Sunimalee Madurawala is a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). She has over 15 years of research experience in the areas of gender, health economics and population studies. She has served as a consultant to bilateral and multilateral agencies and private foundations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Cancer Research UK and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Sunimalee has contributed to several national publications including the UNDP’s Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2014 Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development’s Youth and Development: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Sri Lankan Youth’ (2014) report, and the UNDP’s Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012: Bridging Regional Disparities for Human Development report.
She has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, book chapters, and blogs.
Sunimalee is the recipient of the Australia Awards Fellowship on Developing Economic Research to Support Priority Economic and Social Goals (Sri Lanka) at the Griffith University, Australia (2016/2017) awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Government of Australia and the Fellowship on Asia-Pacific Capacity Development on Gender and Macroeconomic Issues- Second Regional Intensive Course, awarded by UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre & Ochanomizu University, Japan (2011).
Sunimalee holds a BA (Economics Special) degree with a first-class and a Masters in Economics (MEcon) degree from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is also partly qualified in Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA-UK).
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C., Ranasinghe, R. (2023). ‘Tobacco Free Zones: A Pathway to Tobacco Free Sri Lanka’. Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Colombo.
Madurawala, S., Kiringoda, K. (2022). ‘Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’ in Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2022, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S. (2022). ‘Better Policies for Better Diets: The Political Economy of Fiscal Policies and Regulations to Promote Healthy Diets in Sri Lanka’. Policy Insights. Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S. (2021). ‘The COVID-19 Pandemic and Employed Women: Ensuring Gender Equality Beyond the Pandemic’ in ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2021’, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. (2021). ‘Tobacco Smoking Cessation: Lessons and Policy Options for Sri Lanka’, Health and Education Series No. 19, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. (2021). Study on Tobacco-free Villages: A Pathway to Tobacco Free Sri Lanka, funded by Cancer Research UK.
Madurawala, S. (2020). ‘Pandemics, Women and Women in the Workforce’ in Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2020., Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S. (2020). ‘The Covid-19 Pandemic, Women and Women in The Workforce’. Policy Insight based on comprehensive chapter on ‘Pandemics, Women and Women in the Workforce’ in Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2020, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S. (2019). ‘4IR: A Challenge or an Opportunity for Gender Equality?’ in Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2019, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S. (2019). ‘4IR: A Challenge or an Opportunity for Gender Equality?’. Policy Insight based on comprehensive chapter on ‘4IR: A Challenge or an Opportunity for Gender Equality?’ in Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2019, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Tobacco Control Programme: Understanding the Policy Problem – Who is in the Last Mile? (2019-2020)
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and Understanding the Last Mile Smokers,’ Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and Understanding the Last Mile Smokers,’. Policy Discussion Brief based on Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and Understanding the Last Mile Smokers,’ Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Identifying the Last Mile: Who is Still Smoking?’. Policy Insight based on Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and Understanding the Last Mile Smokers,’ Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Identifying the Last Mile: Who is Still Smoking?’. Policy Insight (Sinhala) based on Madurawala, S., Karunanayake, C. and Thilanka, C. (2020). ‘Tobacco Smoking in Sri Lanka: Identifying and Understanding the Last Mile Smokers,’ Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Madurawala, S., and Karunanayake, C. (2020). ‘Smoking Cessation Policies in Sri Lanka’, Colombo: Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Policy brief based on findings from a study on ‘Smoking Cessation Policy’ under the IPS Tobacco Control Programme.
Madurawala, S., and Perera, N. (2020) Securing Women’s Place in Sri Lanka’s Apparel Industry, Policy Insight, Development Asia by ADB
‘Gender Dimension of Disaster Risk Management’ chapter in Sri Lanka: State of Economy 2018
An Empirical Investigation of Labor Shortage in the Manufacturing Sector in Sri Lanka (2017), Discussion Paper Series, No. 2016-05 Economics and Business Statistics, Griffith University
Madurawala, S., (2017) Labour Force Participation by Women and Inclusive Growth: An Application of Social Opportunity Function for Sri Lanka, South Asia Economic Journal, 18(2) 214-229
Trade Winds of Change- Women entrepreneurs on the rise in South Asia- Background country study – Sri Lanka, 2016 – Publication by UNDP, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Regional Hub
UNDP (2016), ‘Paving the Way for Women Entrepreneurs to Trade in South Asia, Making inroads into South Asia: Promoting women entrepreneurship and intraregional trade, UNDP, APRC, Bangkok – forthcoming
United Nations Development Programme Sri Lanka, (2015) ‘Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2014 Sri Lanka’, UNDP Colombo – Chapters on ‘Improving Maternal Health’ and ‘Reduce Child Mortality’
Bandara S., Jayaratne N. and Madurawala S., (2014), ‘Intersectoral action for health in addressing Social Determinants of Health through Public Policies in Sri Lanka: Health in All Policies’, Australasian Medical Journal, Issue 2, Vol 7, 2014.
Madurawala S., (2014), ‘Gender Equality and Empowering Young Women in Sri Lanka’. Paper presented at the South Asian Regional Conference on Women, Work and Poverty, April 17th- 18th 2014, Islamabad, Pakistan
Madurawala S., (2014), Female Employment for Inclusive Growth: Trends, Issues and Concerns of Female Labour Force Participation in Sri Lanka, Working Paper, Labour Economics Series No. 16. Colombo, Institute of Policy Studies
Madurawala S., (2014), ‘Gender Equality and Empower Young Women’ in ‘Youth and Development: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Sri Lankan Youth’, Colombo, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skill Development
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
Madurawala S., (2013), ‘Making Women More Participatory in the Process of Economic Development’, in IPS (eds), Sri Lanka State of the Economy Report (SOE) 2013, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka: Colombo. (IPS publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-77-4)
Madurawala S., (2012), ‘Women in Value Chains: Female Participation in the Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka’. Paper presented at the Conference ‘Value Chains for Inclusive Development Lessons and Policies for South Asia’ 24-25 November 2012 at BRAC Center Inn, Dhaka, Bangladesh
United Nations Development Programme Sri Lanka, (2012) ‘Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012: Bridging Regional Disparities for Human Development’, UNDP, Colombo. Chapter on ‘Bridging Human Development Gaps: Health’
Khatun F., Ahamad, M.G., Chaturvedi S., Sharma P., Sapkota C., Ahmed A., Naveed A., Dayaratne G. D. and Madurawala S., (2011), ‘Liberalising Health Services under SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS): Implications for South Asian Countries’, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS) Paper No. 24.
Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka and United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) (2010), ‘Millennium Development Goals, Sri Lanka Country Report 2008/2009’, (IPS publication; ISBN 978-955-8708-62-0).
D. S. P. Madurawala, (2009), Labour Force Participation of Women in Child Bearing Ages, Sri Lanka Journal of Population Studies, Volume 11: 01-38, December
Presentation on ‘Ideas, Institutions, and Power: A Study of the Political Economy of Fiscal Policies and Regulations to Improve Healthy Dietary Patterns in Sri Lanka’
Delivering for Nutrition (D4N) in South Asia: Equity and Inclusion
1-2 November 2023
Online
Political Economy of Fiscal Policies and Regulations to Promote Healthy Diets in Sri Lanka
IPS In-house Seminar
30 November 2022
‘Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Recognizing, Reducing and Redistributing Unpaid Care Work in Sri Lanka’
Conference on Equality and Equity in Recognising Unpaid Care Work and Women’s Labour in South Asia
Organised by the Women and Media Collective, Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Social Scientists Association, Sri Lanka
20 -21 October 2022
Online
7th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health, (ANH) Academy Week 2022 Research Conference
Organised by the Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy
30 June 2022
Online
‘Sri Lanka’s Battle Against Tobacco: Policy Interventions, Achievements, and the Unfinished Agenda’
Webinar on International Cancer Prevention (ICP) Programme Tobacco Control Partner Event
Organised by Cancer Research UK
3 March 2022
Online
Presentation on ‘Improving Healthy Diets and Physical Activity – Why Research Matters?’ (with Nisha Arunatilake)
Workshop on Healthy Diets and Physical Activity: Legal Issues in Policy Design and Implementation
Organised by the World Health Organization
15-18 February 2021
Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Presentation on ‘Political Economy of Fiscal Policies and Regulations to Promote Healthy Diets in Sri Lanka’
INFORMAS Food Environment Research eSymposium Series 2021 (Asia and the Pacific)
Organised by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Noncommunicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFROMAS), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and University of Auckland
27 October 2021
Online
Presentation on ‘Meeting the Challenges and Barriers to Tightening Tobacco Control Policies in Sri Lanka’
Webinar on ‘Tobacco Control: A Critical Piece of the Global Health Puzzle’
Organised by Cancer Research UK
29 October 2021
Online
Presentation on ‘Fiscal Policies and Regulations to Promote Healthy Diets: The Political Economy Setting in Sri Lanka’
2021 Global Food Governance Conference
Organised by the Global Center for Legal Innovation on Food Environments of Georgetown University Law Center, Charles Perkins Centre of the University of Sydney, and The George Institute for Global Health.
15 December 2021
Online
‘An equal world is an enabled world’ at the International Women’s Day 2020 Forum organised by DFCC Bank PLC.
6 March 2020
DFCC Bank Head Office Auditorium
Colombo
Panellist at Webinar on ‘COVID- 19 and Mental Health Response in South Asia – Opportunities for Learning and Co-operation’
24 November 2020
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
India
Presentation on ‘Need for Tobacco Controlling, Cost and Prevalence of Smoking’
Lobby Group Workshop on Strengthening Tobacco Control Policies
Organized by IPS
06 November 2019
IPS, Colombo 07
Presentation on ‘SDG 5, Voluntary National Review (VNR) and Sri Lanka’s Status’
Workshop on Sharing Learning for Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality-Monitoring of SDG 5 in Sri Lanka
Organized by Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR)
19 June 2019
CENWOR Auditorium, Colombo 05
‘Assessing the Sri Lankan Girls’ and Young Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment for Leadership’ Sunimalee Madurawala
At the Media Briefing on Sri Lankan Girls and Young Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment for Leadership
Organized by Plan International Sri Lanka and Ministry of Women and Child Affairs
10 October 2017
BMICH
‘From MDGs to SDGs: Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality within the SDG Framework’ at the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in National Policy Dialogue with Policy Makers organized by the Women and Media Collective on 8th November 2016
‘SDGs and Gender: the Sri Lankan Status’ at the workshop ‘Realizing Gender Goals in the SDGs: Role of the Media’ organized by UN Women on 31st October 2016, Colombo
‘Sri Lankan Labour Market ; Recent Trends’ at the Consultation Workshop on Sri Lanka Country and Employment Diagnostic Studies organized by the ADB on 19 August 2016, Colombo
Promoting Regional Economic Integration? Women Entrepreneurs’ Challenges and Opportunities: Evidence from South Asia- A Case of Sri Lanka
At International Association for Feminist Economics, 24th IAFFE Annual Conference Berlin, Germany
July 16-18, 2015
‘Female Entrepreneurship and the Role of Business Development Services in Promoting Small and Medium Women Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka’, 9th May 2014, IPS, Colombo, Sri Lanka
‘Products with Regional Trade Potential and Associated Non-tariff Barriers, with Special Focus on WMSMEs: A Case of Sri Lanka’ IPS 24th February 2015, IPS, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Gender Equality and Empowering Young Women in Sri Lanka
At the South Asian Regional Conference on Women, Work and Poverty
Islamabad, Pakistan
April 17 – 18, 2014
‘Occupational Health and Safety Policy for Sri Lanka’ – Steering Committee Meeting on Development of Occupational Health and Safety Policy for Sri Lanka at Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations on 4th September 2013 / Institute of Policy Studies 1st October 2013
‘Women in Value Chains: Female Participation in the Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka’ presented at the Conference “Value Chains for Inclusive Development Lessons and Policies for South Asia” 24-25 November 2012 at BRAC Center Inn, Dhaka, Bangladesh
‘Human Resource Development for Sustaining Growth’ at the IPS Annual National Conference, November 2012, IPS, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
‘Gender Perspective on Utilizing and Financing Health Care Services’ proposal presentation at the 2nd Regional Intensive Course on Gender & Macroeconomics, July 2011, National Women Education Centre, Saitama, Japan
‘Socio Economic Conditions of the Post Conflict Communities in Sri Lanka’ (with Asha Gunawardena, Roshini Jayaweera, Kanchana Wickramasinghe and Nethmini Perera), July 2011 at Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
‘Sri Lanka National Health Accounts’, May, 2009 at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
‘Labour Force Participation by Women of Child Bearing Age’, Eleventh Annual Scientific Sessions of the Population Association of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, 21 February, 2009Colombo, Sri Lanka.
‘Provincial Public Health Expenditure-2004’, at Workshop on Provincial Health Accounts, organized by the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 28 February, 2008.
“National Physical Policy Plan” (with Dilani Hirimuthugodage,) February, 2008 at the Institute of Policy Studies in Sri Lanka
‘The Private Health Care Sector of Sri Lanka: Is it a Case of Great Expectations?’ (with Praveeni Munasinghe,) September, 2007 at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
‘Human Resources for Development’ (with Priyanka Jayewardene ) May, 2007 at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka
Reducing Women’s Employment Vulnerability in Sri Lanka Beyond the Pandemic, Development Asia, March 2022.
Sri Lanka’s Gender-based Employment Segregation: Does it Increase Women’s Vulnerability Amidst COVID-19? Talking Economics, September 2021.
Social Perceptions on the Role of Women Must Change, Talking Economics, March 2021.
Sri Lanka’s Tobacco-Smoking Challenge: Going the Last Mile, Talking Economics, December 2020.
Smoking in the Time of Corona: Why Limiting Smoking is Important in the Battle against COVID-19, Talking Economics, April 2020.
Growth and Equity: Achieving SDGs in South Asia in the Age of 4IR Talking Economics, October 2019
Greater Social Protection for Sri Lankan Women through Better Jobs: Role of Technology and Innovation, Talking Economics, March 2019
Women in Times of Disaster: Gender Dimension of Disaster Management in Sri Lanka, Talking Economics, January 2019
Blog for Talking Economics Madurawala, S., (2018) ‘Lead like a Girl: Empowering Sri Lanka’s Female Leadership’
Blog for Talking Economics Madurawala, S., (2018) ‘Economically Empowering Sri Lankan Women: One Strategy Does Not Fit All’
Blog for Talking Economics Madurawala, S. (2017), ‘The Dwindling Stitching Hands: Labour Shortage in the Apparel Sector in Sri Lanka’
Blog for Talking Economics Madurawala, S. (2017), The Gendered Face of NCDs: Can Sri Lanka Beat the Odds?’
Madurawala S., (2016), International Women’s Day 2016 – ‘Making a Better Place for Her: Gender Equality for Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka’, Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2015), ‘Feeding the Nation, Facing the Risks: Occupational Safety & Health of Paddy Farmers in Sri Lanka’, October 12th 2015, Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2015), ‘Networking and Information: Crucial Ingredients in Empowering Women Owned and Led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Sri Lanka’, March 8th 2015; Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2014), ‘Better Business Development Services Can Help Sri Lanka’s Women Entrepreneurs Prosper’, August 1st 2014; Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2014), ‘What women do and what women can do: Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality in Sri Lanka’, March 8, 2014; Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2013), ‘Dying to work? Why health and safety in workplace an important economic issue’, Daily Mirror, October 11; Talking Economics
Madurawala S., (2012), Talking Economics, ‘Gender Equality in Human Development: What’s Holding Sri Lanka Back?’, October 30, 2012
Madurawala S., (2011), ‘Climate Change and Human Health: Is Sri Lanka Ready to Face the Challenge?’, Daily Mirror, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Talking Economics, March 30, 2011
Madurawala S., (2010), Talking Economics, ‘Corruption Risks in the Provision of Pharmaceutical Drugs in Sri Lanka’, March 4, 2010,
Media Interview for World Politics Review- How Sri Lanka, a Growing Drug Trafficking Hub, Is Fighting Drug Abuse at Home, 14 February 2018
Death Penalty, a Deadly Blow – Daily News, 25 July 2018
Media interview to the Global Press Journal on Labour shortage in the apparel sector in Sri Lanka. The story published in the Global Press Journal under the title of ‘Sri Lankan Garment Factories Boost Wages and Benefits as Labor Shortage Looms’
Media interview with the ‘Ada’ Sinhala Newspaper on the study findings of ‘Women owned and led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Spice and Coir Sectors of Sri Lanka: Constraints and Policy Options