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17-18 December, 2008

Executive Director made a presentation on “ Policies for Equitising Development: An Agenda for South Asia” at a seminar organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS), Nepal, and Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh on “Equitising Development: Agenda for Poverty Eradication in South Asia”.

The seminar took place at the India International Centre during 17-18 December, 2008.

Nobel Laureate and Lamont Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, Amartya Sen, and Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD, Bangladesh, were the other speakers at the session.

24 November, 2008

Executive Director made a presentation on “South Asia Rising: Enhancing Trade and Investment” at the Fourth International Conference on South Asia of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), Singapore, on the theme, “Challenges of Economic Growth, Inequality, and Conflict in South Asia”. The event took place at the Orchard Hotel, Singapore, in the presence of South Asian academics and Singaporean commentators on 24 November, 2008.

The Session was Chaired by S.D. Muni, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, ISAS, with Bibek Debroy, ISAS, and Peter Reeves, National University of Singapore, as the other speakers. For details, visit : www.isas.nus.edu.sg

14 November, 2008

The IPS in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network (PEP) organized a National Conference on “Improving School Performance through Educational Decentralization” on 14 November, 2008 at the NIE, Maharagama.

Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS, made the welcome and introductory address, Prof. Lal Perera, Director General, NIE made the opening remarks and Mr. Wifred Perera introduced the concept of educational decentralization.

There have been concerted efforts by policy makers to decentralize the management of the education system in Sri Lanka for several decades. However the participation of the local levels in education management is still limited. This has been due to a variety of resource issue and implementation problems as highlighted by number of research studies, including a recent research study by the IPS on “Will Formula Based Funding and Decentralized Decision Making Improve Resources at the School Level?”

The conference brought together existing knowledge on the experience of decentralized management of education in Sri Lanka, identifying main issues in order to make recommendations for corrective action.

Mr. Ashoka Gunawardena, Chairman, Finance Commission, Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS, Mr. Wilfred Perera, and Dr. Jayanthi Gunasekara, Assistant Directors General, NIE, and Ms. Sarojini Dias, Assistant Director, NIE participated as resource personnel.

Programme

Concept Note

Presentation on “Formula Based Funding and Decentralized Management of Schools – Lessons from the Education Quality Inputs Programme” by Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS

Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, 10 – 12 November, 2008
Hotel Club Oceanic, Trincomalee, 17 – 19 November, 2008

The IPS in collaboration with the World Bank Institute (WBI) organized two residential workshops on “Service Delivery and Provincial Budgeting for Promoting Pro-Poor Growth and Development in Sri Lanka”. The first workshop was held at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, during 10 – 12 November, 2008, and the second workshop at the Hotel Club Oceanic, Trincomalee, during 17 – 19 November, 2008. Hon. Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor, Central Province, inaugurated the workshop in Nuwara Eliya, while Hon. Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor, Eastern Province, inaugurated the workshop in Trincomalee.

The objective of the two workshops was to tackle major issues that would spur pro-poor growth and was aimed at key officials involved in provision of services at the provincial level. The sessions provided expert training and analysis on provincial budgeting, issues in service delivery at the provincial level – focusing on health, education and infrastructure – and case studies of innovative strategies in service delivery from Sri Lanka and abroad. A key feature was to highlight implementation strategies that will achieve national goals, and which are feasible from a resource and political economy perspective.

IPS researchers served as resource personnel at the two workshops.

These two workshops are a part of a series of workshops that IPS and the WBI have been organizing since 2006 on service delivery and provincial budgeting for promoting pro-poor growth and development in Sri Lanka. Previous such workshops have been held in various parts of the country, with the most recent being at Dambulla and Wadduwa, during 23-25 November, 2007 and 16-18 November, 2007, respectively.

Concept Note

Agenda
Nuwara Eliya, 10 – 12 November, 2008
Trincomalee, 17 – 19 November, 2008

10-11 November, 2008

Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS, participated and presented a paper on “The Labour Market Institutions, Ageing and Elderly Welfare in Sri Lanka” at a two-day South Asia Regional Conference on “Demographic Scenarios, Employment and Social Security Issues of Aged in South Asia” organized by the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, (http://www.iegindia.org) in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, India at the Hotel Claridges, New Delhi during 10-11 November, 2008.

The conference reviewed the trends and pattern of significant socio-economic and demographic changes in the region and examined their implications for people with limited physical and financial means.

