December
2004
November
2004
October
2004
September
2004
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Fourth Meeting of the Independent South Asian
Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA), Kathmandu, Nepal,
18-19 December, 2004
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The Executive Director and Dr. R.M.K. Ratnayake, Additional
Secretary, Ministry of Finance participated at the Fourth
Meeting of the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty
Alleviation (ISACPA) to finalize the SAARC Development
Goals (SDGs) for the 13th SAARC Summit. The meeting took place
at the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal during 18-19 December
in the presence of the SAARC Secretary General, Q.A.M.A. Rahim,
and the Co-convenor of ISACPA Dr. Kamal-Udin Siddiqque.
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First Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Think Tank Symposium
on: “Towards Asian Dynamism: The Potentials of the Asian
Cooperation Dialogue", Bangkok, 15-17 December, 2004
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The Executive Director presented a paper on “Towards
an Asian Economic Community” at the first Asian
Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Think Tank Symposium on: “Towards
Asian Dynamism: The Potentials of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue”.
The Symposium took place at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, Bangkok,
Thailand during 15-17 December. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
has appointed the IPS as the Sri Lankan Focal Point for the
ACD. ( http://www.acddialogue.com/web/45.php )
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ISACPA Advisory
Committee Meeting, Thimpu, Bhutan, 25-27 November 2004
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The
Executive Director participated in the penultimate meeting of
the ISACPA Advisory Committee meeting in preparing the SAARC Development
Goals (SDGs) in Thimpu, Bhutan, during 25-27 November. The SDGs
will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and Heads of States
during the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh in early January
2005. |
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Book Launch of Save the Children Fund UK's "Bucking
the Trend"
Global Health Forum, Mexico City, Mexico, 19 November, 2004
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At a special book-launch held at the Global
Health Forum for Health Research conference in Mexico,
Save the Children Fund UK released its new publication:
"Bucking
the Trend: How Sri Lanka has achieved good health at low cost:
challenges and policy lessons for the 21st century"
The publication documents how Sri Lankan health policy during
the past seventy years, which has achieved and continues to
achieve unparalleled reductions in maternal child mortality,
has done so by rejecting much of the contemporary, conventional
global health policy recommendations for other developing countries.
In particular, the publication highlights as critical factors
the country's emphasis on using public funding to support inpatient
hospital services, its rejection of cost recovery in the public
sector, and its creation of a motivated public sector health
workforce. The publication, authored by SCF (UK), draws heavily
on earlier research done by IPS-Health Policy Programme on the
determinants of Sri Lanka's health transition, which had been
funded by UK DFID. Dr. Ravi P. Rannan-Eliya remarked that he
was very happy to see SCF (UK) taking the Unit's research and
publishing it for a wider audience, and using it to inform wider
global health policy debates, as the Unit's own funding constraints
had prevented the Unit from publishing the work itself. He commented
that the work of the IPS Health Policy Programme Unit illustrated
how important it was for developing countries to build national
capacity for health systems research in order to better interpret
their own health policy experience, and influence global policy
debates, instead of leaving it to North-based researchers and
donor agencies. The launch was graced by the participation of
two other distinguished Sri Lankans: Dr. Ranjith Atapattu, former
Minister of Health of Sri Lanka, who spoke as a panel discussant,
and Dr. Pramilla Senanayake, Chairman of the Foundation Council
of the Global Forum for Health Research and co-host of the conference.
"Bucking
the trend" (
External link to SCF UK site )( PDF Format 562 KB )
"Strategies
for Improving the Health of the Poor - The Sri Lankan Experience"
by Ravi P. Rannan-Eliya (2001). ( PDF Format 334 KB )
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Message for the Gamani Corea Felicitation
Event from the President of
Sri Lanka
Gamani Corea Felicitation organized
by the IPS and the SLEA, 2 November, 2004
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TRIBUTE TO DESHAMANYA DR. GAMANI COREA
MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA
Today when the Nation pays tribute to Deshamanya
Dr. Gamani Corea, I too, wish to express my deep appreciation
of Dr. Corea’s achievements for his motherland in his
distinguished career as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank,
an Ambassador, Secretary General of UNCTAD, Chairman of the
South Centre and many other international fora. Dr. Corea was
the architect of the Common Fund for Commodities under the auspices
of UNCTAD and was the icon of the North South dialogue between
the developed and developing countries.
Sri Lanka is truly proud of this most distinguished
son.
I wish to extend my deepest respects and warmest
good wishes for his good health, happiness and peace.
