A new publication by Colombo Urban Lab explores the implications of relocation of vendors to modern marketplaces, with justifications for these relocations centering around formalisation, beautification, cleansing (of the streets), sanitation or the provision of modern services for vendors.

A new report by CSF titled, 'Acronyms and Accountability: Strategic Insights on Corporate Environmental Disclosures in Sri Lanka' offers a deeper examination of corporate environmental disclosures and their significance for Sri Lanka’s sustainability journey. It aims to provide practical recommendations for decision-makers, businesses, and stakeholders to adopt more effective and impactful disclosure practices.

While national security considerations when developing foreign investment regulation isn’t new, it is becoming a greater consideration when assessing investment into sectors and companies that play a critical function to society or are of strategic importance to a country. A recently published Discussion Paper by CSF serves to introduce this emerging area to Sri Lankan trade and investment stakeholders, provide some country examples, and to inform further deliberation on the topic.

While ESG seeks to channel investment towards companies that are environmentally responsible, socially conscious, and well-governed, their true sustainability impact remains debated. Several issues have been highlighted in recent reports. For Sri Lankan firms, a critical look at ESG is timely, to make meaningful progress on charting a greener, climate-resilient economic future.