Browsing by Author "De Mel, Deshal"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Country Study Prepared for the project Southern Perspectives on Reform of the International Development Architecture: Sri Lanka
    (The North-South Institute, 2007) Kelegama, Saman; De Mel, Deshal
    This paper is written as part of an overall study on Southern perspectives on reform of the international development architecture. Sri Lanka’s case study as expressed in this paper is one of particular interest. The present government is pressing for increased policy space from donor imposed conditions in the backdrop of the country’s present circumstances as a conflict country with substantial aid reliance given the urgent requirement for investment in public infrastructure. These conflicting needs of increased funding and greater policy space have pushed the government towards alternative sources of finance, moving beyond the concessional lending of international financial institutions, towards commercial borrowing and emerging bilateral donors. The paper explores the opportunities and challenges offered by this new path. It provides some background information on Sri Lanka’s recent relationship with international donors including the roles played by the Bretton Woods institutions, the UN system, bilateral donors, and NGOs.
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    The trade-poverty nexus in Sri Lanka
    (2009) De Mel, Deshal
    The relationship between trade and poverty has long been debated in academic and policy making circles, they have been polarizing opinions regarding this. This Sri lankan case study provides several useful insights which add to the literature on the trade poverty nexus and examines the linkage between poverty and trade from Sri Lanka's perspective. Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in South Asia to liberalize trade in 1977 but until very recently had made only limited progress in poverty reduction. Trade has had many positive impacts including generation of employment, providing access to marker etc. However it is found that the benefits have not been as clear cut in all the sectors. The major examples of the trade employment poverty nexus in Sri lanka's three decades as an open economy are tea, garments, tourism and export of labour, low skill labour particularly to the middle east. It was noted that the success of these had however been mixed.
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    Vertical Integration of Industries in South Asia
    (2013-12-06) De Mel, Deshal; Jayaratne, Suwendrani
    In this study authors examine the prospects for vertical integration of industries in South Asia. Authors begin with a literature review and an overview of existing intra-industry trade in South Asia. Based on the existing intra-industry trade study examines sectors where there has been some intra-industry trade in more detail in the form of case studies. The two initial sectors are garments and textiles and the automobiles sector. It was also found that there is relatively high levels of intra-industry trade between India-Sri Lanka, possibly due to the impacts of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement these countries are party to. These three case studies provide greater insights into the opportunities and challenges to industrial integration in South Asia. Authors then draw on lessons from other regional bodies that have seen greater success in invigorating the trade-investment nexus, with particular reference to ASEAN. Finally, the lessons from international experiences and experiences within South Asia will be combined to draw clear policy prescriptions that could be engaged in to enhance the trade-investment nexus in South Asia.