Proceedings and Presentations

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Disaggregated Projections on Supply, Demand, and Trade for Developing Asia: Preliminary Results from the Asiafish Model
(International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET), 2004-07) Dey, Madan M.; Rodriguez, U-Primo; Briones, Roehlano M.; Li, Chen Oai; Haque, Muhammad Sirajul; Li, Luping; Kumar, Praduman; Koeshendrajana, Sonny; Yew, Tai Shzee; Senaratne, Athula; Nissapa, Ayut; Khiem, Nguyen Tri; Ahmed, Mahfuz
The AsiaFish model is a quantitative tool for making disaggregated projections and impact analysis for fish supply, demand, and trade. It has recently been applied to nine major fish producers in Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam). The resulting analysis is useful for the evaluating strategies and identifying priority technologies for the propoor and sustainable development of the fish sectorin these countries. The paper summarizes the method for applying the AsiaFish model, presents the results of model projections for these countries, and draws preliminary conclusions from a cross-country comparison.
Socio-economic Impacts of Forest Conservation on Peripheral Communities: Case of Knuckles National Wilderness Heritage of Sri Lanka
(12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons, Cheltenham England, July 14-18, 2008, 2008) Wickramasinghe, Kanchana; Steel, Paul; Senaratne, Athula
Forest conservation generates significant economic benefits to the society. However, the conservation strategies should pay necessary attention to the resultant socio economic aspects. Otherwise; conservation efforts affect the welfare of peripheral communities due to restrictions on their livelihoods. The present paper intends to assess the socio-economic impacts of declaration of Knuckles Conservation Zone (KCZ) on the livelihoods of surrounding communities, using data and information collected through a household survey, focus group discussion, interviews and observations. The Knuckles National Wilderness Heritage (NWH) is an important natural forest in Sri Lanka, due to its richness in biodiversity, uniqueness in habitat diversity and being a vital catchment to the main rivers. The forest has greatly been threatened by the promotion of cyltivation of cardamom, which receives high prices in the international market and shifting cultivation that has resulted in a sizeable decrease in the forest cover. With the declaration of KCZ, shifting cultivation and cardamom cultivation were banned and access to forest products was restricted. Consequently, although conservation activities generated considerable environmental improvements, they caused direct negative impacts on the peripheral communities. The quantity and frequency of forest products harvested has declined due to limited access to the forest, causing income losses and affecting food security. The dependency on non timber forest products (NTFPs) as a source of income is much low according to this study finding, but the forest had played a major role as a subsistence source of food, wood, fuel wood etc earlier. The annual income loss due to banning of shifting cultivation and reduced harvesting of NTFPs is estimated around US$ 150 per household. Promotion of ecotourism activities, which are already in place, and creation of proper marketing channels for agricultural products is recognized as alternative ways to increase income, thus to improve the well-being of households. Villagers could also be allowed to harvest selected NTFPs, provided that sustainability of the forest is not affected. Therefore a mechanism should be created that communities are compensated through alternative income sources rather than depending on monetary compensations from the government thereby setting a useful example for the future conservation strategies of the country and elsewhere.