Signed
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
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Gamani
Corea Felicitation, Colombo, 2 November, 2004
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A
felicitation in honour of Gamani Corea, Chairman, IPS, and one
of Sri Lanka’s eminent economists was held at the Ceylon
Continental Hotel, Colombo on 2 November 2004 with Hon. Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Lakshamn Kadirgamar, as the Chief Guest. A volume edited by Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive
Director, IPS, and published by Sage Publications, India, titled
“Economic
Policy in Sri Lanka: Issues & Debates – A Festschrift
in Honour of Gamani Corea”, and the “Sri
Lanka Economic Journal – Special Issue in Honour of Gamani
Corea” were launched at the ceremony as a recognition
of Dr. Corea’s immense contribution to economic policy both
in Sri Lanka and the world at large. Making the introductory remarks, Dr. Saman Kelegama
gave the background to the felicitation event and commented that
as the founder Chairman of the IPS, Dr. Corea has made a significant
contribution to the growth and development of the Institute. He
further added that Dr. Corea also as the founder President of
the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA), had given “initial
leadership to launch and sustain the Association”. Commenting
on the book, Dr. Kelegama said that “The book that we are
launching today was conceptualized in late 2002. It was felt that
although there are a number of books on the Sri Lankan economy,
there is hardly any book that focuses on economic policy debates.
Therefore it was decided that the book’s focus should be
on economic policy debates in Sri Lanka since Independence.” The prestigious Celso
Furtado Award -- an award named after the distinguished Latin
American Structural Economist, Celso Furtado -- by the Third World
Network of Scientific Organizations was also presented
to Dr. Gamani Corea at the felicitation. The event was organized by the IPS in collaboration with the
SLEA. The book is now available for sale at the IPS and leading bookshops. Introductory
Remarks by Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, IPS
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IPS “State of the Economy Report: 2004”
released
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The “Sri
Lanka State of the Economy Report: 2004”—the
annual publication of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has
been released.
The report provides a comprehensive and an analytical overview
of the country’s economy. The main focus of the report 2004 is on the Land Policy in Sri
Lanka. The report is available for purchase from the Publications Unit
of the IPS and leading book stores, island wide. Table
of contents>> |
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The Executive Director comments on the
Sri Lankan garment industry
The Executive Director commented on the Sri Lankan
garment industry to the Indian Financial Express.
The article can be Viewed at: The
Financial Express Web site
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Report Launch: Road Map Towards a Poverty Free South
Asia: Our Future Our Responsibility,
20 September, 2004
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A
report titled, Road Map Towards a Poverty Free South Asia: Our Future Our Responsibility prepared by the Reconstituted Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA),and published by the SAARC Secretariat was launched along with its Sinhala translation on 20 September, 2004 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance attended the launch as the Chief Guest. The Executive Director, IPS, Dr. Saman Kelegama in his introductory
remarks gave an insight into the history of the ISACPA and its
important role towards eradicating poverty in South Asia, and
added that it is only one of the initiatives for poverty alleviation
in the SAARC region. He further stated that on the recommendation
of the Advisory Committee, steps were taken to translate the ISACPA
report to the relevant national and regional languages, and as
such the IPS undertook the translation of the book to Sinhala.
Dr. R.M.K. Ratnayake, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance
introduced the report to the audience.
Dr. Godfrey Gunatilleke, Chairman – Emeritus,
Marga Institute and Ms. Ganga Tilakaratne, Research Economist
of the IPS made comments on the report. The speakers congratulated the members of the
ISACPA and especially the two commissioners from Sri Lanka, Dr.
Saman Kelegama, and Dr. R.M.K Ratnayake for their valuable contributions
towards the preparation of the report. The IPS Poverty and Social Welfare Unit assisted
the preparation of the Report by contributing two Chapters. The book is available for sale at the IPS.
Comments
made by Ms. Ganga Tilakartna, Research Economist,
Institute of Policy Studies
( Word format 35 KB )
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Report Launch: Road Map Towards a Poverty Free South
Asia: Our Future Our Responsibility,
20 September, 2004
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A report titled, Road Map Towards a Poverty Free South
Asia: Our Future Our Responsibility prepared by the
Reconstituted Independent South Asian Commission on
Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA), and published by the SAARC
Secretariat will be launched along with its Sinhala translation
on 20 September, 2004 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo.Hon.
Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance will attend the launch
as the Chief Guest.
The Executive Director, IPS, Dr. Saman Kelegama was one of
the Sri Lankan Commissioners who was involved in the preparation
of the Report. The IPS Poverty and Social Welfare Unit assisted the
preparation of the Report by contributing two Chapters.
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The translation to Sinhala was coordinated by the Institute
of Policy Studies.
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Economic Policy
in Sri Lanka: Issues and Debates
Edited by: Saman Kelegama
Published by: Sage, India
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A
publication in honour of Dr. Gamani Corea, Chairman of the Institute
of Policy Studies and an eminent Sri Lankan Economist titled,
Economic Policy in Sri Lanka: Issues and Debates, edited
by Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director of the Institute of
Policy Studies will be launched shortly. It is a collection of essays on Sri Lankan economic
policy issues and debates with contributions from specialists
in the field, and published by Sage, New Delhi, India. |
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Chapter
Outline >>
For More details: Visit
Sage, India
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Regional Conference on “SAARC: Post Islamabad
Challenges”, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi,
31 August 2004
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Dr.
Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, IPS participated and made
a presentation on "SAFTA : Prospects and
Challenges" at a Regional Conference on "SAARC:
Post Islamabad Challenges" organized by the RIS
and SACEPS at Jacarada Hall, India Habitat Centre on 31 August
2004. Seated from left to right: Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director General,
RIS; Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director , IPS;
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Mr. Muchkund Dubey
, former Foreign Secretary of India; Dr. Arjun Sengupta, Chairman,
RIS; Dr. Akmal Hussain, Visiting Fellow, PIDE; Prof. I.N. Mukerjhi,
Professor of Economics at JNU, and Dr. Sudipto Mundel, ADB. |
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World Library and Information Congress: 70th International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions General
Conference and Council, Argentina, 22- 27 August, 2004
Ms. Premila Gamage, Librarian, IPS participated and presented
a paper on “Threats and Harassments: Whither
Freedom of Expression in Sri Lanka? - Country report presented
to the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom
of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE)” at the World
Library and Information Congress: 70th International Federation
of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) General Conference
and Council, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina during
22- 27 August, 2004.
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The Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group Annual Meeting,
Colombo, 21 August, 2004
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The
8th Annual Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG),
which is a part of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was held on 21 August, 2004 at the Hotel
Taj Samudra, Colombo. The IORAG is one part of the tripartite
structure of the IOR-ARC, the other two being the Business Forum
and the Working Group on Trade and Investment. The 8th Annual
Meeting was chaired by Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive
Director of the Institute of
Policy Studies. The meeting
provided the opportunity for academics from all member countries to gather and discuss
the progress of various projects undertaken by the IORAG at previous
meetings.
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Dr.
Kelegama in the Chairperson’s Report made a critical assessment
of the progress of the IORAG since its last meeting in Colombo
in October, 2003 and reiterated the need to revitalize the activities
of the IORAG to achieve its set objectives. The need for IORAG
to act as the “think-tank” of the IOR-ARC was also
highlighted in the report. During the sessions, a Sub-Committee
of the Academic Group was formed by delegates from Australia,
Kenya, Mauritius, Oman, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Tanzania and the UAE. The Sub-Committee made some useful recommendations towards the improvement of future activities of the IORAG. |
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Mr. Douglas Jayasekara, Mr. Janaka Wijayasiri,
Ms. Bilesha Weeraratne, and Ms. Manu Tissera Gunasekara from the
IPS were part of the Sri Lankan Official Delegation at the IORAG
Session. The next IORAG meeting is schedule to be held
in Teheran, Iran in 2005. |
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Conference on “WTO Post-Cancun Developments:
Opportunities for South Asia”, Islamabad, Pakistan, 17-19 August, 2004
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The
Executive Director of IPS, Dr. Saman Kelegama presented a paper
on “Textile and Clothing: Gearing-Up for Post-MFA
Scenarios” at a Conference on “WTO
Post-Cancun Developments: Opportunities for South Asia”
organized by the SDPI, OXFAM, SAWTEE, and CUTS during
17-19 August, 2004, Islamabad, Pakistan. The Conference was the
3rd Annual Meeting of the South Asian Civil Society Network on
International Trade Issues (SACSNITI). |
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Book Launch:“Ready-Made Garment Industry
in Sri Lanka: Facing the Global Challenge”,
4 August, 2004
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A book on “Ready-Made Garment Industry in Sri Lanka:
Facing the Global Challenge” edited by Saman Kelegama,
Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies was launched
on 4 August, 2004 at the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo with
Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance as the Chief Guest.
Dr. U. Vidanapathirana, Secretary, Ministry of
Industries, Tourism,
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and Investment
Promotion, and Prof. W.D. Lakshman , Professor of Economics, University
of Colombo made comments on the book.
The launch was attended by policy makers, government
officials, academics and others who are actively engaged and working
in the industry. The book is published by the IPS and available
for sale from the Institute premises and through
leading book shops. Please click here to download the Book
launch in pictures >> |
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Book Launch: “Ready-Made Garment Industry
in Sri Lanka: Facing the Global Challenge”,
4 August, 2004
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A book on “Ready-Made Garment Industry in Sri
Lanka: Facing the Global Challenge” edited
by Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director of the Institute of
Policy Studies will be launched on 4 August, 2004 in Colombo.
Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance will attend the
launch as the Chief Guest.
The book is published by the IPS and available
for sale from the Institute premises and through leading
book shops subsequent to the launch. Click here
for Chapter outline and a brief description of the book
<< Back to IPS News Archive |
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Executive Director’s speech ;