14-16 October, 2008

Executive Director and Deshal de Mel, Research Officer, IPS, participated in the international conference on “How are the Poor Affected by Trade?” organized by UNCTAD, Ministry of Commerce (Government of India) and DFID project on “Strategies and Preparedness for Trade and Globalization in India” , The Park Hotel, New Delhi from 14-16 October, 2008.

Executive Director Chaired the 7th Session of the Conference on “Trade and Poverty: Sri Lanka and Cambodia Experience” where the Sri Lankan Country Study on the “Trade-Poverty Nexus” was presented by Deshal de Mel. Dr. Peter Van Dierman, AUSAID; Yann Duval, UNESCAP; and K. Narayan, IIT, Mumbai were the other panelists in the Session.

9 September, 2008

Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS, participated and presented the chapter on “Labour Market and Population Aging” at the dissemination workshop on “Sri Lanka: Addressing the Needs of an Aging Population”, held at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo, on 9 September, 2008. This workshop was organized by the World Bank, Colombo. Nisha Arunatilake also participated at the briefing session after the workshop.

6 September, 2008

The launch of the Autobiography of the former Chairman of the IPS, Dr. Gamani Corea, took place at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), amidst a large gathering on 6 September, 2008. The event was organized jointly by the Marga Institute and the IPS. The Chief Guest at the event was Dr. Arjun Sen-gupta, Chairman of the RIS, India.

Review Essay: Sunday Island, 31 August, 2008

5 September, 2008

Prof. Kevin Kennedy, Professor of Law and Director, Institute for Trade in the Americas, made a presentation on “American Experiment with Bilateral and Regional Free Trade Agreements: Models for an Expanded SAFTA” at the IPS on 5 September, 2008. The presentation highlighted the salient features of bilateral and regional free trade agreements that the US has signed up with a number of developing and developed countries. These agreements are based on the North Amercian Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) template and cover not only trade in goods but also so-called WTO-plus issues which includes investment, services, government procurement, dispute settlement, and chapters on labour and environment protection. The presentation also touched upon the complex yet restrictive Rules of Origin under the US trade agreements. On the whole, US trade agreements are quite comprehensive in coverage both in depth and width of issues covered.

30 August, 2008

24 July, 2008

10 July, 2008

30 - 31 May, 2008

A regional conference on “Strengthening Economic and Social Integration in South Asia” was organized by the IPS in collaboration with the South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS), Nepal, at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, during 30-31 May, 2008.

Hon. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, inaugurated the conference and Nihal Rodrigo, Advisor to His Excellency the President and Former Secretary General of SAARC, attended as the Guest of Honour.

The conference aimed to provide several inputs into potential areas where SAARC integration can be deepened and made more meaningful. Common regional issues such as labour migration and cooperation in energy were discussed in separate sessions, along with a special session on South Asia's response to the crisis in food and energy markets. The outcomes and recommendations of this conference will serve as an invaluable input to the deliberations at the 15th SAARC summit to be held in Colombo in July 2008.

IPS researchers served as resource persons in the conference, drawing on an extensive body of research in the area of South Asian economic integration undertaken by the Institute.

Programme

Summary of Proceedings

Daily Mirror, 15 June, 2008 -- “Bigger role for business in SAARC”

28 - 29 May, 2008

The IPS in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Colombo, organized an international conference on “Trade-Poverty Nexus in South Asia” at the Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo during 28-29 May, 2008.

The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Muchkund Dubey, Co-Chairman, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS), and Dr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Poverty and Development Division, and Coordinator, Poverty Theme Group, UNESCAP, attended as the Guest of Honour

The objective of the conference was to explore the experiences of the South Asian economies with regard to the linkages between trade liberalization and poverty reduction.  Country papers addressing direct and indirect avenues through which trade impacts on poverty were presented at the conference. Additionally, work examining economic adjustment to trade liberalization, and the complementary policies necessary to make trade liberalization more effective were also discussed.  The conference brought together specialists working on trade and poverty from across South Asia, as well as stakeholders in government, academia, private sector and civil society organizations and provided an open forum for discussion and debate.

The conference builds on and complements IPS research in the area of trade and poverty linkages, including collaborative efforts with other research institutions. As a part of such on-going work, IPS researchers prepared and presented the country studies for Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the conference.

