Bilesha is a Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanization Research at the IPS. Previously, Bilesha was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Prior to moving to the United States, she worked at the IPS and at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Her research interests include internal and international migration, urbanization, economics of education, labour economics, economic development, econometrics & economic modeling, and economics of sports. She has been a consultant to the prominent international organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Bilesha holds a BA in Economics from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, an MA in Economics from Rutgers University, USA and an MPhil and PhD in Economics from the City University of New York, USA.
Member of the Expert Committee for Establishment of Social Security Scheme for Migrant Workers
April 2020 to present
Member of the Expert Group for Formulating the Revised National Labour Migration Policy 2017 to present
Member of the National Advisory Committee on Labour Migration (NACLM) in Sri Lanka (2014 June onwards)
Member of the Programme Advisory Commitee (PAC) of the Ministry of Foreign Employment for “Promoting Decent Work through Good Governance, Protection and Empowerment of Migrant Workers: Ensuring the Effective Implementation of the Sri Lanka National Labour Migration Policy”.
Weeraratne, Bilesha (2020), ‘Migrant Workers’ Wage Offers: The Paradox of the Involvement of Recruitment Intermediaries’, in Migration Studies, Oxford University Press
Weeraratne, Bilesha (2020), ‘Labour Migration from Sri Lanka to the Gulf: Recent Developments and Future Outlook, Zachariah, G. and Rajan, I. (eds), in Asianization of Gulf Migration, Cambridge University Press
Weeraratne, Bilesha (2019), ‘Urban Housing in Sri Lanka’, Sumana Bandyopadhyay et al. (Eds), in Urbanization and Regional Sustainability in South Asia, Springer
Weeraratne, Bilesha (2019), ‘Transitioning to Middle Income and Beyond: The Urbanization Challenges in Post-conflict Sri Lanka’, Weerakoon, D. and Jayasooriya, S. (ed) in Managing Domestic and International Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Conflict Development: Lesson from Sri Lanka, Springer
Weeraratne, Bilesha (2019), ‘Migration & Remittances: Impact on Financial Behaviour of Families Left Behind in Sri Lanka’ in Labour and Migration Research Series No. 201, IPS
Urban Housing in Sri Lanka (2018)
Weeraratne, B & Chin, B. (2018). Can Khan Academy e-learning video tutorials improve mathematics achievements in Sri Lanka? International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 14(3).
Bilesha Weeraratne (2018). Linkages in Climate Change, Migration and Remittances in Sri Lanka, in State of the Economy 2018, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (2018). Recruitment Intermediaries in the Foreign Employment Industry in Sri Lanka 2018. International Organization for Migration.
Weeraratne, Bilesha. (2018). Regulating Sub Agents for Better Migration from Sri Lanka. Labour Economic Series No. 21. Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Weeraratne, Bilesha. (2018). Migration and Development – Role of Remittances in Routledge Handbook on Handbook on Migration and Globalisation edited by Triandafyllidou, A. Routledge.
Weeraratne, Bilesha, Wijayasiri, Janaka, and Jayaratne, Suwendrani. (2018). Cost of Low-Skilled Migration to Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Malaysia: Value Chain Analysis – Sri Lanka. Labour Economic Series No. 20. Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Weeraratne, Bilesha. (2018). Labour Issues of Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka, in Wijayasiri, Janaka, Arunatilake, Nisha with Kelegama, Saman (ed). Sri Lanka Tea Industry in Transition: 150 Years and Beyond. Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Bilesha Weeraratne (2017). Profile of Urban and Rural Population in Sri Lanka: Alternative Estimates. Downloadable Datasheets Published by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Bilesha Weeraratne (2017). Sri Lanka Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration – National Consultation Outcome Report. International Organization for Migration and the Ministry of Foreign Employment.
The Future of Labour Migration from Sri Lanka, Research Papers, National Symposium of Labour and Employment 2016, Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations.
Weeraratne, Bilesha, 2016, Re-Defining Urban Areas in Sri Lanka. Working Paper Series No. 23, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Weeraratne, B. (2016). Protecting the Welfare of Children and its Causal Effect on Limiting Mother’s Labour Migration, in International Migration, vol 54. No 5.
Kelegama, S and Weeraratne, B. (2016). Migration and Economic Remittances: Impact on Development, in Routledge Handbook on Immigration and Refugee Studies edited by Triandafyllidou, A. Routledge.
