Training Programme on Transformation of Supply and use Tables (SUT) to Symmetric Input-Output Tables (SIOTs):

Executive Director, IPS, addressed the inaugural session of the Training Programme on Transformation of Supply and Use Table to Symmetric Input-Output Tables at the Miloda Institute on 3rd April 2012. The Director Generals of the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) and the Department of National Planning (DNP) and the Chief Economist of the ADB in Sri Lanka also addressed the gathering.

The IPS played a key role in preparing the Input-Output Tables based on the year 2000 and these Tables were published in 2005. Subsequently, IPS has been making attempts to update the Tables with the support of Prof. Jayathilake Bandara of the University of Griffith, who was the principle researcher for the 2005 publication. With the technical support of the ADB this became a possibility and together with the other institutions – DCS, NPD and Miloda Institute — the training workshop was organized during 3-5 April 2013.

The main objective of the training programme was to provide technical skills required in constructing Input-Output tables. An Input-Output table is an integral part of national accounts and it is a detailed macroeconomic tool to analyze the economy at a general equilibrium level. The Symmetric Input-Output Table (SIOT) is an effective tool used to ensure the consistency of statistics on flows of goods and services on the principle that total supply of each product is equal to its uses. The latest table for Sri Lanka will be derived using the Supply and Use Table (SUT) for the year 2006.

Associate Professor, Jayathilaka Bandara from the Griffith University, Australia was the main resource person under the ADB project on “TA-7774 SRI: Support for Planning and Policy Formulation”. Staff members from the IPS, Department of National Planning of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Department of Census and Statistics, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the University of Colombo participated in the programme.

Chandana Karunaratne and Raveen Ekanayake from the IPS participated in the programme.