Climate Change, Local Institutions and Adaptation Experience: The Village Tank Farming Community in Dry Zone Sri Lanka
(International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 2010) Senaratne, Athula; Wickramasinghe, Kanchana
Farmers are in a continuous process of, individually and as community groups, adjusting to the observed variability in climate parameters. Climate shocks are considered by farmers in their decision-making as factors affecting risk and uncertainty, and farmers make their choices so as to minimize such risks. The overall outcome of these individual and community efforts is known as ‘climate adaptation’, which itself is a continuous process. Farmers are traditionally supported by local institutions in this process, which are also currently in a state of transformation. This study examines the climate adaptation responses of the village tank farming community in the dry zone of Sri Lanka in the context of transforming socioeconomic conditions and with the objective of identifying policy implications for adaptation to global climate change. The study was conducted in six Divisional Secretariat areas in the Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province. Both, primary and secondary data was collected in the study. The major sources of primary data included a series of focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted with village tank farmers and local of ficers. The findings reveal that there are two major forms of voluntary adaptation responses by farmers against climate shocks: 1) aligning of farming activities with the recognized seasonal pattern of rainfall; and 2) management of rain water harvested in commonly owned village tanks. Farmers’ adaptation responses have been facilitated by local institutions that helped to adopt joint adaptation responses. However, recent socioeconomic dynamics introduced by rapid population increase, spread of commercial opportunities and change in agricultural technology have drastically altered conditions in the village tanks in favor of developing a commercial farming system. As a result, local institutions that traditionally facilitated the climatic adaptation responses are also in a state of transition. Therefore, farmers face problems in adapting to the impending risks and uncertainties of global climate change. The paper emphasizes the need for appropriate policy measures to facilitate the adaptive capacity of farmers.
A non-parametric analysis of rice production efficiency in Sri Lanka
(Australian Agricultural & Resource Economic Society, 2012) Thibbotuwawa, Manoj; Mugera, Amin; White, Ben
This article investigates the production efficiency of rice farming in Sri Lanka using cross section survey data of 90 farms. Past studies on rice farming have mostly focused on technical efficiency (TE). Here, we examine technical efficiency, allocative efficiency (AE) and cost efficiency (CE) using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. On average, the farms were 87% technically efficient; irrigated farms were more efficient (88%) than rain-fed farms (82%). Average cost, allocative and scale efficiencies were 73%, 84% and 87%. Bias corrected TE estimate suggests an expected output expansion of 25% with a given input combination in order to become fully efficient as opposed to 16% based on the original estimates. In addition, a second stage Tobit regression shows that efficiency is influenced by farm size, water security, ownership, seed quality, family labour endowment and female labour participation
Impact of microfinance on household welfare: assessing the case of Samurdhi program in Sri Lanka
(2012) Thibbotuwawa, R.M.M.I.; Printhika, B.L.D.S.; Jayasinghe, U.K.; Udugama, J.M.M.
Household Income & Expenditure Survey (2006/07) data were used to estimate the impacts of ‘Samurdhi’ – the largest state-sponsored microfinance program in Sri Lanka – on the status of household income, health, education, and food and non-food consumption. Propensity Score Matching was used to minimize selection bias. Propensity scores were estimated using a Probit Model to match “treated” households with “control” group to identify the impacts. The results show that Samurdhi possesses a significant impact on household welfare on income, consumption and education, despite the inefficiencies and political interferences associated with distribution of intended services.
A comparative analysis of productive efficiency and technology gap in irrigated and rain-fed rice farming systems in Sri lanka: non parametric approach
(2013) Thibbotuwawa, Manoj; Mugera, Amin; White, Ben
The paper analyses the differences of technical, allocative, cost and scale efficiencies of irrigated and rain-fed rice farmers in Sri Lanka in two different perspectives; first, relative to a common metafrontier, defined as the boundary of an unrestricted technology set and second relative to group frontiers defined to be the boundaries of restricted technology sets in each group. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) metafrontier and group frontier approaches are used for cross section survey data of 90 farms. Rain-fed farms perform comparably with the irrigated farms based on the group frontier results. Rain-fed farmers may be operating as technically efficient as they could, given the existing production technology. However rain-fed farms move significantly towards inefficiency compared to the irrigated farms under the metafrontier technology. Results indicate that the irrigation shifts the rice sector production frontier to a higher level. In addition, a second stage bootstrapped truncated regression shows that efficiency differences between two regions are explained by the timely availability of the water to a significant extent. We suggest that future sectoral policies should be designed to address the efficiency enhancing factors such as irrigation, quality seed, land ownership and scale and female labour participation
Clarity or Confusion: The Global Economy and Sri Lanka
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka;
This presentation goes beyond the immediate/short-term growth forecasts for the global economy and focuses on the drivers of growth, change and risk in the global economy from the medium-term perspective. It looks particularly at the US and EU as well as emerging markets like India and China. It also highlights several 'megatrends' that countries like Sri Lanka must watch
'Can We Cut the Cake Differently?: Stimulating Innovation in Sri Lanka'
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka; Welgama, Tehani
An in-house presentation on the importance of innovation for growth and a review of Sri Lanka's status on innovation pillars and the challenges going forward.