Concept Note

Programme

19-20 April, 2008

Executive Director made a presentation on “South Asian Regional Cooperation in the Context of Asian Economic Integration” at a conference on “China and SAARC: Towards a Partnership of Common Prosperity” organized by the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) and the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) during 19-20 April, Beijing, China.

Executive Director accompanied a group of SAARC delegates led by Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo (former Secretary General, SAARC) to meet the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, HE Yafei at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing, China.

31 March, 2008

The UN-ESCAP Report on "Economic and Social Survey of Asia and Pacific 2008" (www.unescap.org/survey2008/) was launched at the UNDP Office in Colombo in the presence of Muhammad Hussain Malik, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP, Executive Director, IPS, and Dr. Nimal Sanderatne, former Visiting Fellow, PGIA, and local invitees.

This year’s issue marks the 60th anniversary of the Survey, first published in Shanghai in May 1948.

Muhammed Malik, Economic Affairs Officer presented the report followed by a presentation on the Sri Lankan Economy by the Executive Director.

Nation, 6 April, 2008—“A mixed bag of positives and negatives”- Dr. Saman Kelegama (http://www.nation.lk/2008/04/06/busi1.htm)

Sunday Times, 6 April, 2008—“Govt. debt should be controlled for economic growth” (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080406/FinancialTimes/ft311.html)

Island, 5 April, 2008,”SL economy — more positives than negatives”- Dr. Saman Kelegama (http://www.island.lk/2008/04/05/business3.html)

13 March, 2008

The IPS in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-India and United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD)-India jointly organized a seminar on “ADB-UNCTAD Study on Regional Cooperation  in South Asia: Benefits from SAFTA and the Way Ahead” at Taj Samudra, Colombo on 13 March, 2008.

The study, undertaken by ADB-India and UNCTAD India, provides an in-depth quantitative assessment of the potential benefits of SAFTA for South Asian countries through trade in goods, investment, and services and through trade and transport facilitation. The study also provides information and data on trade and investment regimes, trends and profiles of SAARC countries.

Executive Director made the welcome address, while Nihal Rodrigo, Advisor to His Excellency the President & Former Secretary General of SAARC made the inaugural address at the seminar.

A key objective of the seminar was to bring together specialists working on trade, investment, and service sectors from Sri Lanka and Maldives to provide a forum for critically assessing the study and for dissemination of the findings of the study amongst the stakeholders to map the way forward. The seminar analyzed the findings of results from benefits from trade and investment and transport facilitation and trade in services under SAFTA. The extensive discussions that emerged during the sessions provided valuable inputs towards the progression of the study.

This seminar is a part of the series of seminars that have been planned in five SAARC countries to disseminate the findings and obtain feedback on the study from the main stakeholders - government, private sector, academia, and civil society involved with international trade.

Agenda (PDF Format 209kb)

Welcome Address by the Executive Director (PDF Format 11.6kb)

Inaugural Address (PDF Format 16.5kb)
by Nihal Rodrigo, Advisor to His Excellency the President & Former Secretary General of SAARC

Lanka Business Online, 15 March, 2008 -- Sri Lanka could gain more in next phase of Trade Liberalization: Study

Seminar in Pictures

10 March, 2008

Damith Vitharanage, Director General & Manager - Finance of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), made a presentation on “The Future of the Sri Lanka Transport Board” at the IPS on 10 March, 2008.

The presentation identified major issues confronting the SLTB in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of the enterprise. How socio-economic and politics have permeated the institution and affected the enterprise over the years was also explained. In this context, the presentation identified the various strategies which have been drawn up that would be implemented in the immediate future with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of SLTB. It was shown that the proposed strategy pays special emphasis on areas which the organization has failed to address up to now and these include human resource development, information technology, organizational communication, etc.

29 February - 1 March, 2008

Nisha Arunatilake, Research Fellow, IPS was a resource person at a national level workshop on “Budget Process and Tracking in General Education in Sri Lanka” organized by the Coalition for Education Development (CED) at the YMBA, Kandy,  29 February - 1 March, 2008.

The main objectives of the workshop were:

• to sensitize stakeholders at the national, provincial, and local levels on the process of budgeting, disbursement, and utilization of funds; and

• to build capacity at the local levels for budget tracking and budget analysis to ensure that funds allocated for education projects and programmes by the government are utilized accordingly. 

