Category: Watch Tower
K.C.Vignarajah, 1940-2024, An Appreciation
By Jekhan Aruliah I first met Kangasu Chelvadurai Vignarajah, known to many by his initials KC, in 2016. I remember from that first meeting, a dinner of the Sri Lanka India Society, the mischief in his smile, the glint in his eye. Always elegantly dressed, Vigna had rare poise, manners and eloquence. It was a […]
‘s Mango Market: A Balancing Act with Economic Insights
By Chandula Idirisinghe Sri Lanka’s mango industry, deeply woven into the cultural fabric and dietary needs of Sri Lanka, is thriving with a 12.2% production boost and a 5% yield improvement over the past two decades. Yet, the industry is characterised by drastic seasonal price swings. Prices are currently low, and another significant drop is […]
Op-Ed: Journey Towards a Brighter Future: Reflections from Outgoing WB Group Country Management
The outgoing World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka, Chiyo Kanda and International Finance Corporation Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka, Alejandro Alvarez de la Campa speak about the highlights of their tenure in Colombo. They also share their thoughts […]
Opinion: Catalyzing MSMEs amid rising poverty?
By Indika Hettiarachchi As Sri Lankan economy is recovering from the economic crisis, there are lot of discussions on catalyzing the ailing micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSME”). MSMEs are believed to be accounting for around 90% of all businesses in Sri Lanka. Surveys indicate that over 20% of MSMEs were closed down during 2018 […]
Opinion: Establishing a Climate Change Fund – A Crucial Step for Sri Lanka’s Economic Future
By Jithendra Antonio Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture. Ranked 116th out of 182 countries on the climate vulnerability index, the nation faces escalating threats from climate change, including frequent droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. These climate-induced disruptions pose significant risks to economic activities, potentially stalling progress and destabilizing key industries. In […]
Opinion – From Socialism to Success: Sweden’s Economic Evolution
by M. Rizwan Muzzammil Introduction Both Sweden and Sri Lanka profess to follow Democratic Socialism. But Sweden has seemingly produced a more successful economy. This has led to the popularly held belief that Sweden is an example of Democratic Socialism done right. In this article a brief economic history of Sweden is provided (as published […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s Graphite and Turning Tides in International Electric Vehicle Value Chains
By Chaya Dissanayake and Rashmi Anupama The global demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is projected to reach a staggering 80 million units by 2050, with the United States (US) alone expected to demand one million of these annually. This rising global demand will lead to a hike in the need for natural and synthetic graphite. […]
New Year, New VAT: Can Sri Lanka’s Poor Cope with the Increase?
By Lakshila Wanigasinghe: Ringing in the new year for Sri Lankans was an increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 18% and a withdrawal of tax exemptions on several goods and services. The last day of 2023 witnessed long queues as people rushed to stock up on essentials such as fuel and gas. Although queues […]
Understanding Informal Remittances During a Crisis: Experience from Sri Lanka
By Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, Piyumi Ranadewa and Manisha Weeraddana: Introduction Remittances carry vast economic implications for recipient countries at both macro and micro levels. The choice to send remittances through formal channels such as banks, registered money transfer operators, and online platforms, as opposed to informal avenues like Hawala/Undiyal operators or family networks, plays a […]
Navigating the Pharma Landscape in Sri Lanka: A Personal Reflection
By Dr Sayuru Samarasundera: Taking paracetamol when you are having a headache or bandaging your child’s scrap when the child got hurt while playing does not feel like a big deal. However, imagine you have to pay a premium price for a paracetamol pill or a cotton bandage roll and are financially unable to afford […]
Public Investment for SDG Financing in Sri Lanka: Reality or Myth?
By Dr Lakmini Fernando Realising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 requires substantial investment allocation, especially for developing economies like Sri Lanka. A recent IPS study found that Sri Lanka needs an additional investment of USD 1.4 trillion or 12.5 percentage points of GDP by 2030 to achieve SDGs. Despite Budget 2024 allocating 5.4% of […]
‘s raw talent into IT professionals
By Jekhan Aruliah For all its catastrophic consequences COVID-19 lockdowns at least had a silver lining for Sri Lanka’s towns and cities beyond the Western Province. Thousands of staff returned from Colombo to hometowns across Sri Lanka to be locked-down with their families. Many sadly lost their jobs, as their work required their physical presence […]