Category: Watch Tower
IPS Policy Insights: COVID-19, Global Economy & Sri Lanka’s External Sector Outlook
Global economic developments have impacted Sri Lanka’s external sector performance, and the economy overall. While Sri Lanka managed the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak imposing lockdown measures for two months (March to May 2020), it has since been hit by a second outbreak since October 2020 and a third wave in April 2021. The […]
Pandemics & Disruptions: Safeguarding Lives and Livelihood of Sri Lankans
By Suresh Ranasinghe The impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka’s labour market, education, migration, and health sectors were discussed at the second webinar panel discussion held on October 13, to mark the release of the ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2021’ report, the flagship report of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka […]
COVID-19 and the Sri Lankan Economy: Policy Choices and Trade-offs
By Chathurrdhika Yogarajah: Sri Lanka’s macro-economic outlook amidst the COVID-19 pandemic came under the spotlight at a webinar panel discussion held on October 11, to mark the release of IPS’ flagship report, ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2021’. The event featured presentations by Dr Dushni Weerakoon and Dr Asanka Wijesinghe from IPS with expert […]
GSP+ Withdrawal: How Would it Impact Sri Lanka’s Economy?
By Asanka Wijesinghe and Eleesha Munasinghe: Sri Lanka’s preferential access to the vital European Union (EU) market faces fresh challenges after the European Parliament’s special resolution adopted in June 2021. The resolution calls for an assessment on “whether there is sufficient reason, as a last resort, to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of […]
‘s new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine talks about international engagement
By Jekhan Aruliah Interviewing Dr Rajendran Surenthirakumaran (Suren), the newly appointed in September 2021 Dean (Head) of the Faculty of Medicine University of Jaffna, I realised the vital importance of international outreach. International collaboration for expertise, experience, research, and for funding is as key to academia as it is for business. I am impressed how […]
| Lockdowns, medical measures, & vaccination needed to save lives
By Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, UN Sri Lanka: The complex challenge posed by COVID-19 both in protecting public health and the socioeconomic functioning of the country confront policymakers with difficult choices. Large scale movement and physical distance restrictions, often referred to as ‘lockdowns’, can slow COVID‑19 transmission by limiting contact between people, but these measures […]
Dragonboats come to Jaffna
By Jekhan Aruliah Northwind Projects, a team promoting sporting and other activities in the Northern Province, successfully brought together the Sri Lankan Navy, the Northern Provincial Council’s Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sport and Youth Affairs and the Jaffna District Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Union’s Federation. They came together to kick-off dragonboat racing, canoeing, and the […]
Opinion: X-Press Pearl Disaster & Imperative for Regional Maritime Cooperation
By Githmi Rabel On 20 May 2021, Sri Lanka’s worst-ever marine disaster occurred when a fire erupted on the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl container ship just 18 km Northwest of Colombo. While the long-term cost is yet to be determined, the negative impact on industries such as fisheries and tourism, and people who rely on […]
Opinion: Unleashing the ‘Billion Dollar’ potential of Sri Lanka’s rubber industry
By Manoj Udugampola At a time Sri Lanka is in much need of increasing its foreign exchange reserves, the vast untapped potential of the country’s rubber exports industry requires due attention. To place the rubber sector’s foreign exchange earning potential in context, the Export Development Board (EDB) had earlier set a target of USD 4.4 […]
Employer-supported Childcare: A Solution to Labour Shortages?
By Amanda Balasooriya Kanthi is a 33-year-old working mother who resides in Kuliyapitiya. Her two-year-old daughter is enrolled at a private crèche located eight km away from her home. Distance apart, Kanthi is not satisfied with the quality of the childcare and finds it expensive. With no other choice, she drops off her toddler at […]
Opinion: SOE Reforms; the Impetus for Post Pandemic Economic Revival
By Imesha Dissanayake State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have many definitions to it, often entailing a definition of a legal entity engaged in a commercial activity that has majority control or ownership by the country’s Government through direct or indirect means. However, because of the complex and diverse landscape of SOEs around the world, there is no […]
COVID-19 and Sri Lanka’s External Sector: Challenges and Policy Choices
By Tharindu Udayanga: The COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant downward pressure on global trade as well as the global economy at large. Unprecedented declines in merchandise trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, tourism and cross-border migration have all been hallmarks of the economic fallout. As a result, growth expectations for countries worldwide dimmed. Nonetheless, thanks in […]