Category: Opinion
Diving Deep into the Blue- A case for a Marine Spatial Plan for Sustainable Blue Economy in Sri Lanka
Co-authored by Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative and Dr. Vagisha Gunasekera, Country Economist, UNDP in Sri Lanka What is the blue economy and why should we invest in it? Oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integral and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem. They are vital to sustaining the livelihoods and food security of over […]
‘s Businesses
By Sajani Kaushalya Many businesses are rethinking their conventional working structures in light of the many changes taking place in the world. Employees now have the option to work both in an office setting and remotely thanks to the growing popularity of the hybrid workplace concept. This change has important effects on firms, workers, and […]
Bringing Swiss Precision to Killinochchi Agriculture
By Jekhan Aruliah I first met Kamilton Arumugam and Lieke Schroder by mistake. We met at my place in Jaffna about a project a mutual friend thought we had a mutual interest.We didn’t, but it was a lucky mistake. I met two rare people, Kamilton returning from Switzerland and Lieke coming from Holland, investing their […]
X-Press Pearl Disaster: From Flames to Prevention
By Ruwan Samaraweera: Sri Lanka’s ecological disaster related to the MV X-Press Pearl, a container ship carrying hazardous chemicals that caught fire off its coast on 20th May 2021, is back in the news as the country attempts to claim damages. The ecological disaster washed up tons of plastic pellets and other pollutants on the […]
‘s Innovations are Lagging Behind in Sri Lanka
By Dilani Hirimuthugodage “I do not intend to get a patent right for my invention as I do not want to disclose my research findings and methodologies to the public domain“, stated a female researcher who has discovered a solution for dengue fever. Like her, many female innovators are unwilling to obtain Intellectual Property (IP) […]
Battling Disease & Debt: Financing Non-Communicable Diseases Amidst Economic Crisis
By Sunimalee Madurawala: Introduction “The shortage of medicines will significantly impact medications for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). If NCD patients don’t receive their regular medication, their condition will worsen,” stated a Provincial Director of Health Services speaking on the implications of the economic crisis on NCDs. Over the last few decades, NCDs have emerged as a […]
Women’s Day, Strength and Knowledge through Togetherness
By Jekhan Aruliah “Every day is women’s day” snorted my female friend in Colombo irritably responding to my question over the phone from Jaffna whether she knew 8th March is “Women’s Day”. She is right. Mothers, sisters and daughters will tell you a woman’s day never ends. A woman deals with whatever comes as it […]
Opinion: Driving sustainable and inclusive growth for everyone
By Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Rapid development in Asia and the Pacific has propelled the region to become a key engine of growth for the global economy, yet this prosperity has not reached everyone. And with the […]
Apptimus Tech, Jaffna’s software firm from bedroom to 7,000 square feet in 5 years
By Jekhan Aruliah The Yarl Geek Challenge has a strong record as nursery for tech startups. By 2022, its 11th season, YGC alumni have started more than 60 companies employing hundreds of people. This doesn’t include those who emerge from these companies to setup their own startups. Yes It’s great when competitions and colleges give […]
IMF Publication: Regulating the Crypto Ecosystem – The Case of Unbacked Crypto Assets
The ongoing evolution in the crypto ecosystem is revealing both opportunities and pitfalls. Crypto assets were originally developed to democratize payments but are mostly used for speculation and, in the case of certain types of dollar-denominated stablecoins, also as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation. Unbacked crypto assets are the oldest and most popular […]
‘s Mineral Sector
December 7, 2022 (LBO) – Demystifying the Minerals Sector Why is it that many entirely legitimate investments by the private sector are immediately demonised as a racket by certain commentators with ulterior motives, and then sensationalized by the media? Conspiracy theories leading to private sector verdicts of guilty unless found innocent seems to be the […]
History Repeating Itself: Sri Lanka’s Electricity Crisis
By Imesha Dissanayake: The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis revealed vulnerabilities in the Sri Lankan economy and weakened its economic state. Given the severity of the challenges faced, the economy is now at a fragile state with many crises at hand. One such crisis is the electricity crisis where sporadic power cuts even […]