Weeraratne, B. (2014). Female Domestic Workers in the Middle East : Does Recruitment Through an Agent Minimize Vulnerability ? Published under the Labour Economic Working Paper Series No.18 of Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Weeraratne, B.(2014). A Micro Analysis of Contextual Determinants of Labor Migration in Sri Lanka, in Migration and Development, Taylor & Francis Group, UK.
Weeraratne, B. (2012). Essays in unauthorized immigration and migration. City University of New York. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 130.
Weeraratne, B & Hasebe, T. (2011). Intergenerational Dynamics in Agriculture as an Economic Activity. In W. Wimalaratana (Ed.), Agriculture and Rural Development in Sri Lanka, University of Colombo.
Weeraratne, B. (2011). Solving the Forward Discount Bias Puzzle in a Small Open Developing Economy: Evidence from Sri Lanka in South Asia Economic Journal, Vol. 12 No. 1., SAGE Publications, New Delhi.
Weeraratne, B. (2005). Book Review of ‘Future Directions of BIMSTEC towards a Bay of Bengal Economic Community’ in the South Asia Economic Journal Vol. 6 No.1 January-June 2005.
Weerakoon, D, Weeraratne, B. & Thennakoon. J. (2005). Multilateral Agreement on Trade Facilitation: An Important but Complex Agenda for South Asia, inSouth Asian Positions in the WTO Doha Round: In Search of a True Development Agenda, Jaipur, CUTS International.
Weeraratne, B. & Kelegama, S. (2005). Trade in Textiles and Apparel in South Asia, in South Asian Year Book of Trade and Development: 2005, CENTAD, New Delhi, India.
Weeraratne, B. (2005). Labour Standards and International Trade: The Case of EU GSP Concessions to Sri Lanka, Working Paper Series of the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka.
Weeraratne, B. (2004). Textile and Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka: An Empirical Analysis in a Globalization Setting (2004). published under the Working Paper Series of the East-West Center University – Hawaii, USA.
Presentation on ‘Data Driven Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting at Provincial Councils’
Capacity Development Programme on Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting
Organized by Finance Commission in collaboration with MWCA and SD GAP
28 February 2020
Jie Jie Beach Hotel Panadura
Presentation on ‘Right to Mobility: Are Immigrants at the Mercy of Recruitment Intermediaries’
International Conference of Migrating World: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Migration and Integration
Organized by London Center for Interdisciplinary Research
22 February 2020
St. Anne’s College, Oxford University
Panelist at 2019 Global Humanitarian Policy Forum (GHPF)
Organized by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the United Nations Foundation
13 December 2019
New York
Presentation on ‘Subnational Financing and Local Service Delivery: The Case of Solid Waste Management in Sri Lanka’
Fourth South Asian Economic Network Conference Sub National Finance and Local Service Delivery
Organized by World Bank Group and South Asia Network for Economic Modelling (SANEM)
07 – 08 September 2019
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Presentation on ‘Migration and Gender in Sri Lanka: Trends and Opportunities for GCM’
National Consultation for Implementation of a Gender-Responsive Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration
Organized by UN Women
27 March 2019
UN Compound, Colombo
Presentation on ‘Recruitment of Temporary Migrant Workers and the Evolving Role of Sub-Agents in Sri Lanka’
Research and Empirical Analysis of Labor Migration (REALM) Workshop
Organized by the New York University Abu Dhabi
15-16 March 2019
New York University in Abu Dhabi
Presentation on ‘Can Khan Academy E-Learning Video Tutorials Improve Mathematics Achievements in Sri Lanka?’
Conference on Economic Development in South Asia
Organized by Monash University and IPS
07 – 08 January 2019
Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Recruitment Intermediaries in the Foreign Employment Industry in Sri Lanka.
Presentation of Final Research Findings at the Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka
08 August 2018
Presentation on ‘Impact Evaluation of MathCloud in Sri Lanka.’
South Asia Regional Symposium on ICT for Education.
Organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bangkok)
27-28 February 2018
ShangriLa Hotel, Colombo
Presentation on ‘Recruitment Intermediaries in the Foreign Employment Industry in Sri Lanka: Preliminary Findings.’
Partner Exchange Platform on Ethical Recruitment.
Organized by International Organization for Migration
19 – 20 February, 2018
Renuka City Hotel, Colombo
Recruitment Intermediaries in the Foreign Employment Industry in Sri Lanka.
