The Writings of Dr Saman Kelegama

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‘The Writings of Dr Saman Kelegama’ is a collection of the scholarly edition of his writings enriched with his intelligence, experience and outlook. This dedicated digital platform enabling access and preservation of Dr Kelegama’s writings for publications, edited works, and other unpublished papers such as scripts of keynote speeches – is a tribute for him and a treasure for readers and researchers alike with a quest for knowledge.

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    Agenda Presented by the Bretton Woods Institutions and Food Security in South Asia
    (SAWTEE, 2001) Kelegama, Saman
    Institutions like FAO focus mainly on global food security while various regional blocs focus on their regional food security. The Bretton Woods institutions focus on national food security, but the focus is mostly at the macro-level. The approach of Bretton Woods institutions in addressing the food security issues at the macro level is based very much on trade policy and finding market-based solutions in the rural economies. Little importance is given to the non-level playing field that exists in global agricultural trade and it is assumed that the comparative advantage doctrine determined by trade policy can ensure food security at the household level if other domestic distortions are removed. This chapter examines this line of argument in more detail.
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    An Overview of Sri Lanka's Trading Regime at the Regional, Bilateral and Multilateral Levels
    (Sri Lanka Economic Association, 2006, 2006) Kelegama, Saman
    Sri Lanka’s trade policy for global integration has four tracks – unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral. This chapter provides a broad picture of Sri Lanka’s trade scenarios from the perspective of these tracks of trade liberalisation.
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    (2023) AS
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    Bangkok Agreement and BIMSTEC: Crawling Regional Economic Groupings in Asia
    (2001) Kelegama, Saman
    Both the Bangkok Agreement (BA) and Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have offered opportunities for economic cooperation in the Asian region. Four countries that are (or were) associated with the former are members of the latter. The BA (formed in 1975) is a preferential trading arrangement (PTA) whereas BIMSTEC (formed in 1997) is a sectoral cooperation arrangement, but has announced its intention of moving to a PTA in the future. However, the results of both regional economic groupings have so far not been impressive. The BA did not produce the desired results due to inherent shortcomings in the Agreement and the ineffectiveness of the preferential system, inter alia: a) exclusion of nontariff barriers from the preferences; b) low product coverage by the preferential tariffs; and c) low preferential margins. Moreover, the PTA was not combined with direct measures for sectoral cooperation. Although the BIMSTEC emphasizes the latter, for these to be effective in the absence of a PTA, there has to be a high degree of commitment to the regional group by member countries, harmonization of standards, and an institutional framework. All these requirements are lacking in the BIMSTEC at present. BIMSTEC could have become a PTA if Thailand and Myanmar joined the BA but regional geo-politics and commitment to ASEAN have prevented this process. Surprisingly, BIMSTEC is considering a new PTA when a mechanism already exists under the BA. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
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    (2023) BB
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    Can Open Regionalism Work in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation?
    (1998) Kelegama, Saman
    Whether a regional economic co-operation under an "open regionalism" framework brings about expected economic gains cannot be judged from statistics alone. Attractive statistics for intra-regional trade and other trade-related indices such as intra-industry trade can be very deceptive. For the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR ARC), the basic fundamentals that are essential for the functioning of open regionalism are not in place. Regional economic co-operation, after all is a dynamic process that requires a firm commitment from member countries. For IOR-ARC, it is argued that this component is also lacking and the sharing of the Indian Ocean waters alone is not adequate to provide a blueprint for effective regional economic co-operation.
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    Changing face: The Trials and Fortunes of Regional Cooperation in South Asia
    (Kathmandu: SAWTEE and SACEPS, 2012) Kelegama, Saman
    As set out in the organization’s charter, the primary objective of SAARC is to utilize cooperation among its member states as a springboard for achieving cohesive development in the economic, cultural and socio-political lives of their citizens. Nevertheless, despite enormous potential for facilitating such development in a region populated by over 40 percent of the world’s poor, SAARC’s effectiveness has been limited and its successes far too few. In acknowledgement of such failings, a Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) Report was commissioned by the organization for consideration at its 1998 summit in Colombo. The Report points to SAARC’s inadequate role in fostering regional cooperation, and then goes on to articulate a vision of change, detailing the steps that must be taken in order to transform the organization into the fulcrum of a truly integrated and self-sustaining regional society. This article considers the obstacles, which, until now, have hindered SAARC from achieving such a transformation. It then discusses a number of new opportunities, which, if appropriately exploited, could provide a means for SAARC to close the gap between the GEP vision of an effective and productive organization for regional cooperation, and its far less desirable reality.
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    China as a Balancer in South Asia: An Economic Perspective with Special Reference to Sri Lanka
    (Stanford University Press, 2016, 2016) Kelegama, Saman
    This chapter focuses on how the smaller South Asian countries view economic issues related to China's rise by using Sri Lanka as a case study.
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    China–Sri Lanka Economic Relations: An Overview
    (2014) Kelegama, Saman
    This article fills a gap in the literature by focusing on the growing economic links between China and Sri Lanka. Starting from the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact, the economic relations between the two countries have grown over the years with an unprecedented growth since 2005. Chinese military assistance helped overcome three decades of conflict in North/East Sri Lanka and Chinese financial assistance to other areas of the Sri Lankan economy, in particular, infrastructure development have also strengthened. Although Sri Lanka’s trade and investment links with China are not very strong, the increased Chinese financial assistance has had some spill over effects in strengthening these in recent years. Sri Lanka will sign a Free Trade Agreement with China most probably in 2014 but growing economic relations with China present both opportunities and challenges to Sri Lanka.
