Dilani Hirimuthugodage is a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) with research interests in Agriculture and Agribusiness Development, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, and Intellectual Property.
Dilani has 14 years of research experience at IPS. She has worked as a consultant to several international organisations including the British Council, World Bank, JICA, WFP and FAO. She has also functioned as a consultant to several government ministries such as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Environment. Dilani has served in national committees on IP including the committee which drafted the National Intellectual Property Policy for Sri Lanka. Many of her research findings have been published in peer-reviewed national and international journals, magazines and book chapters.
Dilani is a recipient of the Fellowship Programme on Intellectual Property, Transfer of Technology and Licensing awarded by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and held in France in 2017. She holds a BA in Economics with a Second Class (Upper) and Masters in Economics (Distinction Pass) from the University of Colombo. In addition, she is a part-qualified candidate of CIMA-UK.
Steering Committee Member of Taxation and Ban on Single stick Cigarettes at the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA)
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2021). ‘The Role of Traditional Health Care in an Era of Pandemics’ in ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2021’, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2020). ‘Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in Reviving Sri Lanka’s Economy, COVID-19 and Beyond’ in ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2020’, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
De Silva, A., Hirimuthugodage, D. et al. (2020), “The Creative and Cultural Industries in Sri Lanka”, Colombo: British Council Sri Lanka.
Kelegama, S. and Hirimuthugodage, D. (2019) “Food Security Policy Framework in Sri Lanka: Market Reforms, Diversification and Safety Nets” in Kumar, N. and Joseph, G. (Ed.) Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Food Security in South Asia, London: UNESCAP and Routledge.
Wijayasiri, J., Thibbotuwawa, M. and Hirimuthugodage, D. (2017), Analysis of Cinnamon, Pepper and Cardamom Value Chains in Sri Lanka, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Ban on Single Stick Cigarettes and the Abhisheka Programme
Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Promoting Ecotourism in Sri Lanka, External Economic Review (no. 87/2016),Foreign Trade University Vietnam, 2016
Hirimuthugodage, D. and P.A. Samaratunga (2016), “Intellectual Property Rights in Protecting New Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Traditional Knowledge: the Case of Rice in Sri Lanka, Working papers series: No: 24, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2015) “Floriculture: A Blooming Industry in Sri Lanka”, Sri Lanka Exporter Magazine, July/September 2015.
Attygalle K., Hirimuthugodage D., Madurawala S., Seneratne A., Wijesinha A. and Edirisinghe C. (2014), Female Entrepreneurship and the Role of Business Development Services in Promoting Small and Medium Women Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Oxfam GB, Sri Lanka http://www.ips.lk/research/highlights/highlight_archive/2014/entrepreneurs.pdf
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2014), “Changing Lifestyles in Asia: Food Habits and Health Risks”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuhugodage, D (2014), ” Intellectual Property Rights in Protecting New Plant Varieties: The Case of Seed Paddy in Sri Lanka, Abstracts, International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sabaragamuwa.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2014), “Improving Market Affordability and Accessibility of Milk and Milk Products in Sri Lanka”, Abstracts, 8th Annual Research Forum, Sri Lanka Agricultural Economic Association.
Hirimuthugodage, D.(2013), “Future Challenges of Changing Food Demand and Consumption Patterns”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage,D. (2012), “Chapter on Optimizing Natural Resources and Agriculture”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage,D. (2011), “Strategic Remedies for Rising Food Prices”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2011) “TRIPs Agreement and the Agriculture in South Asia: A Sri Lankan Perspective” South Asian Economic Journal,Vol.12,No.2,p 287-305.
Hirimuthugodage,D. (2010), “Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement and the Agriculture Sector in Sri Lanka”, Abstracts, Fourth Annual Research Forum, Sri Lanka Agricultural Economic Association, Peradeniya.
Hirimuthugodage,D. (2008), “SAARC Food Bank : Dealing with Food Insecurity During Crises”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Knight-John, M. and D. Hirimuthugodage (2007), “Understanding the conditions for change in state-owned enterprises : A political economy perspective on reforms in selected entities in the energy and transportation sector”, Sri Lanka State of the Economy (SOE) Report, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2006) “Local Loop Unbundling in Sri Lanka: Issues and Challenges”, Telecom Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, available at: http://www.trc.gov.lk/pdf/TRC_research-r 2006-07.