Presentation of Preliminary Research Findings at the Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka
25 January 2018
Presentation on ‘Tracing Informal Recruitment Relationships through a Panel Survey of Migrants.’ International Forum on Migration Statistics
Organized by OECD, IOM & UN-DESA,
OECD, Paris
15 – 16 January 2018
Panelist on ‘Change the future of migration – Invest in food security and Rural Development’
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the World Food Day Panel Discussion
Organized by Food and Agriculture Organization, Sri Lanka,
17 October 2017
Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the New York State Economic Association Annual Conference
Organized by the New York State Economic Association
06 – 07 October 2017
Farmingdale College, New York
Sustainable Financing for Urban Solid Waste Disposal Services in Sri Lanka
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the ADB-Asian Think Tank Development Forum 2017
Organized by the Asian Development Bank, Manila and IPS
20 – 21 September 2017
Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the National Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Employment and International Organization for Migration
25 August 2017
Movenpick Hotel, Colombo
Global Compact on Migration: Way Forward for Sri Lanka
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the GCM Sensitization Workshop
Organized by International Organization for Migration, Sri Lanka,
08 August 2017
IPS
Globalization of Family: The Role of the State
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the AILS Research Workshop: Families, Kin and the State in Sri Lanka,
Organized by the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies
25 July 2017
Galadari Hotel, Colombo
Recruitment of Temporary Migrant Workers & the Evolving Role of Sub-Agents in Sri Lanka,
Bilesha Weeraratne
At the Program Action Committee (PAC) meeting
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Employment
31 March 2017
Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka
Lowering the Costs of Migration.
At the National Consultation Prior to 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development at OZO Hotel, Organized by the ILO and the Ministry of Foreign Employment.
Colombo-Sri Lanka
December 06, 2016
Impact Evaluation of MathCloud in Sri Lanka
At the Regional Workshop on MathCloud, organized by the Asian Development Bank, Philippines
Korea
November 14-15, 2016.
Coastal Tourism and Urbanization in Sri Lanka
At the Second IORA Blue Economy Dialogue on ‘Sectoral Cooperation in Blue Economy in the Indian Ocean Region Organized by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
New Delhi- India
November 5, 2016
Future of Labour Migration in Sri Lanka
At the National Symposium of Labour and Employment, organized by the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations
Colombo- Sri Lanka
November 4, 2016
Remittances and Gender
Bangkok- Thailand
July 21, 2016
Labour Market Analysis for Labour Migration Policy Planning – Initiatives in Sri Lanka
At the Colombo Process Regional Workshop on Labour Market Research, organized by the Colombo Process Technical Support Unit of International Organization for Migration
Colombo- Sri Lanka
June 1 2016
Low-skilled labor migration – Value chain analysis of migration cost
At the workshop on Measuring Migration Costs for the Low-skilled organized by KNOMAD, The World Bank
Washington DC- USA
November 16-17, 2015
Female Domestic Workers in the Middle East: Does Recruitment Through an Agent Minimize Vulnerability?
New Delhi- India
Delhi. April 9, 2015
Labour Migration and Development: Perspectives from Sri Lanka
At the International Conference on Jobs for Development: Challenges and Solutions, organized by the India Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and World Bank
New Delhi-India
December 2, 2014
Female Domestic Workers in the Middle East: Does Recruitment Through an Agent Minimize Vulnerability?
At the New York State Economic Association Annual Conference, USA, organized by the New York State Economic Association
New York-USA
October 11, 2014
A quasi-experiment on the effect of e-learning on students’ mathematics scores and attitudes in Sri Lanka
At the New York State Economic Association Annual Conference, USA, organized by the New York State Economic Association
New York-USA
October 11, 2014
A quasi-experiment on the effect of e-learning on students’ mathematics scores and attitudes in Sri Lanka
At the conference on Making impact evaluation matter: Better Evidence for Effective Policies and Programmes organized by Asian Development Bank, Philippines
Philipines
September 5, 2014
Female Domestic Workers in the Middle East: Does Recruitment Through an Agent Minimize Vulnerability?
At the conference on Policies for Mainstreaming Migration into development in Sri Lanka, organized by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
Colombo-Sri Lanka
August 14, 2014
Vulnerability of Female Domestic Workers of Sri Lankan Origin
At the Steering Committee on Labour Migration in Sri Lanka, Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka
Colombo-Sri Lanka
June 17, 2014
A Micro Analysis of Contextual Determinants of Labor Migration in Sri Lanka
At the in-house seminar series of the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka
Colombo-Sri Lanka
May 29, 2014
Impact Evaluation of the Khan Academy E-Learning Project
Inauguration workshop of the TA 7872: Learning from e-learning: Testing Intelligent Learning Systems in South Asian Countries, organized by the Asian Development Bank
Colombo-Sri Lanka
April 3, 2014
Does Past Unauthorized Immigrant Status Result in a Wage Penalty for Legalized Immigrants?
