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Janaka Wijayasiri

Janaka Wijayasiri is currently a Research Economist and Head of International Economic Policy research at the IPS. Since joining the IPS in 1999, his areas of research interest have been primarily related to trade issues at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. These include issues of policy significance to Sri Lanka in areas covering bilateral and regional preferential trade initiatives, multilateral negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and issues related to the textile and garment industry in Sri Lanka. He has received training in GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Project) from the Center for Global Trade Analysis, Purdue University, Canada

  
 Advisory Work
 Publications
 Reports
 Presentations
 
     
   

In addition to his interest in areas of trade, he shares an avid interest in the aviation sector and closely follows developments in the field at both domestic and international levels.Janaka Wijayasiri has a number of publications to his name which have appeared as articles and chapters in both journal and book publications. He has been part of Sri Lanka’s official delegation representing the academia at regional forums such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).

Janaka Wijayasiri holds a BA in Economics with Development Studies from the University of Sussex, UK and an MA in Economics of Development from the Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands.

 
 

Advisory Work

Government of Sri Lanka

  • Group of Experts of the BIMSTEC
    Member of the Committee
    Government of Sri Lanka
    January 2002
  • Committee for Globalization, Trade Development and International Economic Policy
    Member of the Committee
    Government of Sri Lanka
    April 2002

Private Sector, Sri Lanka

  • Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the Year
    Panel of Judges
    Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka
    1999
  • NCE Export Awards Ceremony
    Panel of Judges
    National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka
    1999

Recent Publications

  • “Maldives in the WTO” in S. Kelegama (ed.), South Asia in the WTO, Sage Publications, New Delhi ,2007
  • “Utilization of Preferential Trade Arrangements: Sri Lanka’s Experience with the EU and US GSP Schemes”, International Economic Series No.8, IPS, Colombo, 2007.
  • “Liberalization of International Air Transport in Sri Lanka: Policy Options (with P. Malalasekara and P. Dunusinghe), International Economic Series No.7, IPS, Colombo, 2004.
  • “Indo-Sri Lanka Bilateral Free Trade Agreement and the Garment Industry” (with S. Kelegama,) in S. Kelegama (ed.), Ready-Made Garment Industry in Sri Lanka: Facing the Global Challenge, IPS, Colombo, 2004.
  • “Overview of the Garment Industry in Sri Lanka” (with S. Kelegama) in S. Kelegama (ed.), Ready-Made Garment Industry in Sri Lanka: Facing the Global Challenge, IPS, Colombo, 2004.
  • “Cooperation in Tourism among the BIMST-EC Countries: Prospects and Constraints”, Bangladesh Institute of International Studies Journal, Vol.24, No. 4, 2003.
  • “Regionalism in South Asia: The Relevance of SAPTA for Sri Lanka” (with D. Weerakoon), South Asia Economic Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2002.
  • “South Asia’s Competitive Advantage in Knowledge-based Economy” (with T. Jayawardena) in S. Kelegama (eds.), Impediments to Economic Cooperation in South Asia, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Colombo, 2001.
  • “WTO and the Textile and Garment Sector: Implications for Sri Lanka” (with D. Weerakoon), South Asian Economic Journal, Volume 1, No.2, 2000.

Recent Reports

  • “Preference Erosion and Aid for Trade: A South Asian Perspective” (with S. Samad) Prepared for Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), India, funded by Oxfam Novib, The Netherlands, 2006.
  • “Implications to Member States of Progression from SAPTA to SAFTA” (with D. Weerakoon) prepared for and funded by SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2003.

  • “Prospects for a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership between Sri Lanka and ASEAN” (with D. Weerakoon) prepared for and funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, 1999.

Recent Presentations

  • Preference Erosion and Aid for Trade: A South Asian Perspective
    “WTO Doha Round and South Asia: Linking Civil Society with Trade Negotiations (SAFIT-II)”
    New Delhi, India
    21-22 December, 2006
  • Utilization of Preferential Trade Arrangements: Sri Lanka’s Experience with EU and US GSP Schemes
    “Third ARTNeT Consultative Meeting of Policy Makers and Research Institutions”
    Macao, China
    1-2 November, 2006
  • Textiles and Clothing: Possible Scenario After 2004
    “Annual Conference of South Asian Civil Society Network on International Trade Issues on South Asian Agenda for the Cancun Ministerial”
    Katmandu, Nepal
    24-25 July, 2003
  • SACEPS Taskforce Report on the Challenges and Constraints to Regionalism in South Asia
    National Task Force Seminar of the South Asia Centre for Policy Studies
    Colombo, Sri Lanka
    28 February, 2003
  • Tourism Cooperation among the BIMSTEC Countries: Prospects and Challenges
    “Sub-Regional Cooperation among BIMSTEC Countries and the Role of Japan”
    Dhaka, Bangladesh
    11-12 March, 2002