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    Contemporary Economic Issues: Sri Lanka in the Global Context - weekly commentaries on economic issues published in the Sunday Island, 2005-2006
    (Sri Lanka Economic Association, 2006) Kelegama, Saman
    This book is based on weekly commentaries on economic issues published in the Sunday Island. The book covers an important period where a number of domestic and global events influenced the economy of Sri Lanka at regular intervals – a crisis in the electric power sector, the international oil price hike, GSP-Plus scheme coming into operation, operationalization of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Bilateral Free Trade Agreement, steps to operationalize SAFTA, WTO debates before the Hong Kong Summit and the aftermath, growth of the Business Process Outsourcing industry, etc. The period under consideration also saw increasing inflow of aid, economic policy discussions and debates before the Presidential Election.
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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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    Development in Independent Sri Lanka: What Went Wrong?
    (Sameeksha, 2000) Kelegama, Saman
    Independent Sri Lanka's failure to live up to its initial promise in the area of economic development could be attributed inter alia to: (a) a foreign-exchange crisis which persisted till 1977 because the exigencies of electoral politics bound the country to welfare-oriented, inward-looking policies; and (b) the eruption of conflict between the two main communities as of 1983.
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    Development Under Stress: Sri Lankan Economy in Transition
    (Sage, 2006) Kelegama, Saman
    This book examines various impediments faced in the development process and implementation of reforms in Sri Lanka, particularly after economic liberalization in 1977. The author maintains that it is a case of development under stress where the outcome has been far below the country's potential. The book describes key features of the Sri Lankan socio-political and economic system that prevented the country from achieving higher levels of economic growth. It explains why it could not match the economic achievements of South Korea and Malaysia-countries that had similar per capita income levels to that of Sri Lanka in the 1950s. The book is divided into five parts. The first part examines 50 years of economic development and the challenges ahead; the second discusses the economic liberalization debate; the third part looks at macroeconomic management during difficult times; the fourth looks at sectoral issues with reference to industry and agriculture; and the final part examines employment and poverty. [From Publisher Website]
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    Does Leadership Matter in the Economic Reform Process? Liberalization and Governance in Sri Lanka, 1989-1993
    (Elsevier, 1997) Dunham, David; Kelegama, Saman
    Governance assumptions of the East Asian miracle may not be a sufficient or a necessary condition for effective economic reform or for solid growth to emerge in other Asian economies. This paper argues that in Sri Lanka, where the state is not strong, where it is not well coordinated, and is neither cohesive nor disciplined in organizational terms, strong political leadership proved critical in the second wave of reform from 1989-93 - even if it was essentially illiberal in the process of implementation. Technical and political imperatives are seen to be interrelated and parts of a single reform package.
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    Economic and Social Development under a Market Economy Regime in Sri Lanka: Buddhadasa Hewavitharana Felicitation Volume I
    (Vijitha Yapa, 2011, 2011) Kelegama, Saman (ed.); Gunewardena, Dileni (ed.)
    This Volume of essays is dedicated to Prof. Buddhadasa Hewavitharana, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Peradeniya and the current Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Professor Hewavitharana had an illustrious career and distinguished himself as a leading economist in Sri Lanka.
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    Economic and Social Development under a Market Economy Regime in Sri Lanka: Buddhadasa Hewavitharana Felicitation Volume II
    (Vijitha Yapa, 2012, 2012) Kelegama, Saman (ed.); Gunewardena, Dileni (ed.)
    This is the second volume of essays in honour of Professor Buddhadasa Hewavitharna, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Peradeniya and the Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
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    Economic Cooperation: The Emerging Scenario
    (Institute of Policy Studies of Pakistan, 2012) Kelegama, Saman
    Considering China continuously increasing importance for the global level, increased economic cooptation between China and SAARc member countries will be mutually beneficial, particularly for the South Asia . SAARC's own success in achieving desired level of regionalism has been limited, and China's involvement can become a catalyst in this regard. While trade between China and SAARC has been increasing in recent years, the potential of economic cooptation is much more beyond trade alone. China's engagement can address some of SAARC's fundamental shortfalls such as inability to generate funds for crucial projects and no progress towards knowledge and technology transfers. Regardless of China's full membership of SAARC, its active involvement in South Asia will continue to grow. - Eds.
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    Economic Costs of Conflict in Sri Lanka
    (World Peace Foundation and Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Brookings Institution Press, 1999) Kelegama, Saman
    'Sri Lanka’s long civil war has exacted an enormous economic cost in terms of lost productivity, lost investment and misallocated resources, resulting in a lower standard of living than would have been possible in a peacetime setting. Although ethnic conflict had taken place for several years, it became a burden on the economy only after 1983, when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) commenced a guerrilla war against the state. For convenience of reference it is called the Ealam War (I, II and III). Eelam War I started in 1983 and continued until 1987 when the Indian Peace Keeping Force established itself in commanding positions in the north and the east. With the collapse of peace talks initiated in early 1990, Eelam War II started in June 1990 and continued until December 1994. Eelam War Ill, which commenced in mid-April 1995, continues to date. This chapter analyzes the economic aspects of the war, with special reference to Eelam wars I and II.
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    Economic Policy in Sri Lanka: Issues and Debates - A Festschrift in Honour of Gamini Corea
    (Sage, 2004, 2004) Kelegama, Saman (ed.)
    This volume of essays is dedicated to Gamnini Corea--one of the foremost Sri Lankan economists, both nationally and as internationally. Bringing together essays by 23 well-known Sri Lankan scholars, this comprehensive volume discusses the evolution of Sri Lanka's economic policies from 1977 onwards, the ideology governing this evolution, the debates on policy, and the key economic issues confronting contemporary Sri Lanka to which Gamani Corea made his own substantial contribution at one time or another.