Category: Watch Tower
Beyond Turmeric: How Import Controls are Impacting Sri Lanka’s Economy
By Dr. Asanka Wijesinghe: Raw turmeric roots on the shelves of roadside vendors is a frequent sight nowadays. Thanks to the import controls, turmeric now fetches a higher price domestically; prices having soared by as much as 275% from Rs. 80 per kilo to Rs. 300 per kilo. The turmeric shortage, reports of adulterated turmeric […]
Don’t listen to the aunties! Young people can find a great career in Tourism and Hospitality
By Jekhan Aruliah I first met Sinnaththurai Jeyakumar in 2020 at a particularly good dinner in Jetwing Jaffna’s elegant restaurant. We had eaten well, enjoyed a bottle of wine, and were feeling good. As we thanked our waiter, he asked if we would like to meet the chef. A moment later there he was. Smart, […]
Working remotely in the age of COVID: Who is left behind?
By Nisha Arunatilake and Chamini Thilanka The COVID-19 pandemic which was first reported in Sri Lanka in January 2020 has distressed the country’s labour market. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, with the onset of the pandemic, the labour force participation has decreased and the unemployment rate has increased, indicating reduced job openings. For example, the […]
Towards Zero Poverty: Why Effective Targeting of Samurdhi Transfers is Essential
By Lakshila Wanigasinghe The first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030. While achieving the goal of zero poverty is a lofty goal for any government, it is profoundly more so for those of developing countries. The high levels of inequalities and resource constraints are the main […]
Tribute to Dr. Neville Fernando
By Eran Wickramaratne: Dr. Neville Fernando’s death a few days ago ended the colourful life of a doctor, politician, entrepreneur in the Printing Technology and visionary. I may not have agreed with some positions taken by Dr. Fernando in politics but I am an admirer of his courage and vision in pursuing what he thought […]
Sri Lanka’s Post-COVID-19 Recovery: The Need for Inclusive Economic Growth
By Wimal Nanayakkara: High levels of inequality impede sustainable growth and development of a country. Sri Lanka made impressive strides to reach an upper middle-income country (UMIC) status in July 2019, only to slip back a year later. The COVID-19 crisis, amid growing inequities, is likely to make the task of regaining UMIC status even […]
Test, Trace, Treat – Putting Sri Lanka’s Pandemic Management Mantra into Practice
Sri Lanka’s extensive network of public healthcare workers has been the underlying force behind the country’s pandemic response. This series of articles, beginning with the Puttalam District, aims to capture the ground realities of pandemic management, from the perspectives of public health workers around the country. Highlights: Sri Lanka’ test, trace, treat pandemic management strategy […]
Opinion: Three key priorities for Engineering & Construction companies beyond COVID
By PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Sri Lanka: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the engineering and construction industry is unprecedented. Based on our discussions with clients, construction projects are expected to be delayed or cancelled. Global, as well as local supply chains, are under pressure whilst the health and safety of employees is a concern. Most […]
Opinion: How Life Insurance can succeed in the post-COVID economy
By Chula Hettiarachchi: The unprecedented global climate of today has taken a heavy toll on life. At no point in time, did we anticipate that a single health pandemic would so significantly shift our focus as a society and leave us assessing where we all fit in this “New Normal”. Now more than ever, individuals […]
‘s Institute of Medical Sciences bringing medical careers and care to the Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah During the 2020 COVID-19 “Corona” Virus pandemic we really loved our health workers. We all loved them because COVID-19 hit everyone. Not through infection but through curfews. Businesses closing, shopping & socializing banned, incomes lost, economic hardship, and the stress of being locked in with our loved ones. Diseases are usually suffered […]
‘s future direction for raising debt in international markets
By Shamika Ramanayake: National debt and fiscal stability are two stretch-words often reverberating over during these pandemic/crisis times. As governments all around the world are pushing their boundaries to salvage national economies and avoid damaging spillover effects, especially on vulnerable sections such as small & medium business holders, entrepreneurs, labour markets, etc., such measures are […]
‘s battle against malnutrition amidst COVID
Priyanka Jayawardena Although, Sri Lanka performs well in most health indicators, child nutrition remains a major issue. According to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2016, in Sri Lanka, more than 20% of children under five years are underweight. Unsurprisingly, malnutrition is especially prevalent among poor households. Successive governments have implemented several programmes to improve […]