Category: Opinion
Middle East Conflict: The Impact on Migration and Remittances in Sri Lanka
Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (ME), Sri Lanka finds itself at a particularly vulnerable juncture as it carefully navigates a fragile economic recovery. Labour migration offers jobs to counteract the lack of opportunities within the economy. Related micro-level remittances prevent households […]
Opinion: Oil, Inflation and the QR System
By M. Rizwan Muzzammil Recent unrest in the Middle East has raised concerns that Sri Lanka may face a shortage of oil supply. Because oil plays such a central role in the economy—powering transportation, construction, electricity generation, and many other activities—many observers expect that such a shortage will inevitably lead to inflation. This expectation is […]
Oil Equilibrium: Why Global Energy Prices Could Redefine Sri Lanka’s Economic Future
By Dr. Gayan Gunewardana (MBA, CIMA/CGMA, FRM/ GAP, AIB) & Y.K Sajani Harishchandra (MBA, ACA) 1. Introduction: When Oil Moves, Economies Shift In the modern global economy, oil is more than a commodity; it is a macroeconomic force that shapes inflation, trade balances, fiscal stability, and the pace of global growth. For Sri Lanka, the […]
Import Price Shocks of the Hormuz Crisis 2026: How Will This Affect Sri Lanka?
Dr Asanka Wijesinghe, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has unsettled global energy markets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 20 Mn barrels of crude oil products were transported through the Strait in 2025, which accounted for a quarter of the world’s daily energy […]
Protecting Public Interest: Why Mid Month Revisions & Targeted Welfare are Vital to Defeating Fuel Hoarding
Advocata’s opinion on recent fuel price hike We commend the Government’s decisive move to revise fuel prices mid-month without prior notice. This action protected consumers from artificial scarcity and market manipulation. By breaking the traditional end of month cycle, the Government removed incentives for hoarding by both consumers and retailers. Had the Government waited until […]
The New Silk Route: Geopolitical Turbulence and the Strategic Opportunity for SriLanka’s Aviation Assets
By Riyad Riffai The escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel have once again exposed the fragility of the global aviation map. For three decades, the great Middle Eastern “super-connectors” Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways built a dominant global network on the promise of geographic efficiency, linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia […]
Opinion: The Unlocked Potential of Ageing and Silver Economy in Sri Lanka
By Dr Bilesha Weeraratne With over 18% already aged 60 and above—and one in four projected to be 60 or older by 2041—the Sri Lankan population is rapidly ageing. IF harnessed effectively, the elderly population and the related Silver Economy have great potential to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economy. This blog analyses the challenges and […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s FDI dilemma as profit repatriations surge
By Indika Hettiarachchi indika.h@jupitercapitalpartners.com Recently the head of the Board of Investment (BOI), the apex body in charge of promoting FDI in the country reportedly resigned. It was also reported the outgoing head of BOI saying “Without concessions, Sri Lanka needs hard reforms to attract FDI”. These developments suggest emerging challenges in attracting FDI as […]
OPINION – Northern Investment Summit, Jaffna January 2026
By Jekhan Aruliah When the topic of the Northern economy comes up, Jaffna is often criticized for living on remittances. Small transfers, perhaps a hundred US dollars a month, sent by hard working people overseas to their families in Jaffna and the Northern Province. These gifts are said to be ruining Jaffna youth and the […]
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s SSB Regulations: Addressing the Rise of Non-Sugar Sweeteners
By Priyanka Jayawardena, Research Economist, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for nearly 75% of all deaths, have emerged as a major health challenge in Sri Lanka over the past few decades. Unhealthy dietary patterns – including excessive intake of sugar, salt, and fats – continue to play a […]
Small Investors For Polytunnel Agriculture in the Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah Nirojan comes from a family of farmers. Born in 1990, his parents farmed two acres of banana and chillies in Killinochchi. Like hundreds of thousands of others during the Sri Lankan Civil War they became IDPs (IDP, Internally Displaced Persons, refugees in their own country). Streams of people fleeing first from their […]
Rebuilding Housing Post-Ditwah: Lessons from Sri Lanka’s Tsunami Experience
By Dr Nisha Arunatilake, Director of Research, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) The Ditwah Cyclone ranks second only to the December 2004 Tsunami in terms of damage to housing in Sri Lanka’s recent history. According to the government’s Disaster Management Centre, as of 9th December 2025, 86,488 houses were partially or fully […]