Presentation on ‘Indirect Promotion of Tobacco on Social Media’
Launch of research report ‘A Scientific Investigation of Tobacco and Alcohol Portrayal in Sri Lankan Media and its Public Health Implications’
Organised by the Centre for Combating Tobacco (CCT), Sri Lanka
30 March 2021
Cinnamon Grand
Presentation on IPRs
Validation workshop to disseminate draft report on IP Policy for Sri Lanka
11 June 2018
IPS, Colombo
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2016) “Dynamics of Food Security and Future Challenges” at LQA series at Bandaranaike Center for International Studies,19th October 2016
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2016) “Improving Market Availability and Accessibility in Dairy and Fisheries Markets in Sri Lanka” at Results Sharing & Consultation Workshop on Food Security, Supply and Price Behaviour in Rice, Fisheries and Dairy Products, Organized by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) and The National Science Foundation (NSF) at Club Palm Bay Hotel, Marawila, 03rd – 04th November 2016
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2016) “ Agri- food Value Chains in Sri Lanka” at National Workshop on Food Security in Sri Lanka, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, 4 April 2016.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2014) “Improving Market Affordability and Accessibility of Milk and Milk Products in Sri Lanka”, at the 8th Annual Research Forum, Sri Lanka Agricultural Economic Association, 12-13 December, 2014.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2014) “The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement and the Agriculture in South Asia: A Sri Lankan Perspective” (selected) at the Asia Pacific Economic Association, Bangkok, Thailand, 9-10th July 2014.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2014) “Intellectual Property Rights in Protecting New Plant Varieties – The Case of Seed Paddy in Sri Lanka” at the International Conference of Agricultural Sciences 2014, at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 10th January 2014.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2012), Protecting New Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Traditional Knowledge in Sri Lanka, at the International Symposium on Agriculture & Environment, at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, 29th November, 2012.
Wijesingha,A. and D. Hirimuthugodage (2012), Promoting Regional Value Chains in Tea in South Asia: Case of Sri Lankan Tea Sector at a conference on Strategic Partnership for Policy Development and Action to Foster Regional Cooperation in South Asia, Organized by ADB and Pathfinders, Colombo,10th, August,2011.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2010) The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement and the Agriculture Sector in Sri Lanka at the Agricultural Economic Research Forum, University of Peradeniya, 17th December, 2010.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2008) Telecom regulatory and policy environment in Sri Lanka: Results and analysis of the 2008 survey (skype conference with the regional countries) at the Lirneaisa, 29th August, 2008.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2008) Issues and constraints in TRE survey and indicators – TRE planning meeting at Hotel Dolphin, 10th May, 2008.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2008) Principle issues and the constraints in the energy and transportation sectors, at Hotel Taj Samudra, 12th February, 2008.
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2007) Local Loop Unbundling in Sri Lanka: Issues and Challenges, Telecom Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, 27th May, 2007.
Creating a Culture of Creativity: The Importance of Intellectual Property Rights, Talking Economics, 25 April 2021
The COVID-19 Crisis and Innovation: Why Intellectual Property Rights Matter, Talking Economics, 23 November 2020
Smoked Out: Why the Sale of Single Stick Cigarettes Must Be Banned, Talking Economics, 23 September 2020
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2016), “Intellectual Property Rights as a Tool for Enhancing Ecotourism in Sri Lanka”, Talking Economics ,
Hirimuthugodage,D.(2015),”Reaching Greater Heights in Innovations : A Sri Lankan Perspectives” The Island, Sunday Observer, Daily Mirror and The Nations, Talking Economics, available at :
Talking Economics – The blog of IPS,
Discussion on the ‘Importance of a GI System for Sri Lanka’
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
29 October 2021
Labor shortage hits Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry, Nikkei Asian Review, 21 June 2017
Labor shortage hits Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry, Ada Derana, 21 June 2017
Labour shortage hits Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry, Daily FT, 29 June 2017
Member of a Project Consultation Procurement Committee of Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA)
Rukshana Rezwies Article on “ Farmers Say No” on Sunday Observer (13/03/2016)
Panellist at the Session on “Science Technology & IPR” at the 7th South Asia Economic Summit, New Delhi.
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2014), Does Sri Lanka Need a New Seed Act , The Island, Daily FT 22/05/2014 , available at : http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article- details&code_title=103674
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2013), Biodiversity as a Cornerstone of Sustainable Development: A Sri Lankan Perspective, The Island, 21/05/2013, available at:
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2013), “Franken foods”: A Sri Lankan Perspective of the Inevitable Rise blog of
Hirimuthugodage, D. (2011), “Guarding What is Ours”, The Island, 23rd Of January 2011, available at:
“Guarding What is Ours”, Blog Article, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, available at: