Analysis

Leveraging resilience and adaptability: How Sri Lankan apparel weathered the pandemic

By Jeevith Senaratne An industry’s response to an unprecedented crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath is a testament to its ability to weather the storm and come out stronger on the other side. This was particularly true for Sri Lanka’s apparel sector. While the initial wave of COVID-19 posed many challenges to…

(0)Comments | November 2, 2021 12:23 pm

The Xinhai Revolution – China towards One Country One Law

The Silk Road Journal by Mahika Ming The human civilization revolving around China is more than 12,000 years old according to scientifically proven archaeological evidence. Rice cultivation, paper, magnets, the umbrella, the compass and gunpowder are few of the most important contributions made by the Chinese civilization to mankind. The ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka…

(0)Comments | November 2, 2021 9:15 am

Business sentiment continues its upward trajectory despite the prevailing economic uncertainty

Business Sentiment – The Index Continues To Head North At a recent webinar, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka’s (IPS) Executive Director Dr. Dushni Weerakoon noted that a V-shaped recovery seems to be on the cards for the Sri Lankan economy, following the 3.2 percent contraction recorded last year. With a growth rate…

(0)Comments | November 1, 2021 6:28 am

Exports earns nearly one billion dollars in September 2021

Sri Lanka’s merchandize exports in September 2021 recorded US$ 995.8 Mn as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. EDB Chairman & CE, Suresh D. de Mel said, “Observing the export figures of September, it is remarkable to see that our exporters performed this well amidst travel restrictions and lockdowns due to the…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2021 12:06 pm

88% of People in Asia-Pacific Believe Robots Can Support Their Career Better Than Humans

Global study finds 78% of people feel “stuck” professionally and personally (77%) 90% of people say their meaning of success has changed since the pandemic started 89% of people want technology to help define their future 78% of people felt their companies were more concerned with their mental health now than before the pandemic People…

(0)Comments | October 28, 2021 10:27 am

IPS Policy Insights: COVID-19, the Global Economy and Sri Lanka’s External Sector Outlook

Global economic developments have impacted Sri Lanka’s external sector performance, and the economy overall. While Sri Lanka managed the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak imposing lockdown measures for two months (March to May 2020), it has since been hit by a second outbreak since October 2020 and a third wave in April 2021. The…

(0)Comments | October 26, 2021 4:11 pm

Amidst pandemic-induced volatility GSP+ to the EU is critical for Sri Lanka

By A. Sukumaran – Chairman, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) The recent European Union (EU) monitoring mission visit to Sri Lanka on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus trade concessions scheme, has ignited much speculation locally, on the potential costs of losing GSP+ to the EU. However, many such analyses have significantly under-estimated the…

(0)Comments | October 26, 2021 1:55 pm

Pandemic to Endemic – Implications for Sri Lankan Economy

Key Takeaways Increasingly, many experts feel transitioning to an endemic is a realistic endpoint for the current pandemic. Endemic means the governments will have to deal with COVID in a more localised fashion while the public will have to continue with the current pandemic-induced lifestyles to some degree. Tourism may resume but we are likely…

(0)Comments | October 25, 2021 5:47 pm

Equity in Recovery: Addressing Sri Lanka’s Social Protection and Food Security Needs

By Thilini Bandara Sri Lanka’s social protection and food insecurity amidst COVID-19 came into focus at the third and final session of a webinar series held recently to mark the release of the ‘Sri Lanka: State of Economy 2021’ report, the annual flagship publication of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). The…

(0)Comments | October 25, 2021 12:18 pm

Necessity of Recommended Agro Chemicals for Sustainable Tea Cultivation

By Dr Roshan Rajadurai Since herbicides spraying was introduced as a form of weed management in the 1960s with Paraquat, plantations have used pre-emergent, residual, post-emergent, broad spectrum, systemic, translocated, and contact herbicides for weed management depending on bush cover, rainfall pattern, growth stage of weeds and Tea bush. Plantations have not exclusively depended on…

(0)Comments | October 25, 2021 6:28 am