Sri Lanka Retail Forum 2023 set to be held on Oct. 19

The Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association (SLRA) is set to host the retail industry’s premier knowledge event, Sri Lanka Retail Forum 2023, commencing at 9:00 a.m., on October 19, 2023, at Shangri-La Hotel Colombo. 
Conducted this year under the theme ‘Sparking Success: Reigniting the Flame of Retail Growth’, the forum will explore emerging trends in retail both locally and globally and explore innovative strategies to enhance retail operations and consumer reach. 

Aiming to inspire and invigorate the Sri Lankan retail industry, the sessions have been curated to explore key aspects of the retail industry, in order to identify current industry challenges, share innovative best practices and spotlight key turning points. 

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from national and international industry leaders, gaining insights on emerging opportunities for Sri Lankan retailers to capitalise on, key challenges that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable growth as well as leveraging emerging international trends in the local context. While the first two sessions of the forum will focus on the current industry dynamics and its pivotal role in bridging products and consumers, Sessions 3 and 4 will expand this discourse and explore the way forward. 

Session 3 titled ‘Beyond the Retail Walls; Outside – In’, will integrate perspectives of external stakeholders and examine the influence of retail on Sri Lanka’s economy. Speakers at this session will be Murtaza Jafferjee, CEO – JB Securities Ltd and Vajira Ellepola, Director General and CEO – Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, while the panellists will comprise Aruni Goonetilleke, former Chairperson HNB PLC, Dinesh Weerakody, Chairman – Colombo Port City Economic Commission and Board of Investment and with Dhananath Fernando, CEO – Advocata Institute, moderating the session. 

Session 4 titled ‘Exploring the Tourism-Retail Nexus’ will hear from Dileep Mudandeniya – Senior Vice President Global Alliances and Partnerships, John Keells Leisure and Head of Corporate Affairs – John Keells Group, with panellists Sid Solanki, Centre Director, Shangri-La Hotels and Ajai V. Singh, Founder and Managing Director – Colombo Fashion Week, with Shamindra Kulamanage, Co-Founder and Chief Editor – Echelon Magazine, moderating the session.