Debottlenecking strained supply chain during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

The SARS-COV-2 or novel coronavirus crisis has pushed economies into recession or even depression by triggering economic down turns caused by long-orchestrated lockdowns that brought down international trade to a near standstill.

Performance of Sri Lankan tea industry: Present and future scenario

During the last 18 months, we have seen an excellent performance by the Sri Lankan tea industry, especially due to the efforts by the Ceylon Tea promoters,

Employer-supported childcare: A solution to labour shortages?

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.

Everything non inorganic is not organic

The government has made a decision to convert the entire agriculture production from non-organic to organic in Sri Lanka. The President declared that Sri Lanka is the first country to achieve 100 percent organic in farming. This is not the first time Sri Lanka is claiming to be the ‘the first’.

Sri Lanka can benefit from pandemic experience to craft a comprehensive social protection strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for Sri Lanka to review and strengthen its social protection programmes to help citizens recover more quickly from future shocks.

Forest bathing: A new niche market for Sri Lanka Tourism?

Sri Lanka Tourism is currently going through the worst crisis it has ever faced, with hoteliers and travel agents having virtually no business at all. Many smaller establishments face the real threat of bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Timeless learnings for service-driven organisation to become successful

It has been a decade since I left an organisation that had a profound effect on my career. In June 2011, I walked out of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) for the last time as an employee of the ICTA. As I reflect on the time I spent at the ICTA a decade later, I realise that what I learnt during my near six-year career at the ICTA still holds true.

Sri Lankan economy in serious decline

With the recent publication of the Central Bank annual report 2020, we are now in a position to ascertain how the Sri Lanka economy performed during the previous decade (2010-2019) as well as the first year of the current decade (2020).

Making public data public: Sri Lanka misses its own targets while India races ahead

In Sri Lanka, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) is the primary government agency responsible for collecting and providing access to data that can be used for statistical analysis. The stated vision of the DCS in Sri Lanka is to be the ‘leader in the region’ in producing timely statistical information to achieve the country’s development goals.

SaaS investment space is a lead indicator of next wave technologies

The Software as a Service (SaaS) space appears to be heating up further, as investors continue to funnel substantial amounts of investments into the rapidly growing industry. Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, investors continue to be bullish on the industry’s prospects.

COVID-19 and burden of child undernutrition in Sri Lanka

The nutritional status of children under five in Sri Lanka has not shown a significant improvement for the last 20 years, according to the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) of the Census and Statistics Department.

SL’s labour market amidst COVID-19: Need for targeted interventions

Lockdowns and restricted mobility have devastated labour markets across the world. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the equivalent of 225 million jobs was wiped away globally due to employment and working hour losses in 2020 (Q4) compared to 2019 (Q4).

Significance of Keynesian Economics for results-driven economy during pandemic in SL

The impact of COVID 19 virus not only infected lungs of humans but also the heart of Sri Lankan economy at large in terms of employment, gross domestic product, worker remittance, foreign reserves, income distribution and many other economic and social variables.

CPSTL profitability improved despite pandemic: Chairman

Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Ltd (CPSTL) M. Uvais Mohamed, in an interview with Daily Mirror explains how the financial situation of his organization improved in the recent past. Excerpts of the interview:

Tackling local apparel sector’s newest variant: Loss of EU’s GSP Plus

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector continues to beat the odds to remain competitive in the global space but just as it tackles one hurdle, crops up another.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and policy uncertainties may hinder foreign investment

A recent resolution by the European Parliament to consider a temporary withdrawal of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) is the latest blow to the less than two-year-old Gotabaya Rajapaksa government. The European Parliament resolution, adopted with an overwhelming majority, is a clear indication of the European Union’s unhappiness at the developments on the Sri Lankan political stage.

Yesterday’s luxuries, today’s essentials in Covid-19 era

A decade and half ago we would not have expected a tuk tuk driver, a fishmonger or a farmer to carry a smartphone.

COVID-19 and Sri Lanka’s external sector: Challenges and policy choices

The COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant downward pressure on global trade as well as the global economy at large.

COVID-19, fiscal policy and public debt in emerging economies

Sri Lanka’s fiscal landscape left much to be desired even before the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt. One year into the pandemic, the country’s already tight fiscal space has become further constricted, leaving some tough decisions to be made in the pandemic recovery period. A third wave of COVID-19 that the country is currently experiencing will further delay such recovery efforts.

Mitigating Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 education crisis: Priority areas for action

The year 2020 saw close to 1.6 billion students from over 180 countries being kept out of schools for extended periods of time, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the commendable efforts by many countries to put in place alternative remote learning strategies and corrective measures, learning losses have been unavoidable and substantial.

Trade in the pandemic era: A one-year assessment

On the front page of The New York Times’ March 27 edition, a staggering chart illustrated the COVID-19-induced unemployment level in the US.

Can Colombo Port City become South Asia’s new offshore financial center?

Recently the Sri Lankan parliament passed the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, creating a city-based special economic zone.

Asia needs to push back against the lurch to self-reliance

In a world where confrontational geopolitics and the concentration of production of crucial industrial components like semiconductors and medical supplies in particular locations are high, the call for self-reliance has become a political stampede.

Quitters as Winners: Role of tobacco free zones in smoking cessation

Tobacco use is a major global healthconcern claiming eight million lives annually. Sri Lanka has made major strides in reducing the overall smoking prevalence rate in recent years, but tobacco still claims more than 20,000 lives each year.

Digital transformation for retail businesses: Now a necessity than an option, says Ernst & Young

Traditionally, retailers always had a strong hold in people’s hearts as the go-to destination to grab essentials, pick up a treat, get advice and spend time with friends. But, over time, those levels of familiarity and trust have weakened, as the scope, scale and variety of the sector have grown alongside the shifting volume of visiting customers.

Local family businesses remain resilient during pandemic: KPMG survey

The Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) Project, Global Consortium and KPMG Private Enterprise came together in June of 2020 to find out what family business leaders around the world were doing to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Data was collected in the global family business survey: COVID-19 edition between June and October 2020. A total of 2,493 family business leaders in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East and Af

Crypto explained: What I think I know about cryptocurrency

It’s as good a time as any to discuss cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The reason being that we seem to be in a truly transitional period of time. To anyone paying attention, it might appear evident that the traditional economic structures we’ve grown to place unrelenting faith in are beginning to shake at foundational levels.

Need for removal of roadblocks for innovation to reduce tobacco-related harm

Asian consumer groups engaged with reducing smoking and tobacco-related harm charged that health authorities and western anti-tobacco lobby groups often got in the way of shifting consumers towards less harmful products.

Emerging Asia Pacific capital markets: Challenges and opportunities

Asia-Pacific emerging and frontier markets continue to evolve rapidly. With insights from authors based in 11 local markets, this publication offers insights about regulatory developments, market structure and financial history in the region.

Prevent tourism industry collapse, pleads THASL

The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) is deeply concerned by the exponential increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths across the island. We wish to express our fullest support to the government, medical professionals, tri-forces and civil servants that are at the frontline of this crisis. We are grateful for all their efforts to help save the lives of others while risking their own.