Igniting a New Fire: Stimulating Innovation in Sri Lanka
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka
A presentation on the importance of innovation for Sri Lanka and its potential contribution to rapid growth. It also looks at how Sri Lanka fares on some of the critical pillars of innovation and also emphasises the need for holistic innovation policy to drive the agenda forward.
Global Competitiveness Index and Sri Lanka: The Human Resource Imperative
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka;
A presentation reviewing Sri Lanka's performance on the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum and highlighting specific concern areas with regard to human capital in the country and its impact on competitiveness and growth.
The Transition to Middle Income: Thinking Beyond the 'Optics' to the 'Mechanics'
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka;
This presentation explores the idea of a 'middle-income transition' or 'middle-income trap' in Sri Lanka and questions what ingredients matter when thinking about breaching the middle-income challenge. The presentation argues that 3 key pillars were important for countries that successfully navigated the middle-income transition - better talent, better products and better governance.
Venture Capital for Small Enterprises in Sri Lanka Initial Brainstorming on Setting up a Framework
(2013-10-01) Wijesinha, Anushka
A presentation exploring the concept of venture capital, reviewing the history of venture capitalism in Sri Lanka, and proposing a model for value-added venture capital and support to SMEs for the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development.
'South Asia: Performance, Challenges and Prospects'
(2013-10-03) Wijesinha, Anushka
A presentation on the key competitiveness indicators in South Asia, with a focus on employment and private sector development, for the International Labour Organization Employer Organization's Meeting, October 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The effect of Chin's soybean tariff on the republican party's vote share in the 2018 congressional election
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2018) Wijesinghe, Asanka
I investigate the association of China’s retaliatory soybean tariff on the Republican vote share change between the 2016 and 2018 mid-term elections. Using county-level election data, I find a significantly negative and spatially heterogeneous association between soybean tariff and Republican vote share change. Mainly, I find that the tariff effect is more prominent in counties where Donald Trump’s vote share was between 40%-50% in 2016. In addition, the association is larger and significant in counties that ship soybean through Pacific Northwest ports implying the effect of the tariff was heterogeneous spatially.
Identifying the last mile: who is still smoking?
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2019)
Can khan academy e-learning video tutorials improve mathematics achievement in Sri Lanka?
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2019-01) Weeraratne, Bilesha
4IR: a challenge or an opportunity for gender equality?
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2019-10)
Retaliatory tariff and 2018 mid term election: was there an effect of Chinese soybeans tariff?
(2020-07) Wijesinghe, Asanka
The 2018 Congressional election was held when U.S. and China involved in a trade war. The U.S. protectionist tariff s were retaliated by China with tariff on U.S. agricultural exports in which share of soybeans was substantial. I investigate the effect of Chinese soybeans tariff on the Republican vote share change between 2016 and 2018. Using county level election data and per worker tariff exposure variable Ind signi cantly negative and spatially heterogeneous association between soybeans tariff and Republican vote share change. Specially I nd that tari e ect is more prominent in counties where Donald Trump's vote share was between 40%-50% in 2016. Further, I nd a signi cant and relatively large negative association between Chinese soybean tariff and Republican vote share change in counties which ship soybeans through Pacific Northwest ports. The estimates are stable across models which are controlled for per worker U.S. trade protection and overall real wage effect of 2018 trade war.
The Covid-19 pandemic, women and women in the workforce
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2020-11) Madurawala, Sunimalee
Facilitating night work for women in Sri Lanka
(Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, 2020-11) Arunatilake, Nisha

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