At the American Economic Association (AEA) annual meeting
Philadelphia-USA
January 4, 2014
A Microdata-based Approach to Identify Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States
At the Princeton Research Symposium
New Jersey-USA
November 17, 2012
A Microdata-based Approach to Identify Illegal Immigrants in United States
At the Applied Economics Seminar, Graduate Center, City University of New York
New York-USA
November 1, 2011
A Microdata-based Approach to Identify Illegal Immigrants in United States
At the conference on (New) Debates on Belonging organized by The Graduate Center Immigration Working Group of the City University of New York
New York-USA
October 2011
Marketing Labour Standards & the EU GSP Scheme: Problems and Prospects
National Workshop on EU GSP Scheme organized by the EU Delegation in Colombo & the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
Colombo-Sri Lanka
September 2004
Textile and Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka: An Empirical Analysis in a Globalization Setting
At the 3rd International Student Conference of , East West Centre University
Hawaii-USA
in February 2004
Parking Fees in Colombo: To Pay or Not to Pay?, Talking Economics, January 2020
The Gender Dimension of Remittances to Sri Lanka: Who Remits More? Talking Economics, December 2019
Replaced by a Robot? Labour Migration from Sri Lanka in the Age of Intelligence, Talking Economics, July 2019
The Devil is in the Details: A Closer Look at Remittances in Sri Lanka, Talking Economics, July 2019
Tourism vs. Remittances: Impact of Easter Attacks on Sri Lanka’s Foreign Exchange Earnings, Talking Economics, May 2019
The Evil Nexus Between Migration and Terrorism: Implications for Border Control in Sri Lanka, Talking Economics, April 2019
Tipping the Balance: Are Worker Remittances to Sri Lanka Really as Large as We Think?, Talking Economics, February 2019
Sending Sri Lankans and Receiving Chinese Workers: Emerging Trend of Labour Migration in Sri Lanka,
Talking Economics, IPS, December 2018
Sub Agents and Migrants: Dissecting their Relationship to Guide Regulation,
Talking Economics, IPS, May 2018
Regulating Inbound Migration: ‘In’s and ‘Out’s of Sri Lanka’s Policy Framework,
Talking Economics, IPS, May 2018
Did the Blue-Green Budget Forget Migrants and their “Greenbacks”?,
Talking Economics, 18 December 2017
Pay as You Throw! A Solution to Sri Lanka’s Mounting Garbage Issue?,
Talking Economics, 24 April 2017
Decrease in Remittances in 2015: Glitch or Beginning of the End?,
Talking Economics, 18 December 2016
Talking Economics, 18 December 2016
Can We Produce Better Estimates of Urbanization in Sri Lanka?,
Talking Economics, 05 April 2016
Upfront Incentives: Carrot for Migrants & Cash for Others,
Talking Economics, 18 December 2015
Sri Lanka’s Balancing Act of Promoting International Migration while Protecting the Well-being of Migrants and their Families
Bilesha Weeraratne Discusses Impact of US-Iran Crisis on Migration, TV 1 Biz 1st ‘Face the Nation’, January 2020
Bilesha Weeraratne Discusses Evolution of Sri Lanka’s Labour Migration, TV 1 Biz 1st ‘Biz in Focus’, July 2019
Sri Lanka think tank challenges official migration data,
Economy Next, December 2018
Sri Lanka could benefit from campaign to entice expat skills: economist,
Economy Next, September 2018
Bilesha Weeraratne Discusses Rights of Female Migrants – TV 1 Biz 1st ‘Face the Nation’ – 09 July 2018
Interview on Framework to Govern Inbound Migrant Workers – TV1 Biz 1st ‘Review 360’, May 2018
Future of coastal cities in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, The Island, December 2017
Bilesha Weeraratne Comments on How Climate Risks Influence Migration in Sri Lanka,
Reuters – 02 November 2017
Panelist at the Discussion on the Socio- Economic Impact of Sri Lankan Migrant Workers and Modern Day Slavery (Bali Process) at the Face the Nation,
Live Television Show Broadcasted on TV1 – 06 September 2017
Restrictions on female migrant workers discriminatory or improving family wellbeing?
Daily Mirror (2014-12-18); : p. 6
Text-bombs of unsolicited promotional messages: Do consumers have control over their personal information?
DailyFT (2015.06.25): p.13
Unsolicited promotional messages : do consumers have control over their privacy?
Sri Lanka’s election pledges : do we really need that many new jobs?
Daily Mirror (2015-08-14): p. 13