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| Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
| Name | Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka |
| Established | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Colombo |
| Type | Think tank |
Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka is a Colombo-based public policy research institute that engages in analysis, advocacy, and capacity building related to public affairs in Sri Lanka. The institute produces studies, policy briefs, and datasets that inform debates among stakeholders drawn from the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat (Sri Lanka), Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Asian Development Bank, and regional bodies such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It interacts with international partners including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations Development Programme to shape policy options on macroeconomic, social, and sectoral challenges.
The institute was founded in 1988 amid national reform debates that involved actors such as the J. R. Jayewardene administration, the United National Party (Sri Lanka), and civil society organizations including the Sri Lanka Economic Association. Early work addressed structural adjustment themes linked to discussions with the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and the institute provided analysis during crises like the Sri Lankan Civil War and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Over time, it broadened engagement to topics prominent in forums attended by delegations from the European Union, Commonwealth of Nations, and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Centre for Policy Research (India).
The institute's mission emphasizes evidence-based policy advice to inform decision-makers in bodies like the Ministry of Finance (Sri Lanka), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka), and provincial councils including the Western Province, Sri Lanka. Objectives include producing rigorous research comparable to outputs from the National University of Singapore and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, facilitating dialogues similar to those convened by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and training practitioners through programs analogous to the Harvard Kennedy School executive education.
The institute is organized into research divisions that mirror units in institutions such as the Institute of Development Studies, the Overseas Development Institute, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. A governing board with representatives from entities like the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Colombo Stock Exchange, and academic partners such as the University of Colombo oversees strategy. Operational leadership comprises an executive director, programme heads, and research fellows comparable to positions found at the Economic and Social Research Council and the Asian Development Bank Institute.
Research programs address macroeconomic policy, public finance, trade policy, social protection, and sectoral studies in areas linked to institutions such as the Ministry of Health (Sri Lanka), the Ministry of Education (Sri Lanka), and the Ministry of Agriculture (Sri Lanka). The institute publishes working papers, policy briefs, and annual reports that are cited in deliberations of the Parliamentary Select Committee and used by agencies including the Department of Census and Statistics (Sri Lanka). Outputs draw on methodologies promoted by the World Bank Research Group, International Labour Organization, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and include data series comparable to datasets from the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank.
The institute contributes to policy dialogues involving stakeholders such as the President of Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and ministers from portfolios like Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development (Sri Lanka). Its advocacy has informed tax reforms debated in the Parliament of Sri Lanka and social protection measures aligned with recommendations made in reports by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. The institute has also participated in consultative processes linked to multilateral negotiations hosted by the World Trade Organization and regional planning exercises conducted by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Collaborative links include memoranda and joint projects with universities and think tanks such as the University of Peradeniya, the University of Colombo, the Institute of Policy Studies (Pakistan), and international partners including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme. It engages with foundations and networks like the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and participates in regional research networks alongside the Center for Policy Research (India) and the East-West Center.
Funding sources encompass project grants from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, bilateral donors including the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the United States Agency for International Development, and local partners such as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and private sector contributors like the Colombo Stock Exchange. Governance arrangements feature a board with members drawn from academia, finance, and public service, reflecting practices seen at institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Overseas Development Institute to ensure oversight and research independence.
Category:Think tanks in Sri Lanka Category:1988 establishments in Sri Lanka