15 February, 2008

Asoka Abeygunawardena, Executive Director of Sri Lanka Energy Forum, Senior Consultant to the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) and Director of Sustainable Energy Authority made a presentation on “The Long-term Electricity Expansion Plan of Sri Lanka” at the IPS on 15 February, 2008.

The presentation considered the pros and cons of the long term power generation plan of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), providing useful insights to policy researchers on the importance of renewable energy sources in terms of protecting the environment. The presentation also focused on the need for a sustainable and structured energy policy which takes into consideration issues such as an appropriate energy mix and energy conservation. Further, the importance of a consensual stakeholder approach in the effective implementation of a national energy policy was also highlighted in the presentation.

12 February, 2008

The IPS organized an “Expert Consultation on Strategies for Improving Performance of Sri Lanka’s Energy and Transportation Sectors” at the Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo on 12 February, 2008.

Increasing fiscal constraints and the deterioration of service standards has prompted the government to explore options for improving performance in key State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). In this context, IPS has initiated a consultative study looking at four entities in the energy and transportation sectors – the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Sri Lanka Railways (SLR), and Sri Lanka Central Transport Board (SLCTB) - selected as representative case studies of the SOE sector.

The objective of the Expert Consultation was to:

• Present preliminary findings based on in-depth interviews conducted with key stakeholders on the need for change, the roadblocks to change, potential strategies for change and on the political economy aspects of bringing about change.

• Stimulate informed small-groups discussions in a structured Break-Out session to complement the findings of our in-depth interviews and to get to a better understanding of the various stakeholder perspectives on the possible reforms and policy changes designed to ensure the sustainability of the entities concerned.
  

Dilani Hirimuthugodage, Research Assistant, IPS made a presentation on the initial findings of the IPS study, titled, “Principal Issues and Constraints in the Energy and Transportation Sectors: Preliminary Findings” and the event brought together a spectrum of stakeholders ranging from policy makers, technocrats, the private sector, trade unions and academics.

The intended outcome of this consultative research process is to create a better awareness of the reform process – to clear lingering misconceptions on the impact of change; to widely disseminate the findings of our research to all stakeholders in the reform process; and to present the Government of Sri Lanka with a menu of informed and practical strategies for change in the four selected SOEs.

• Programme (PDF Format 99kb)
• Concept Note (PDF Format 10kb)
  

Executive Director and Deshal de Mel, Research Officer, IPS participated in the “SAARC Regional Consultation Meeting on Study on Potential for Trade in Services under SAFTA Agreement” organized by the RIS and SAARC Secretariat, Ashok Hotel, New Delhi, 6-7 February 2008.

The meeting finalized the draft study on “Potential for Trade in Services under SAFTA Agreement” for submission to the Council of Ministers at the 15th SAARC Summit during July-August 2008 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka country study for this draft study was prepared by the IPS.

24-25 January, 2008

Executive Director and Deshal de Mel, Research Officer, IPS, represented the Sri Lankan negotiating team in the 1st Round of Technical Level Negotiations of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo, during 24-25 January, 2008. Deshal de Mel made a presentation on "Sri Lanka's Regulatory Regime in Trade in Services" during the technical sessions.

The IPS team will take part in the future negotiations on Trade in Services with Pakistan.

23 - 24 January, 2008

Regional Conferences on “SAFTA and Its Implications for the Member Countries” and
“Services Liberalization in South Asia”,
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Janaka Wijayasiri, Research Economist and Jayanthi Thennakoon, Research Officer, IPS participated at the Regional Conferences on “SAFTA and Its Implications for the Member Countries” and “Services Liberalization in South Asia”, jointly organized by South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), CUTS International (India) and Commonwealth Secretariat (London), which were held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23 and 24 January, respectively. Jayanthi Thennakoon made a presentation on “India-Sri Lanka FTA: Lesson for SAFTA” while Janaka Wijayasiri was a discussant at both conferences.

2-3 January 2008

Executive Director and Deshal de Mel, Research Officer, IPS, represented the Sri Lankan negotiating team in the 10th Round of Technical Level Negotiations of the Indo-Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, during 2-3 January, 2008.

The IPS team has been taking part in the discussions on Trade in Services and Economic Cooperation from the inception of CEPA technical level negotiations in May 2005.