Plastic pandemic: Ecological fallout of COVID-19 and policy options for Sri Lanka

The lockdowns introduced in 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19 saw the narrative ‘nature is healing’ gain prominence. However, the notion that nature, in the absence of people, was healing fizzled out fairly quickly with the emergence of fresh environmental challenges, most notably, the resurgence of single-use plastics.

Quo Vadis Sri Lanka Tourism post Covid-19?

There seems to be conflicting ideas as to how tourism should be promoted in the short term, in the post Covid-19 context.

EDB confident of future prospects of export sector

As the country’s exports continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) remains confident of the future prospects of the country’s export sector, with its focus to break into premium markets.

China’s long march to West: An opportunity for South and East Asia?

In November 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic, after eight years of economic and political considerations,

Omicron will be hard to contain. Sri Lanka should be testing all passengers entering the country: Prof. Malik Peiris

Hong Kong based virologist Professor Malik Peiris recognized for his research on the pathogenesis and ecology of viral infections,

Cigarette price hike good for public health and state revenue

With cigarette prices increased by Rs.5.00, the government has taken a progressive step towards enhancing revenue sustainability and improving public health.

Ponzi schemes in SL: What they are, how they work and knowing how to spot one

Carlo Charles Ponzi was an Italian immigrant whose stay in the United States is memorialised in relation to his swindling of US $ 20 million from investors in the 1920s. The amount would be equivalent to cool US $ 258 million in today’s terms and stands to reason why a specific type of financial fraud is now known as ‘Ponzi schemes’, with reference to Charles.

Seven Business Lessons to learn from Yohani

Yohani Diloka de Silva created history with multiple achievements. No Sri Lankan has a YouTube video clip, music or otherwise, that has crossed even 20 million likes. (By the time of writing Yohani’s “Menike Mage Hithe” has reached 183 million plus likes) No Sri Lankan has ever grabbed the attention of the Indian subcontinent as she did.

Cattle slaughter ban: It’s not intentions but consequences that matter

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the bill to amend laws to ban cattle slaughter in the third week of October. While this is a contentious policy measure, it did not come as a surprise as the Prime Minister proposed the same policy just over a year ago in September of 2020.

How trade can help speed Asia’s economic recovery

Trade has historically been a powerful driver of economic growth and poverty alleviation in Asia, though the momentum of lowering trade barriers has slowed in recent years.

How progressive is 2022 budget?

At first glance, the 2022 budget presented recently in Parliament looks impressive. This was the Finance Minister’s maiden Budget Speech and though it was way too long (so much so that he nearly ran out of gas before completing it),

Tea industry overview January to September 2021

The Sri Lankan tea industry for the period January to September 2021 witnessed an upward momentum with production and exports whilst recorded a decline in the national average when compared to the same period in 2020.

Reopening schools in new normal: Key focus areas for Sri Lanka

The decision to gradually reopen Sri Lankan schools, which have been shut for close to 20 months since the COVID-19 first struck, is a welcome move.

Budget 2022 Proposals: Reactions from researchers at Institute of Policy Studies

Budget 2022 appears to be more of a stop-gap budget rather than one that sets out a framework on how revenues will continue to be mobilised and deficit financing requirements met over time.

Sri Lanka’s digital economy has reached 4.37% of GDP: Policy paper

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka in collaboration with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) launched a Policy Paper on the Digital Economy of Sri Lanka at a virtual event held recently.

Ceylon Chamber notes policy continuity in Budget 2022

Budget 2022 has signalled policy continuity in terms of maintaining mainstream corporate tax rates and investment incentives continuing from end-2019, according to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC).

CA Sri Lanka’s annual budget seminar today

The highly awaited annual budget seminar, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), will be held today featuring top government officials and business leaders, who will share their insights and observations on the government’s budget for next year.

SLASSCOM welcomes Budget 2022 supportive of IT-BPM industry

SLASSCOM yesterday welcomed the proposals put forward with regard to the IT-BPM industry by the Finance Minister in his National Budget 2022 speech.

Budget 2022: Medium-term stability in focus – One-off taxes for limited set of companies

The incumbent government set out the path for reviving the post-COVID-19 economy in its 2022 national budget this week.

Equity in recovery: Addressing Sri Lanka’s social protection and food security needs

Sri Lanka’s social protection and food insecurity amidst COVID-19 came into focus at the third and final session of a webinar series held recently to mark the release of the ‘Sri Lanka: State of Economy 2021’ report, the annual flagship publication of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS).

Budget 2022 requires bold and considered measures with medium-term view

The government promises a non-traditional budget this weekend, as the nation awaits the details of a fiscal policy programme it hopes will spell the way out of the current economic crisis. Alongside impetus to drive production, entrepreneurship and investments, the government must give serious consideration to laying a foundation for revenue growth, which is critical to map sustainable long-term solution for the country’s economic woes.

Is Wealth Tax the solution to Sri Lanka’s low tax revenue collection?

Successive governments have run fiscal deficits. Inadequate revenue collection and unrestrained government expenditure have worsened the country’s fiscal position.

Unemployment benefit scheme more critical than a private sector pension plan

Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is proposing a private sector pension scheme and an insurance scheme to cover employees who lose employment according to mawbima.lk.

IPS’ proposals for Budget 2022 – Part II

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) ahead of the Budget 2022 presentation has forwarded the following proposals too to the Finance Ministry for consideration.

IPS’ proposals for Budget 2022 – Part I

Ahead of the presentation of the national budget for 2022, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) outlines some policy areas of concern and puts forward proposals to be considered for inclusion in the forthcoming budget:

Climb ahead: Making case for human capital investments in Sri Lanka

“Sri Lankan children make a dangerous climb for online school,” read the headline of a recent article carried by Al Jazeera.

A framework for economic recovery

For much of its post-independence period Sri Lanka has been characterised by twin deficits: fiscal deficits and deficits in the external current account. What this implies is the country spends more than it earns and consumes more than it produces.

Climate change summit in Glasgow – Do more and do it faster

As we all know, climate change (CC) is fuelling heat waves, flooding, drought, cyclones, etc. and these extreme weather patterns are costing globally US $ 320 billion a year. The main issue confronting the agriculture productivity is stemming from the fact that we have not been able to adopt mitigating strategies to arrest the adverse effects of CC.

COVID-19, global economy and Sri Lanka’s external sector outlook

Global economic developments have impacted Sri Lanka’s external sector performance and the economy overall.

Shake off the shock to the system, rethink SME ecosystem

In Sri Lanka, small business is a very big deal. The numbers tell the story. The Census and Statistics Department, in its decennial Economic Census of 2013/14, found that over 99 percent of all business establishments are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).