CENTER FOR A SMART FUTURE

KNOWLEDGE INSIGHTS

Colombo Port (copyright Anushka Wijesinha)
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
Sri Lanka’s New Investment Law in Global Comparison: 7 Key Observations
As Sri Lanka's new government looks to revise the country’s investment framework, understanding current global trends and best practices will be crucial. Anchored to global investment policy trends identified by the UNCTAD in a recent report, this Policy Brief presents seven observations stemming from a comparison of these global trends against the investment-related provisions of the Economic Transformation Act (ETA) passed in 2024.
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Financing Biodiversity and Nature Amidst Debt Distress in Sri Lanka
OCTOBER 25, 2024
Financing Biodiversity and Nature Amidst Debt Distress in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka needs to become much more open to, and informed about, the new sources and mechanisms that are available for biodiversity financing. With the right domestic mechanisms, a credible policy commitment, open-mindedness among government and non-government stakeholders, and a nuanced view of the financing options, Sri Lanka can rise up to meet the challenge.
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Shipping containers at a port
OCTOBER 4, 2024
EU Green Deal and Implications for Sri Lanka’s Exports
CSF’s latest Policy Brief looks at the implications of selected aspects of the European Green Deal for Sri Lanka’s exports. We flag four areas for action -Government support, Public-private partnerships, International cooperation and bilateral engagement, and Industry support to SMEs.
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a graphic of solar installation on a rooftop
AUGUST 5, 2024
Prioritising Green Jobs in Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery
Sri Lanka is yet to give dedicated national priority to this agenda, unlike several other countries that have placed it at the heart of public policies on TVET and employment. The country must build on the recognition given to green jobs in its Climate Prosperity Plan, and articulate a clear and future-oriented ‘Green Jobs Strategy’.
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graphic of fungi and coins near a log
JANUARY 17, 2024
Expanding Green Finance in Sri Lanka’s Financial Services Sector
There is now a growing interest in Sri Lanka on the concepts and prospects for green finance among Sri Lankan policymakers, regulators, and financial intermediaries, and some initial steps have been made to orient towards green lending. Yet, how far has actual implementation come and what are the prospects for the near-term? What are some of the critical issues that the financial sector must contend with, as it aims to support investments in a climate-resilient and nature-positive economic recovery?
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New Platform Initiated for Sri Lankan Young Professionals in Public Policy
MAY 16, 2023
New Platform Initiated for Sri Lankan Young Professionals in Public Policy
Emerging Sri Lankan public policy leaders have come together to form the country’s first platform for professional development and networking towards advancing better public policy capabilities. The Young Professionals in Public Policy (YPPP) was launched in May 2023, and is an initiative of the Centre for a Smart Future. The YPPP is much more reflective of the contemporary public policy space in Sri Lanka.
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Opinion: ‘Trimming the Fat’ in Sri Lanka’s Enterprise-support Institutions
JANUARY 3, 2023
Opinion: ‘Trimming the Fat’ in Sri Lanka’s Enterprise-support Institutions
Sri Lanka must consolidate its enterprise-support agencies into one single agency, that is smaller, sharper, and with a clear and unambiguous mandate - to improve SME competitiveness towards creating more export-ready and near export-ready firms. The need of the hour is not generic SME development and enterprise support initiatives.
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Sri Lanka: Anatomy of a Crisis and the Path Ahead
AUGUST 10, 2022
Sri Lanka: Anatomy of a Crisis and the Path Ahead
This article serves to provide an international reader with a more useful reference point for the recent origins, evolution, and dimensions of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, and selected perspectives on the policy issues and path ahead, from an economist’s perspective.
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Sri Lanka’s political turmoil risks derailing the economy further
APRIL 9, 2022
Sri Lanka’s political turmoil risks derailing the economy further
The East Asia Forum, a joint initiative of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research and the South Asian Bureau of Economic Research, reports on Sri Lanka's political turmoil, economic downturn, and potential sovereign debt default, highlighting the country's vulnerability to external shocks.
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Making Sri Lanka’s Technology Transition More Inclusive
FEBRUARY 5, 2022
Making Sri Lanka’s Technology Transition More Inclusive
Sri Lanka needs to focus on enhancing technology access, usage, and literacy across the board, to help workers be better prepared for jobs in the technology sector. Without it, Sri Lanka’s ambitions for digital-led development will leave youth behind.
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SIGNALS OF CHANGE: Three Emerging Post-Covid Trends for Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector
JULY 28, 2021
SIGNALS OF CHANGE: Three Emerging Post-Covid Trends for Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry – a significant export revenue earner and employer – was substantially hit by the pandemic. Moving from recovery to resilience and a new phase of growth will be shaped by three key trends.
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Refreshing Growth in Sri Lanka’s Provinces: Changing the Narrative
JUNE 4, 2021
Refreshing Growth in Sri Lanka’s Provinces: Changing the Narrative
CSF Visiting Fellow Dr Janaka Wijayasiri argues that as the country begins to explore FTAs once again, it is timely to consider mainstreaming gender into Sri Lanka's trade policy and trade agreements taking into the gender inequality in the country.
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