Creditor Committee to restructure the country’s debt as a major milestone, Breuer said the global lender expects Sri Lanka’s debt issues be solved within a couple of months to ensure that there are no complications when the second review of the IMF EFF programme is evaluated by its Executive Board.
    He said the IMF expects tax revenue to improve to 12% of GDP in 2024 and emphasized the importance of introducing property/wealth tax in order to minimise the tax burden on the majority of the population.
    Meanwhile, IMF Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Dr. Sarwat Jahan, who also joined the discussion ‘At HydePark with Indeewari Amuwatte’, said Sri Lanka should focus on implementing recommendations that were outlined in the Governance Diagnostic report, the first published by an Asian country with the technical support of the IMF.

    44 min
  • MISTAKES DROVE LANKA TO DIFFICULT SITUATIONS - AUSTIN FERNANDO ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’

    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 administrator pointed to the unavoidable responsibility of the civil war on former governments, administrators and politicians.
    Austin Fernando, who had served under 6 Sri Lankan Executive Presidents, added that the actions of politicians representing the minorities too contributed to escalating tensions and emphasized that public administrators who were in positions of power, should have done more to prevent some of the darkest episodes of Sri Lankan history.

    55 min
  • 2024 WILL HAVE MORE POSITIVITY - CBSL GOVERNOR DR. NANDALAL WEERASINGHE 'AT HYDEPARK'

    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 approval of the 2nd tranche of the Extended Fund Facility programme to Sri Lanka, the Central Bank Chief refuted claims that the Sri Lankan Government is imposing conditions set out by the International Monetary Fund.
    He said the reform programme implemented to overcome the crisis is fully owned by the Sri Lankan government and that the IMF is only monitoring progress to provide assurances that the programme is feasible.
    Speaking further, Dr. Weerasinghe assured the public that the country which was on the verge of collapsing is now on the right path and the year 2024 and beyond will have more positive results in terms of economic growth and stabilisation.

    46 min
  • SRI LANKA MUST HAVE INNOVATIVE EDUCATION - DR. BANDULA WIJAY ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’

    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 idea of education which should encourage creative and critical thinking enabling students to come up with innovations that can support themselves and the country.
    He further emphasized that the education system must encourage innovation by creating an environment where students get hands-on experience and guidance from innovators directly.
    Commenting on the current brain drain in the STEM career fields, Dr. Wijay said, despite the place or the sector students receive education from, the government must introduce a standard mechanism for all sectors to produce more professionals in the STEM fields while also retaining skills in the country.

    33 min
  • INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER GOPAL BAGLAY JOINS ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’

    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 to the assistance extended to Sri Lanka during crisis times and in the debt restructuring process, adding that the leaders of India are keen on protecting and strengthening ties with Sri Lanka.
    Further elaborating, the High Commissioner explained the areas in which India sees potential for investment- education, power and energy and transportation. He also commented on ongoing negotiations related to the bilateral Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement saying the two countries are focusing on expediting its implementation.
    Speaking on security concerns of the Indian Ocean region, High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said peace and security should be a shared responsibility of both nations.

    58 min
  • SRI LANKA MUST DECIDE WHAT IT WANTS TO BECOME - EXPERTS SPEAK ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’

    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 Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Nadeem Ul Haque said, the country should find alternatives and cut down subsidies for welfare and create opportunity for the economy to grow without considering the IMF bailout as a gift but a reform that needed to take place in the country.
    Further elaborating, Dr. Haque said, as a country recovering from crisis, Sri Lanka must look for ways to put the island in a position to attract foreign investment and take more risks in the recovering process.
    Also speaking to Indeewari Amuwatte, Professor in Economics at the University of Colombo, S. P. Premaratne said, the Sri Lankan government should also focus on non-conventional income methods without solely relying on the expected tax revenue in the coming years. He pointed out that data indicate a reduction in individual incomes due to the adverse effects on personal income and corporate income following the increase in VAT and income tax rates.

    50 min
  • DUMINDA HULANGAMUWA, N.R.GAJENDRAN & SURESH PERERA JOIN INDEEWARI AMUWATTE 'AT HYDEPARK'

    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, without having a uniform tax rate for all sectors which could be a disadvantage for certain industries.
    Perera said officers of the Inland Revenue Department should also be educated to understand different industry activities to make the tax collection mechanism more efficient.
    Meanwhile, Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young (Sri Lanka & Maldives) Duminda Hulangamuwa pointed out that Sri Lanka is not in a position to give different taxes to each industry as the country is in the middle of a debt restructuring process.
    Hulangamuwa is of the view that until Sri Lanka attains debt sustainability status through the IMF programme, there will be no room for economic growth as the country is unable to attract Foreign Direct Investment without credibility assured by the IMF.
    Meanwhile, Senior Partner of Gajma & Co. N. R. Gajendran noted that tax relief could be given if the investment expenses of the corporation can be identified.
    Gajendran said that since the government is expected to broaden its tax net in the year 2024, authorities should clarify the government's decision to include all citizens above 18 years of age in the tax net by making it mandatory to open Tax Identification Number files with the Inland Revenue Department.

    53 min
  • FORMER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA DR. ROSHAN PERERA

    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 government should also focus on providing more room for economic growth through the country's fiscal policy.
    Speaking to Indeewari Amuwatte at HydePark on Ada Derana, she further observed that, per the budget presented on November 13 regarding tax revenue, the challenging objective of achieving targets will be crucial to keep abreast with the International Monetary Fund's Extended Fund Facility.

    49 min
  • MEMBER OF NEPAL FEDERAL PARLIAMENT DR. SWARNIM WAGLÉ WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE 'AT HYDEPARK'

    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 the importance for Sri Lanka to fulfil promises made to the International Monetary Fund under the Extended Fund facility programme.
    He pointed out that adhering to IMF conditions will send out a clear sign to potential investors that Sri Lanka is deeply considering the implementation of crisis measures to bounce back.
    He said that it is the duty of the leadership in the country to explain to the people why the IMF is consulted and the reason for implementing unpopular decisions.

    42 min

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"HYDEPARK" A discussion of current society events and the business world.