The Department of Economics at the University of Jaffna successfully conducted a two-day academic programme on 9th & 10th April 2026, supported by a grant from the India–Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF). The Head of the Department of Economics, Dr. Kamalakumari Karunanithy, chaired the programme on both days. The programme featured two guest lectures and an interactive panel discussion, aligning with the objectives of the funded project. The events were graced by the presence of the Consul General of India in Jaffna, Mr. Sai Murali, who attended both days and addressed participants during the opening session. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. N. Piratheeparajah, also delivered opening remarks on the first day. The guest lectures on 9th of April were delivered by distinguished scholars Dr. Brinda Viswanathan from the Madras School of Economics (MSE) entitled ‘Nutrition Security through the Life-cycle: An Inter-state Comparison in India’, and Dr. M. Vijayabaskar from the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) entitled ‘Industrialisation for Employment: Catalytic Role of Textiles & Garments in Tamil Nadu state’. Both speakers also participated in a panel discussion entitled ‘Social and Gender Justice Policies for Girls and Women: What can we learn from the Indian experience?’ on 10th of April alongside prominent Sri Lankan resource persons, including Mrs. Mary Delcia Antony Christian (Senior Lecturer in Economics, UoJ), Ms. Udhayani Navaratnam (Women’s Development Officer, Kilinochchi District Secretariat), Ms. Nisansala Jayawardane (Senior Lecturer, Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) – Trincomalee Campus), and Dr. Logeswary Sooriyakumaran (Senior Lecturer, Eastern University of Sri Lanka – Trincomalee Campus). A key highlight of the programme was a hands-on Econometrics workshop conducted by Prof. Brinda Viswanathan for undergraduate students on 9th April in the afternoon. The programme witnessed strong participation, including twenty-one students and four academic staff members from the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, three academic staff from the Trincomalee Campus of the EUSL), as well as over one hundred students and several academic staff from the University of Jaffna. The events fostered active academic engagement and meaningful discussions among participants.