Background, Briefing and Policy Notes
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This collection contains all Policy Notes related to Economics.
Recent Submissions
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Sri Lanka Falls Behind Least Developed Countries in Trade Facilitation: Here are Three Steps it Can Take to Reverse This Trend
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2023-07)This note compares progress made by Sri Lanka against its regional competitors, other developing and least developed countries in facilitating trade by making import and export procedures of the country efficient, less ... -
The Alternatives to Universal Tax Registration in Sri Lanka
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2023-02)This note argues that the Sri Lankan government’s recent proposal to implement universal tax registration is neither a viable nor effective strategy to increase the country’s tax revenue. Instead, the note proposes four ... -
The Desirability of Domestic Debt Restructuring
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2022-10)Sri Lanka faces a challenge to emerge from the continuing economic crisis of unsustainable public debt. This paper sets out four important reasons to undertake an early domestic debt restructuring (DDR), by way of reprofiling ... -
Targeting Assistance: Electricity Consumption is a Superior Method
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2022-07)This note recommends household electricity use as a determinant of eligibility for welfare benefits. As Sri Lanka’s crisis continues, up to 50% or more of the population is likely to need state support, however current ... -
Restoring Efficient Tax Collection Methods: Withholding Tax and Pay-As-You-Earn
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2022-06)The note estimates the additional revenue that can be collected from reinstating in Sri Lanka two methods of efficient tax collection that were discontinued in 2020. That is: the withholding tax (WHT) and the pay-as-you-earn ... -
Foregoing Competition to Secure Funding for Public Infrastructure: One third of funding secured was non-concessional
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2023-07-04)In 2010, Sri Lanka established a unique framework, overseen by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Review Committee (SCARC), to handle unsolicited proposals (USPs) for public infrastructure funding. These USPs inherently bypass ... -
Reviewing the Data Dissemination Practices of Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics
(2021-02)In 2014, a data dissemination policy was introduced by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) in Sri Lanka. The DCS is the primary agency responsible for the collection, compilation and dissemination of official ... -
Opening up Trade Data: The Benefits to Sri Lanka
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2020-06)International trade data are the foundational basis when formulating trade policies and assessing their impacts. Trade data is vital for firms engaging in international trade to make sound business decisions. Unfortunately, ... -
ඉලෙක්ට්රොනික අත්සන් සහිත ඉලෙක්ට්රොනික ලේඛන පිළිගැනීම: රජයක් තබනා කෙටි පියවරක්, රටක් පනිනා යෝධ පිම්මක් = Accepting e-documents with e-signatures: A small step for government, a giant leap for the country
(Colombo: Verite Research, 2017-02)The room for exporters to improve their competitiveness by reducing time to export is significantly constrained by the procedures and processing time imposed by Sri Lankan border agencies. Sri Lanka can improve the ... -
Facilitating the Registration of Trademarks: A Step towards Creating Internationally Recognised Sri Lankan Brands
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2017-02)The Madrid Protocol is a simplified global system for registering trademarks abroad. It eases trademark registration abroad for Sri Lankan businesses. Sri Lanka was looking to complete accession to the Madrid Protocol by ... -
Accepting e-documents with e-signatures: A small step for government, a giant leap for the country
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2017-02)The room for exporters to improve their competitiveness by reducing time to export is significantly constrained by the procedures and processing time imposed by Sri Lankan border agencies. Sri Lanka can improve the ... -
Reducing Domestic Barriers to Export Success
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2018-04)Export promotion has been a key policy objective of successive governments of Sri Lanka. The Government aims to double the value of exports to USD 20 billion by 2020. Currently, the government is taking measures to improve ... -
Wading Through Murky Waters: A Case Study of Regulatory Ineffectiveness in Sri Lanka’s Import Tax Exemption Schemes
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2018-04)Import taxes are critical for government revenue. However, because these taxes are often high, the government has introduced import tax exemption schemes. Through these schemes, businesses can bypass certain taxes and save ... -
Natural Disaster Insurance Coverage
(Colombo: Verité Research, 2018-04)Despite an increasing number of natural disasters in recent years, Sri Lanka suffers from a limited uptake of natural disaster insurance coverage. Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are especially vulnerable ...