The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has appointed Anushka Wijesinha as its new ‘Chief Economist,’ to spearhead the institution’s ‘Economic Intelligence Unit’.
Wijesinha, an economist with a track record of research published in national and international publications, worked at the Institute of Policy Studies as a Research Economist, heading the ‘Industry, Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy Unit’, before joining the Ceylon Chamber.

His research and policy advisory work has focused on issues relating to industrial policy, innovation, and SMEs. Wijesinha also has led regional economic research projects in South Asia and worked in South Korea, as an Asia Development Fellow of the Korea Development Institute. 

“Joining the Chamber as its new Chief Economist gives a unique opportunity to provide business-relevant insights and guidance from a macroeconomic perspective,” said Wijesinha.

 The new Chief Economist of the Chamber also plans to realign the work of the ‘Economic Intelligence Unit’ of the Chamber to better serve the purpose of the country’s economic agenda.

 “The work of the EIU is being realigned to better serve the country’s economic development agenda as well as the growth aspirations of the Chamber’s member companies. Some of our key priorities will be to improve the investment climate for businesses, promote greater understanding of domestic and global economic issues and its impact on Sri Lanka, and influence the medium-term trajectory of the economy,” said Wijesinha.

 He also has had consultancy stints with the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, and GIZ also has worked with the Presidential Commission on Taxation, and as Assistant Director of the Economic Affairs Division of the Peace Secretariat. He currently functions as a Non-Executive Independent Director on the Board of Union Assurance General and HNB Grameen Finance.

Anushka graduated with distinction in a Masters in Economics and Development from the University of Leeds Business School, UK and BSc (Hons.) in Economics from the University College London, UK. He is an alumnus of the Nobel Laureates Summer Programme of Istituto di Studi Economici e per l’Occupazione (I.S.E.O.), Italy.

He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Colombo Hub, and in 2014 was named a ‘New Champions Awardee’ at the Forum’s Annual Meeting of New Champions in Tianjin, China.